Alan Wade retired from federal service at the end of 2005 after a thirty five year career in the Central Intelligence Agency. He retired as the Chief Information Officer, a position he held since 2001. Early assignments at CIA involved technical programs in the United States and overseas, principally in the areas of telecommunications and technical security. The last fifteen years of his career involved a series of executive positions, including the Director of Communications, Director of Security, and Chief Information Officer. In his assignment as Chief Information officer, Alan also served as the Chief Information Officer for the United States Intelligence Community. Alan received the Meritorious and Distinguished Officer designations, and is a recipient of the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, the Director of Central Intelligence's Director’s Medal, and the Distinguished Intelligence Medal. Since retirement, Alan has worked with several early stage companies. Alan served on the boards of Safeboot N.V. (acquired by McAfee in 2007) and Detica DFI (acquired by BAE Systems in 2008). He currently serves on the boards of Chiliad Publishing and Composite Software. Additionally, Alan serves on public sector advisory boards of several technology companies, and on the board of the organization of retired CIA officers.
Alan graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, Virginia in 1973, receiving a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering. In 1978, he received his Masters degree in Electrical Engineering from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C.