After graduating from high school, I went into the US Navy for 6 years. The first year was spent in Electronics Training (mainly on shipboard radar systems). The 2nd year was spent at Naval Nuclear Power school. During 6 months, I learned about metallurgy, radiation principles, heat transfer and fluid flow, thermodynamics, chemistry and a ton of other things. The final test was a 4 hour, 400 point, essay exam (20 questions at 20 points each). You needed a 250 to pass, I got a 240. So, for the next 4 years of my enlistment, I worked Security/Law Enforcement at a Naval Weapons Station in Fallbrook, CA. The last year there, I actually spent as the Training Coordinator, conducting military training as well as other training for the force. After I left the Navy, I started doing my general studies through Mankato State. I was able to get a job at Sheldahl, Inc in Northfield, working in a clean room printing circuits for various flexible circuit needs. Very interesting job. I took a full load of credits from Mankato State (through extension classes in Faribault and Owatonna) while working full time (nights). Not fun (as you all know very well!). I started with Concordia in their Organizational Management and Communications BA program in Owatonna in 1996 (Cohort 196). Graduated with my BA from there in 1998. In late 2000, I started at Concordia in the Organizational Management MA program and graduated there in 2002 (Cohort 45). I started teaching at Concordia that same year as an adjunct. After my job at Sheldahl, I left there and went to work for Rice County Social Services as a Financial Worker. Only guy in a team of 20 ladies. Very interesting! My heart was always in IT, though and I left the county after 10 months and went to work for Federated Insurance in Owatonna, starting out in a helpdesk‐like role. Eventually I moved up to Senior Network Engineer by the time I left there a little over 5 years later. I then went to work for Treasure Island Resort & Casino in Red Wing as a Network and DB Administrator. Spent nearly 2 years there before moving to my current company, Black Knight Financial Services where I have been for the past 16+ years. In this position, I am Risk Technology Consultant. In this capacity, I provide in-depth information security research and information to our infrastructure managers. I am also on our Information Security Council and handle Internal and External IT audits. I also manage our scanning systems (Whitehat Security, Dell Secureworks among others). I telecommute from my home in Faribault, MN and travel quite a lot. Our offices are in Jacksonville, FL and Overland Park, KS. It is a very interesting job that keeps me quite busy! I also do consulting on the side as VCS Consulting (http://vcsconsult.com) I’ve been working with computer systems since the Personal Computer revolution started (bought my first one in 1979 – Atari 400). I’ve seen a lot of change over the years, as I’m sure you have as well. ACADEMIC / PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS: M.A., Organizational Management, Concordia University B.A., Organizational Management - Communication, Concordia University Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP - ISC2) Certified Information Systems Manager (CISM - ISACA) Certified Computer Forensic Examiner (CCFE - IACRB) Certified Data Recovery Professional (CDRP - IACRB)