Patrick Hilgendorf

Patrick Hilgendorf is the Southern Poverty Law Center’s director of cybersecurity. He is responsible for protecting business information systems and ensuring data privacy.

Hilgendorf brings extensive leadership experience from the public and private sectors. Before joining the SPLC, he managed cybersecurity compliance for Austal USA, the largest aluminum ship manufacturer in the United States with $2.1 billion in revenue at the time.

Earlier in the U.S. Air Force, Hilgendorf helped publish national defense strategy and policy to reduce cybersecurity risk for a 660,000-person global workforce with a $129 billion procurement budget. Hilgendorf also managed a $345 million data center for the Air Force, leading a 360-person team. He streamlined information technology operations in this role, saving $10 million annually.

Hilgendorf received a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from Louisiana State University and a Master of Science in electrical engineering from Wright State University. His certifications include the EC-Council’s Certified Ethical Hacker designation. He also serves on the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering Board of Trustees.