Est. 1985 Software Architecture • Engineering • Leadership 40 Years of Excellence

Fred Lackey

Software Architect, Engineer & Leader

Professional Summary

A passionate software veteran who transforms complex challenges into elegant solutions, with equal comfort writing code or collaborating with C-level executives.

From pioneering work on Backup Exec and early contributions to Amazon.com, to developing critical national cybersecurity systems for the Department of Homeland Security and reshaping engineering teams at Travelers Insurance, Fred Lackey has spent four decades at the intersection of deep technical expertise and executive-level leadership.

His career spans the full arc of modern software development — from the earliest days of desktop software through the rise of the web, cloud computing, microservices, and now the AI revolution. At every inflection point, he has been both a practitioner and a leader, equally comfortable architecting distributed systems and presenting strategy to the C-suite.

“The best solutions come from understanding both the technology and the humans who depend on it.”

Areas of Expertise

Secure AI Integration
AI Strategy
Technical Leadership
Architecture
Full-Stack Development
Legacy Modernization
Product Innovation
Executive Leadership

Career Timeline

2022 – 2025

Director of Software Engineering — Travelers Insurance

Reshaped and led the engineering organization at one of America’s largest property casualty insurers. Drove modernization initiatives, elevated development practices, and mentored teams across the enterprise.

2021 – Present

Architect & Technical Lead — CISA / Department of Homeland Security

Created the Common Vulnerability and Lifecycle Engine (CVLE) for the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, strengthening national cyber defense capabilities.

2006 – 2018

Managing Partner & Lead Architect — Spotless Software

Co-founded a software incubator, serving as managing partner, lead architect, and technical visionary. Guided 50+ development teams delivering innovative solutions across healthcare, finance, government, and education.

1994 – 1996

Founding Developer — Arcada Software

Part of the founding team that created Backup Exec, the industry-leading backup and recovery solution that is still in widespread use across enterprises worldwide.

AI Projects

Active

AI Knowledge Builder Platform

Transforms deep domain expertise into structured, searchable knowledge using GPT-4, Claude, and custom models. Designed to capture the nuance of human expertise that traditional documentation misses.

Active

AI-Powered Career Coach

An intelligent assistant that helps professionals reconstruct and articulate career achievements through structured conversation, turning scattered memories into compelling narratives.