Introducing the Security Catalyst Contributors for 2009

It is with excitement that I introduce to you the Security Catalyst Contributors. Look for their ideas, insights and strategies for success each month- and then join us on the blog or in the Security Catalyst Community to engage and continue the conversation. 

Adam Dodge

Adam is the Information Technology Security Officer for a university and highly interested in information security within academia. Adam operates Educational Security Incidents, a web site dedicated to tracking reported breaches that occur at colleges and universities around the world. Adam received his BA from SUNY Oswego, his MSIA from Norwich University and holds the CISSP certification.

Aaron Titus

Aaron Titus is the Privacy director for the Liberty Coalition (http://www.libertycoalition.net), and runs National ID Watch, where you can search to find out whether your personal information has been exposed. Aaron has appeared on TV, radio, and Internet radio programs across the country, and has written on privacy for the Chronicle of Higher Education and the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. Aaron is a proud father of four and has a diverse background, specializing in Information Privacy Law at the George Washington University Law School, and earning a BS in Architecture from the University of Utah.

David Stern

David is a security professional born from the dot-com era of the late 90′s. Graduating from Polytechnic University, he joined as one of the first employees at a startup that developed content management and firewall appliances for the educational market. From there, David moved to a number of niche information security consulting shops, quickly rising to leadership roles, pushing the practice of information security to the bleeding edge. In the past few years, David has held positions in both corporate and government sectors, leading teams from the front, pushing for excellence. Today, David is the IT Security manager responsible for engineering and operations in the City of New York. When not responding to security incidents, David can be found responding to fire and EMS incidents in his local volunteer fire department.

Michael Starks

Michael is an Information Security Professional specializing in host-based security, IDS, log analysis and compliance. He believes in applying basic security principles to an ever-changing threat landscape, and is currently exploring the various ways in which human behavior affect the success of security programs.  He is a founding member of the Rochester, NY chapter of ISSA and has served for both ISSA and OWASP. He currently holds the CISSP, GSNA and A+ certifications.  In his spare time, Michael enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, and listening to early twentieth-century blues.

Ron Simmons

Ron Simmons is a security professional that lives and works in San Diego, California. Ron started his career in the Navy serving 10 years in the Submarine force. Since then he has worked is industries such as hosting, insurance, financial, and the utilities. Ron has worked in many aspects of network and system security to include management roles, incident response, forensics, policy creation and management, and more.

Currently he holds the CISSP, GCIH, HISP, GCIA, GCWN and the GCFA certifications.

Joe Knape

Joe Knape is an information security professional with over 15 years of experience (and that doesn’t mean one year of experience repeated 15 times) working for everything from “Mom and Pop” software companies to multi-national corporations. As a contributor to the Security Catalyst blog he will bring an occasionally unique and sometimes iconoclastic viewpoint to the arena of ideas surrounding information security. You will not always agree but you will almost always be entertained.

David McCartney

David McCartney is a Senior Information Security Analyst for a large teaching hospital in the Midwest. He has been working in IT for over 15 years and has a passion for security awareness and helping people. Currently he holds a Master of Science in Network Security from Capitol College in Laurel, MD and a Blue Belt in Gracie Jiu Jitsu. During his spare time, David enjoys relaxing with his wife and son, and collecting and playing hand percussion.

Julie Fugett

Julie Fugett is an Information Security Analyst at a large research university in the Midwest. Her primary roles include security awareness, incident response, and computer forensics.  Julie comes to the field of IT security by way of a bachelors degree in Music Education and 8 years as a network administrator. She holds the CISSP and CCE (Certified Computer Examiner) certifications. In her spare time, she enjoys baking, running, and playing softball.

Trish Smith

Trish builds on over fifteen years of experience in areas such as community services, human resources, client support, public relations, and project management. She has worked with non-profits, consultant groups, IT companies, and clinicians to develop and implement systems that help them manage and grow their business more effectively and efficiently. A graduate of SUNY Albany, Trish’s Master’s in Social Welfare provides her the knowledge and experience to incorporate and consider the human element in all of her work.

Jeff Kirsch

Jeff is an IT auditor in the financial sector with a strong focus on IT infrastructure.  Prior to working in the financial sector, Jeff spent 10 years auditing both the financial statements and IT systems of state agencies and local governments, with clients ranging in size from small villages to the lottery commission.  Jeff has earned both his CPA (inactive) and CISA.  To relax, Jeff spends time with his wife and four kids finding new adventures.

James Costello

James is the Project Manager for an Internet hosting company and the owner of GenesysWave.  James has worked in information technology since 1996 and has specialized in security since 2001. James has moderated discussions on security at the RSA conference and the Midwest Consolidated Security Forum. James focuses on generating security awareness and utilizes pop culture references to explain more complex concepts. James has a BA from the University of Saint Mary, holds a CompTIA Security + certification with Subject Matter Expert distinction, a Cisco CCSP certification and recently passed the CISSP exam. James is married to his college sweetheart and is the proud father of a beautiful 6 year old.

Michael Santarcangelo

The author of Into the Breach, Michael J. Santarcangelo, II is a human catalyst that works with organizations to proactively change the way people protect information to reduce costs, increase revenue and manage risk. An expert who speaks on information protection – including compliance, privacy and awareness – Michael energizes and inspires his audiences to shift their thinking and change their behaviors.