Chip Bircher is Head of Advisory for Solution Providers, Insurance Practice, at Aite-Novarica Group. He has extensive expertise in life insurance operational and organizational transformation, strategic planning and capability  development, and transformational leadership for the financial services industries. Prior to joining Aite-Novarica Group, Chip was the Chief Operating Officer for the Advanced Markets Network business and Head of Compliance and Controls for the Institutional Life business unit at New York Life, where he led operational, technology, and culture transformations. He retired after 28 years of service in the U.S. Army where he was a senior leader and expert in strategic communication and information warfare, culminating as the Director as the US Army Information Operations Proponent and Force Modernization Proponent Center. Chip has a B.A. in Political Science from The Citadel, an M.A. in Computer Resource and Information Management from Webster University, and an M.S. in Strategic Studies and Leadership from the U.S.  Army War College.