Securing Food Systems with a Defense Mindset with Brian Schleifer

💡 What can the food industry learn from 25+ years of defense cybersecurity experience?

In this episode of the Bites and Bytes Podcast, host Kristin Demoranville talks with Brian Schleifer, a cybersecurity expert with a career spanning the U.S. Air Force, Department of Defense systems, and advanced cyber-physical risk management.  Together, they unpack how the principles of defense cybersecurity, from risk modeling to system resilience, can help protect the food and agriculture sector, one of the most vulnerable critical infrastructures.

This episode explores:

✅  What precision agriculture and defense systems have in common

✅  Why autonomous tractors and food processing systems are prime targets

✅  The reality of protecting proprietary food data and recipes

✅  Cyber-physical risks in modern farming and food production

Whether you work in OT, IT, food safety, risk management, or supply chain, this episode is packed with real talk and relatable analogies (plus homemade tortillas and schnitzel get shoutouts).  Tune in to hear why safety and security must go hand in hand — and what it really means to secure the systems that feed the world.

⚠️Disclaimer: The views expressed by Brian Schleifer are his own and do not represent the Department of Defense, his employer, or any government entity. _______________________________________________ 🎙️ Guest Information: Brian Schleifer, MBA

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-schleifer/

People Add Value Experience (P.A.V.E.) Podcast: Hosted by Brian, the People Add Value Experience (P.A.V.E.) podcast explores how individuals contribute to adding value across various aspects of life. Topics include fostering and adoption, professional development, and small business insights.​

• Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/people-add-value-experience/id1691150774
• Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@P.A.V.E.

_______________________________________________ 🎯 Episode Key Highlights

00:17:00)  – Caterpillar as a Cybersecurity Model for Ag & Food Systems (00:19:50) – The Solar Flare That Took Out GPS on Tractors (00:24:50) – Is Food Data Secret? Yes — Here’s Why It Matters (00:14:41) – What Food & Ag Can Learn from the Defense Sector (00:21:01) – What a Strategic Attack on Food Infrastructure Might Look Like (00:29:43) – Leadership Failure & Lessons from the Peanut Corporation Disaster (00:37:54) – Why Food Cybersecurity Must Be Treated Like Safety (00:38:04) – Cyber PHAs: Planning for the “What Ifs” in Food Systems (00:45:20) – The Case for Sector-Specific Cyber Frameworks (00:52:00) – When Donuts Got Hacked: The Krispy Kreme Incident (00:52:21) – McDonald’s Onions & Public Awareness of Food Supply Risk (00:53:00) – Ukraine’s War Rippled Through the Wheat Market (00:54:30) – Fiber-Optic Drones and the Future of Cyber-Physical Warfare (00:56:10) – Meet Brian’s Podcast: People Add Value Experience (P.A.V.E.)

_______________________________________________ Show Notes:

📚 Books & Documentaries Mentioned:

• Salt Sugar Fat by Michael Moss – A behind-the-scenes look at how processed food is engineered for maximum appeal — mentioned in Brian’s discussion about food memory and food science. https://a.co/d/byO516w
• The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg – Referenced during the conversation on safety culture, behavioral change, and leadership accountability. https://a.co/d/9YwlmM6
• Mindset by Dr. Carol Dweck – brought up in the context of continuous learning and a growth mindset in cybersecurity and industry adaptation. https://a.co/d/9aherBX
• Poisoned (Netflix documentary featuring Dr. Darren Dettweiler) – Recommended by Kristin as a must-watch on food safety failures, systemic vulnerabilities, and public health. https://www.netflix.com/title/81460481
• Sandworm: A New Era of Cyberwar and the Hunt for the Kremlin’s Most Dangerous Hackers by Andy Greenberg – Brian mentioned the NotPetya cyberattack and its impact on global shipping and food supply chains. https://a.co/d/eWmJH8Y

🧠 Key Terms & Concepts:

• Risk Management Framework (RMF) – NIST SP 800-37 Referenced in Brian’s experience assessing and i