Former CIA and NSA Agent / Research and Prevention Expert
Matthew Hedger is a subject matter expert in anti money laundering, insider threat mitigation, and organized crime, with specialized expertise in the money laundering techniques of Mexican Drug Trafficking Organizations. A former U.S. intelligence officer with 17 years at the CIA and NSA, he led sensitive operations across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe and spent more than a decade undercover inside transnational organized crime networks, enabling the dismantling of narcotics, weapons, and money laundering operations.
He began his career in the U.S. Navy and went on to conduct and supervise covert finance and sensitive procurement operations, directly managing multi million dollar fiat and cryptocurrency transfers to support intelligence and law enforcement actions. Today, Mr. Hedger serves as a trusted keynote speaker and advisor to Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and financial institutions on emerging threats, financial crime, and organizational risk. His areas of focus include alternative remittance systems, cryptocurrency enabled laundering, and the internal control failures that drive insider risk.
Mr. Hedger holds a bachelor’s degree in cryptology and a master’s in global finance and banking from King’s College London, along with specialized certifications in intellectual property theft law and fintech law from the University of Pennsylvania. His recognitions include being a two time NSA Pacific Command Performer of the Year and the Navy Club’s Military Excellence Award. He actively supports the CIA Officers Memorial Foundation and Children of the Night, reflecting his continued commitment to the intelligence community and vulnerable populations affected by organized crime.