Theresa Payton, an expert in the field of cybersecurity and long-time resident of Charlotte, recently published Manipulated: Inside the Cyberwar to Hijack Elections and Distort the Truth (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020). Payton is uniquely well qualified to write this book. She served as the White House Chief Information Officer for President George W. Bush, after which she founded Fortalice Solutions, a leading cybersecurity consulting firm. In Manipulated, she draws on her experience and expertise to explain how Russia and other foreign and domestic powers are using artificial intelligence and cyberattacks to influence American elections. She goes into detail about what she calls “the manipulator’s playbook,” and she provides readers with practical advice on how to avoid being manipulated in this way.
Payton’s book has been out for only a few months, but it is already drawing widespread attention and praise. The reviewer for Booklist, for example, wrote “Payton, an expert in cybersecurity, sounds a clarion call that our political process is at risk and explains why and how it is being assailed by foreign and domestic enemies of democracy. Many conservatives may want to dismiss Payton’s arguments, since she places much of the blame for the situation at the feet of current Republican leadership. But Payton can’t be dismissed as a liberal Democratic cynic, since her credentials are firmly rooted in the work she did for the George W. Bush administration. Payton clearly knows her stuff, [and] she paints a timely, frightening picture.”
Payton is a well-known player in Charlotte’s cybersecurity circles. Since the mid-1990s, she has helped Charlotte’s banking community improve the security of their banking technology and IT systems. She has also shared her expertise with Charlotte’s general public by giving televised presentations on WBTV on “Protecting Your Cyberturf,” and by participating in UNC Charlotte’s Cybersecurity Symposium. I recently reached out to Payton and asked her about her Charlotte connections. Here is what she sent to me:
I had a unique opportunity due to the financial services industry to move to Charlotte, NC. I moved here in 1995 and in my mind, I thought it would be a great place to “stay for a couple of years.” It’s now 2020 and I never really left! Funny enough, when my husband first left the US Navy, we had said our goal was to move to Washington, DC; however, our jobs brought us to Charlotte. When offered a position to work for President George W. Bush at the White House, we debated on whether or not to make a move to Washington, DC. We decided the best place to live and raise our family would be Charlotte, so I made the commute each week for almost 2.5 years.
Living in Charlotte means I have easy access to incredibly smart and talented colleagues, a variety of parks and gardens and to direct flights to almost any place in the world. I do most of my idea generation with smart people all around Charlotte. I think through my book ideas while I am on my runs around our beautiful city. For my recent book, Manipulated, guess where my writing desk was? American Airlines planes going to and from Charlotte. I’ve logged over 1.5 million air miles! That’s a lot of time to dedicate to writing. I am proud to call Charlotte home and have been delighted to have the support of Charlotte citizens who have purchased and promoted my books, and from Park Road Books. It’s one of the best indie bookstores in the nation, and it’s right here!
When I was talking with Sherri Smith from Park Road Books about Payton’s Manipulated, she referred to Payton as one of Charlotte’s most prominent writers of nonfiction. Sherri’s comment caused me to reflect a bit about Charlotte’s community of readers and writers. Charlotte, of course, is home to many gifted fiction writers. It is important to remember, however, that Storied Charlotte includes some very influential writers of nonfiction, including Theresa Payton.