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Thomas Feddo

Fmr. Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Investment Security (CFIUS)

National Security Expert & Advisor

Washington, DC, USA

Thomas Feddo
Jennifer Fearon
VentureLink Advisers, LLC
Darin Feinstein
Core Scientific

Thomas Feddo’s Biography

Thomas Feddo is the founder of The Rubicon Advisors, LLC, a consulting firm providing strategic, geopolitical, and national security regulatory advice to multinational corporations and startup companies, hedge funds, venture capital and private equity firms, investment banks, and law firms.

Tom previously served as the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s first ever Assistant Secretary for Investment Security, a presidentially-appointed and Senate-confirmed position responsible for overseeing all operations and activities of the interagency Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). As Assistant Secretary, Tom effectively led a comprehensive overhaul of CFIUS to both protect U.S. national security and promote the nation’s open investment policy. The transformation of CFIUS included an expansion of jurisdiction, new regulations, modernized information technology and physical infrastructure, and more efficient business processes.

His distinguished career of public service during the past three decades has included time as a naval officer in the submarine service,...
Thomas Feddo is the founder of The Rubicon Advisors, LLC, a consulting firm providing strategic, geopolitical, and national security regulatory advice to multinational corporations and startup companies, hedge funds, venture capital and private equity firms, investment banks, and law firms.

Tom previously served as the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s first ever Assistant Secretary for Investment Security, a presidentially-appointed and Senate-confirmed position responsible for overseeing all operations and activities of the interagency Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). As Assistant Secretary, Tom effectively led a comprehensive overhaul of CFIUS to both protect U.S. national security and promote the nation’s open investment policy. The transformation of CFIUS included an expansion of jurisdiction, new regulations, modernized information technology and physical infrastructure, and more efficient business processes.

His distinguished career of public service during the past three decades has included time as a naval officer in the submarine service, as well as all three branches of the Federal government. A strategic thinker with legal, policy, and national security expertise in cross-border investment and international trade, economic sanctions and anti-money laundering, government investigations, intellectual property, and technology, Tom is also a highly experienced and effective leader and manager.

Today, Tom’s advice and counsel is widely sought after on issues involving national security related regulatory risk and compliance, corporate governance, and geopolitical and strategic matters. He also serves as an outside advisor to a number of business entities.
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Thomas Feddo’s Newsfeed

RealClearDefense
Three Years’ Delay to Rein in TikTok

Tom Feddo outlines the national security risks that TikTok poses, while discussing the stalemate behind a still-active 2020 presidential order to counter the risks. 

Financial Services Committee
Financial Services Committee Hearing: Combatting the Economic Threat from China

Tom Feddo joined other geopolitical and financial leaders for a hearing that examined risks to U.S. interests posed by China’s economic and geopolitical actions, what the U.S. can do to mitigate these actions, the Defense Production Act, and more.

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Thomas Feddo’s Background

U.S. Department of the Treasury
Assistant Secretary for Investment Security, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Investment Security, The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)
2018 - 2021
Tom served as the most senior presidentially-appointed Senate-confirmed official responsible for the Treasury Department’s role as the Chair of CFIUS. He led the national security review and clearance of over 500 cross-border business transactions totaling over $400 billion, and personally authorized clearance of over 150 transactions.
Alston & Bird, LLP
Partner, International Trade Group
An AmLaw 100 law firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Alston & Bird has approximately 750 attorneys in 12 offices across the globe. Tom provided legal advice and counsel to multinational corporations, Fortune 500 companies and start-up entities regarding U.S. economic sanctions and anti-money laundering regulations, cross-border transactions, and other issues implicating U.S. national security.
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Advisory Roles

Foreign Investment Watch
Editorial Advisory Board
2022 - Present
Boston, MA, USA
Foreign Investment Watch is the only independent information service covering foreign investment and national security, from CFIUS filings to global regulatory updates.
Clearview AI
Advisory Board
2021 - Present
New York, NY, USA
Clearview AI delivers innovative and comprehensive image-search solutions through cutting-edge technology to support law enforcement efforts to investigate crimes, safeguard communities, and secure industry and commerce.
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Media

The top post at the national security review panel remains vacant as the invasion of Ukraine puts Russia's dealmaking in focus and Congress considers an outbound investment screen
Quoted
Mar 2022
Tom, in an interview with The Deal, speaks on the importance of the assistant secretary for investment security at the Treasury Department. He says that a new assistant secretary would be instrumental to advising Congress and bringing insights into key issues such as China, technology protection and investment security.
The Morning Risk Report: Trump’s Iran Moves Change Little For Companies
Quoted
Oct 2017
In this piece for the Wall Street Journal, Tom provides commentary regarding the Iranian nuclear deal and the Congressional implications.
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Interviews

The Linklaters Podcast: Implementing Change at the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States
Jun 2022
Tom speaks with Jonathan Gafni, head of Linklaters' US Foreign Investment practice, about the challenges of CFIUS modernization.
Former CFIUS head Thomas Feddo on what happens when CFIUS calls
Mar 2022
Thomas Feddo joins Foreign Investment Watch in this interview to discuss what happens when a company is approached by CFIUS.
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Features

Will Biden Use Every Tool Against China?
Author
Apr 2021
In this opinion piece for the Wall Street Journal, Tom explains how the transformed and strengthened Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) is ready for the challenge of protecting U.S. national security in the coming years.

Publications

FDI and National Security: Risks FROM a Big Tech Breakup, and CFIUS’s Mitigation Role
Co-Author
Jun 2022
Tom Feddo and Benjamin Curley lay out the risks involved in breaking up big tech and what role the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US (CFIUS) can play in mitigating this threat.
Joe Biden has left a leadership vacuum in China policy
Author
Feb 2022
The world is appropriately focused on tackling the crisis in Ukraine, but the United States doesn't have the benefit of facing one major foreign policy challenge at a time.
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Memberships

Council on Foreign Relations
Member
Washington, DC, USA
Founded in 1921, the CFR is an independent, nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, think tank, and educational institution committed to informing the public about the foreign policy choices facing the US and the world.
The National Security Institute at George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School
Visiting Fellow
Arlington, VA, USA
The National Security Institute at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School is committed to finding real-world answers to pressing issues concerning the United States' national security. By drawing on the insights of political leaders and experts, NSI also offers several educational programs to prepare students for navigating national security issues.

Awards & Recognition

Foreign Investment Watch Top Advisors 2022: global CFIUS expert rankings
Honoree
Mar 2022
Tom was recognized by Foreign Investment Watch as a top lawyer and advisor concerning national security reviews of foreign investments in the United States and abroad.
Department of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton Medal
2021
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Speaking Engagements

At hearing on outbound screening: Risks, approaches & consequences
Senate Banking Committee hearing
Sep 2022
Washington, DC, USA
At a recent hearing of the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, national security experts, including Thomas Feddo, discussed approaches to and consequences of outbound foreign-investment reviews.
CTO Circle - Space: The Next Internet?
Panelist
Jun 2021
As a featured speaker for the "CTO Circle: Space - The Next Internet" event, Tom joined other professionals in a discussion regarding the new space race, how modern technology has made space more accessible and the economic, political and social implications of today's space industry.
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Thomas Feddo’s Education

The George Washington University Law School
Juris Doctor (With Honors)
1997 - 2000
Naval Nuclear Power School and Naval Nuclear Prototype School
Graduate-level nuclear propulsion/engineering program
1991 - 1992
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