Fredrick "Fred" Lackey is a software architect, engineer, and leader with four decades of experience building systems that last. From early work on backup and storage systems at Arcada in the mid-1990s to his ongoing engagement with CISA and the Department of Homeland Security, Fred has consistently operated at the intersection of deep technical skill and strategic thinking.
His career spans government cybersecurity, insurance, cleaning services technology, and enterprise storage — always focused on building the right thing the right way. Today, his work increasingly centers on AI integration, exploring how intelligent systems can augment (not replace) the work of skilled engineers.
Fred approaches software the way a craftsman approaches a workshop: with patience, precision, and respect for the materials. He believes the best architectures emerge from understanding both the problem domain and the people who will maintain the system long after the original team has moved on.