Thomas Feddo

Thomas Feddo’s Biography

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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. moreless

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.

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.

U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)

Acting Associate Director for Enforcement, Assistant Director for Enforcement

OFAC administers and enforces economic sanctions against targeted threats to the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States. Tom led the agency’s enforcement of over 30 economic sanctions programs, overseeing investigations of sanctions violations, interagency cooperation, issuance of subpoenas, monetary penalties, criminal referrals and settlement agreement negotiations.

U.S. Department of the Navy, Office of the General Counsel

Special Assistant to the General Counsel

The General Counsel of the Navy serves as the most senior civilian lawyer within the U.S. Department of the Navy. It is the second largest civilian legal team in the U.S. Government. Tom advised and supported the General Counsel regarding policy and legal matters involving general business and commercial law for the Marine Corps, Navy and Navy Secretariat.

U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Energy and Commerce

Majority Oversight Counsel, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations

The Committee on Energy and Commerce is among the oldest congressional standing committees and has the broadest jurisdiction of any authorizing committee. Tom supervised and conducted all aspects of several high-profile congressional investigations and oversight hearings across the full breadth of the Committee’s jurisdiction.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

Associate, Intellectual Property Litigation

An AmLaw 100 law firm headquartered in New York, New York, Pillsbury Winthrop has over 700 attorneys in 20 offices worldwide. Tom counseled clients regarding patent and trademark infringement, enforcement of intellectual property rights, licensing, and antitrust matters; and performed the full scope of discovery-related litigation, including the development of legal strategy.

U.S. Court of Federal Claims

Judicial Law Clerk

An “Article I” court with national jurisdiction, the Court of Federal Claims has authority over claims against the United States involving government contracts, Fifth Amendment takings, intellectual property, Indian tribes, and foreign nationals, among others. Tom clerked for the Honorable James T. Turner, supporting all aspects of his docket and case proceedings.

Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), Navy Antiterrorist Alert Center (ATAC)

Intelligence Officer/Analyst

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is a civilian federal law enforcement agency responsible for criminal investigations, counterterrorism, and counterintelligence for the Navy and Marine Corps. At the ATAC, Tom helped to deliver force protection related intelligence and analysis to deployed units of the Navy and Marine Corps regarding terrorist threats.

U.S. Department of the Navy, USS Salt Lake City (SSN-716)

Submarine Officer (Lieutenant)

The Salt Lake City was a “Los Angeles Class” nuclear-powered “fast-attack” submarine in the U.S. fleet from 1984 to 2006. As a Salt Lake City division officer, Tom held leadership roles involving the submarine’s operational, navigation, maintenance, and in-port activities.

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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.

President Trump’s JCPOA Announcement Is More Complicated Than It Looks

Co-Author

Oct 2017

Tom and his law firm colleagues explain the Trump Administration’s announcement regarding the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 and address the impact on Iran-related economic sanctions.

Sanctions-Related Challenges for Payment Systems

Author

Oct 2016

Tom discusses regulators’ intensified sanctions and AML enforcement efforts in the rapidly evolving payments industry, particularly regarding non-bank actors and mobile computing.

Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Concerns with the E-rate Program

Co-Author

Oct 2005

This report presented findings from a multi-year investigation by the Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations into waste and fraud in the FCC program that subsidizes schools’ information technology infrastructure.

The Doctrine of Equivalents: Both a Sword and a Shield

Co-Author

May 2003

This law review article chronicles the historical use in U.S. patent law cases of the “doctrine of equivalents” not only to prove or assert infringement, but also as a legal defense.

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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.