FARCASTER® Consulting Group specializes in cryptographic engineering and strategic consulting, with a particular focus on post-quantum (a.k.a. quantum-resistant) cryptography (PQC). We are experts in planning and executing cryptographic algorithm transitions.

Our founder, Dr. Brian A. LaMacchia, recently retired from a 25+-year career at Microsoft Corporation where he was a Distinguished Engineer and head of the Security and Cryptography team within Microsoft Research. Dr. LaMacchia is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering at Indiana University Bloomington, an Affiliate Faculty member of the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington, a former Member of the Computing Community Consortium Council, and a Member of the Forum on Cyber Resiliance at the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine. Dr. LaMacchia is a member of the 2026 class of IACR Fellows, currently serves as Treasurer of the International Association for Cryptologic Research (IACR) and as a Steering Committee member of the Symposium on Real World Cryptography, and previously served as General Chair of CRYPTO 2016. Dr. LaMacchia also serves as a Vice President of the Board of Directors of Seattle Opera. Dr. LaMacchia received S.B., S.M., and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT in 1990, 1991, and 1996, respectively.

For more information about our services or to discuss your particular problem area, please send email to info@farcaster.com.

a headshot photograph of Brian LaMacchia shot through a portion of the sculpture Ada by Jenny Sabin

Dr. LaMacchia's recent work on post-quantum cryptography includes publications in Communications of the ACM, invited keynotes at IEEE SecDev, and contributions to the National Academies report on Cryptography and the Intelligence Community. See the Publications page for a complete list.