
QDSC
The Leadership Team
Chief Executive Officer
Kent Kresa
He began his career at Avco and MIT Lincoln Laboratory working on missile defense and reentry systems. And then worked at DARPA from 1968-1975. In 1975, he moved to Northrop, rising to President in 1987 and Chairman & CEO in 1990. Under his leadership, the company grew from $7 to $28 billion in revenue. He led the acquisition of 16 companies, including Litton and TRW, to become Northrop Grummam, significantly expanding technical capabilities. His efforts earned him election to the National Academy of Engineering in 1997 as well as many other awards.. After retiring in 2003, he joined The Carlyle Group as Senior Advisor and later served as Chairman of General Motors during a pivotal time. He has served as Chairman of the Boards of four large public companies during his career.
President
Dr. William Arbaugh
While a Professor at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP), he and his students invented memory forensics for detecting sophisticated threats. His first company, Komoku, implemented memory forensics and was sold to Microsoft. While at Microsoft, he assisted in transitioning memory forensics into several product lines at Microsoft. Prior to joining the faculty at UMCP, he was the senior technical advisor for the Advanced Networks Program Office at NSA. While at NSA, he was awarded the Tordella award by NSA and GCHQ for recognition of exceptional joint teamwork, collaboration, and success in the mission of World Class Cryptography. He remains an Associate Professor Emeritus at UMCP.
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Chief Technology Officer
Dr. Karen Ispiryan
He has designed high-performance software systems with advanced cryptographic functions in both corporate and research environments. With a foundation in complex algorithms and scalable architectures, his work has powered secure applications at major tech firms including Samsung and Facebook. He is known for bridging computer science with business needs, delivering innovation that supports growth and operational excellence. His research background includes contributions to algorithmic speed, optimization, and system efficiency in applied cryptography.
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Chief Cryptography Officer
Dr. Gurgen Khachatrian
He is a world-renowned cryptographer and mathematician elected to the Armenian National Academy of Sciences. He co-authored SAFER+, an encryption algorithm selected for Bluetooth and client/server authentication. Earlier in his career, he held a senior role at Cylink Corporation, where he helped shape modern encryption protocols. His work has been instrumental in cryptographic advancement, influencing international standards through both academic and commercial innovation across several decades of contribution to the field.
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Chief Financial Officer
Francis Parish
Francis Parish is a seasoned Strategy and Finance executive with 30 years' experience in corporate finance, private equity, consulting, and strategy, advising organizations from startups to multibillion-dollar enterprises. He has led complex transactions, capital raises, and strategic investments across industries, and served as CFO, Board Member, Trustee, and Chief Strategy Officer. As Managing Director at a private merchant bank, he evaluated hundreds of investments and executed numerous equity and asset management deals. Earlier at KPMG and E&Y, he led global consulting projects shaping his value-based strategy approach. He holds a BS in Business from USC and an MBA from Wharton.​
Counsel & Corporate Secretary
Craig L. Gosden
He has worked across legal and financial domains for decades, building and advising early, mid-stage and late-stage companies through initial development, growth, financings, acquisitions, and disposition. With deep experience in corporate law, private equity, and corporate governance, he brings expertise evaluating business and legal strategy and risk. He was a partner at a major Los Angeles law firm before becoming a partner at a Los Angeles private equity firm founded by well-known U.S. financial leaders. He holds his undergraduate degree from Stanford University and his J.D. from USC Law School.​

