Presentation
SecuriDay @ UVU: Cybersecurity Awareness Workshop
Utah Valley University • Orem, UT
Interactive cybersecurity awareness workshop for students covering phishing attacks, password security, deepfakes, and practical defense strategies.
Try the interactive terminal and CTF
~ — bash
Type 'help' for available commands.
I’m the Deputy Chief Information Security Officer at Utah Valley University, where I lead cybersecurity strategy for Utah’s largest public university, protecting critical infrastructure, research data, and the digital lives of 47,000 students and 5,500 faculty and staff.
With over 20 years of progressive experience in information security, I’ve built my career at the intersection of higher education and enterprise security. My focus areas include Zero Trust architecture, Identity and Access Management (IAM), cloud security, and penetration testing. I believe in security that enables rather than obstructs, building systems that protect institutions while keeping education accessible and open.
At UVU, I’ve led transformative initiatives that have fundamentally changed how we approach security. I architected and deployed a Zero Trust network infrastructure across campus, implemented university-wide multi-factor authentication with 100% adoption, and introduced passwordless authentication options for all users. I also led the deployment of endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions protecting over 7,500 devices and worked on a unified IAM platform that streamlined access management across the institution.
Beyond UVU, I coordinate security efforts across the entire Utah System of Higher Education (USHE). As leader of the USHE Security Assessment Team, I direct penetration testing assessments across all 16 public colleges and universities in the state.
In 2024, I was honored to receive the Presidential Award of Excellence from Utah Valley University.
I’m also passionate about developing the next generation of security professionals. As an adjunct professor, I teach courses in penetration testing, network defense, and security architecture, giving students hands-on experience with the same tools and techniques used by practitioners in the field.
I hold a CISSP certification along with eight GIAC certifications in penetration testing, defensive security architecture, threat detection, and systems administration. My education includes an MBA from Utah State University and a B.S. in Information Technology from Utah Valley University.
I’m always open to connecting with fellow security professionals, speaking opportunities, or collaborative research.
With over 20 years of progressive experience in information security, I’ve built my career at the intersection of higher education and enterprise security. My focus areas include Zero Trust architecture, Identity and Access Management (IAM), cloud security, and penetration testing. I believe in security that enables rather than obstructs, building systems that protect institutions while keeping education accessible and open.
At UVU, I’ve led transformative initiatives that have fundamentally changed how we approach security. I architected and deployed a Zero Trust network infrastructure across campus, implemented university-wide multi-factor authentication with 100% adoption, and introduced passwordless authentication options for all users. I also led the deployment of endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions protecting over 7,500 devices and worked on a unified IAM platform that streamlined access management across the institution.
Beyond UVU, I coordinate security efforts across the entire Utah System of Higher Education (USHE). As leader of the USHE Security Assessment Team, I direct penetration testing assessments across all 16 public colleges and universities in the state.
In 2024, I was honored to receive the Presidential Award of Excellence from Utah Valley University.
I’m also passionate about developing the next generation of security professionals. As an adjunct professor, I teach courses in penetration testing, network defense, and security architecture, giving students hands-on experience with the same tools and techniques used by practitioners in the field.
I hold a CISSP certification along with eight GIAC certifications in penetration testing, defensive security architecture, threat detection, and systems administration. My education includes an MBA from Utah State University and a B.S. in Information Technology from Utah Valley University.
I’m always open to connecting with fellow security professionals, speaking opportunities, or collaborative research.
15+
Years in Cybersecurity
CISSP
Certified Professional
16
Campuses Pen Tested
Adjunct
Professor
Professional Certifications
Industry-recognized certifications demonstrating expertise in information security, penetration testing, and cloud architecture.
CISSP Certified Information Systems Security Professional
GPEN GIAC Penetration Tester
GDSA GIAC Defensible Security Architecture
GWAPT GIAC Web Application Penetration Tester
GDAT GIAC Defending Advanced Threats
GCDA GIAC Cloud Digital Forensics & Incident Response
GCWN GIAC Certified Windows Security Administrator
GSNA GIAC Systems and Network Auditor
Public Appearances
Presentations, interviews, and media coverage
Media
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Live TV interview discussing the global CrowdStrike outage that disrupted businesses, airlines, and critical infrastructure worldwide.
Latest Insights
Thoughts on cybersecurity, technology trends, and lessons from the field.
Let's Connect
Interested in discussing cybersecurity strategy or collaboration? I'd love to hear from you.