# Chris Risley

> Chris Risley is the CEO of Bastille Networks, the wireless threat intelligence company that uses software-defined radio to spot the cell phones, Bluetooth gadgets, and rogue radios that traditional cybersecurity tools never see. A serial chief executive with more than 25 years in software, he has run nine venture-backed startups, taken one public, and sold four to companies like Symantec, F5, and LivePerson. Before Bastille he ran DNS pioneer Nominum and DDoS-defense firm Defense.Net. He works out of Santa Cruz, California, and frames wireless airspace as the security perimeter most enterprises forgot to defend.

- **Role:** Chief Executive Officer at Bastille Networks
- **Organizations:** Bastille Networks, Nominum, Defense.Net, StreamBase, Digital Reef, NewChannel, ON Technology Corp., Seabright Companies
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Bachelor of Arts, Magna Cum Laude, Cornell University, Program for Management Development, Harvard Business School
- **Known for:** Led nine venture-backed startups, resulting in one IPO and four acquisitions by public companies, Grew Nominum from insolvency into the leading DNS software provider for telcos and service providers, Sold Defense.Net to F5 Networks

## Career timeline

- **2001** — Became CEO of Nominum, leading DNS software provider for telcos and service providers
- **2012** — CEO of Digital Reef until its acquisition by TransPerfect
- **2014** — CEO of Defense.Net, the DDoS-defense firm acquired by F5 Networks
- **2015** — Became CEO of Bastille Networks

## Achievements

- Led nine venture-backed startups, resulting in one IPO and four acquisitions by public companies
- Grew Nominum from insolvency into the leading DNS software provider for telcos and service providers
- Sold Defense.Net to F5 Networks
- As chairman, sold StreamBase to TIBCO
- Sold NewChannel to LivePerson and ON Technology Corp. to Symantec
- Built Bastille into a leader in enterprise wireless threat intelligence using software-defined radio

## Latest updates

- **2024-01** — Bastille raised funding (Series C era), continuing to scale enterprise and government wireless threat intelligence under Risley's leadership.

## Links

- Website: https://bastille.net
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisrisley

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/chris-risley
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-06-14