Cybersecurity Expert and Ethical Hacker, with three decades of experience in cybersecurity and over 30 certifications in information technology, security and privacy.

Alex is a well-known industry veteran who has held several pivotal roles, including as a rapid prototype software developer on a DARPA information warfare grant, application security lead for the U.S. Department of Defense Travel System, a member of the Yahoo! Paranoids Product Security Team, co-founder and technical lead for the NASA Web Application Security Program, and cybersecurity subject matter expert for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). He is the co-author of the first preparation guide for the Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional (CSSLP) credential and a twenty-year contributor to the Open Worldwide Application Security Project (OWASP).

Alex has a background in mechanical and electrical systems engineering as an operational engineer and design engineer in manufacturing plants, power plants, and commercial ships. He has a bachelor's degree in marine engineering systems from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) and holds an active Chief Engineer (Limited) Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC).

In 2020, he obtained a master’s degree in information security engineering from the SANS Technology Institute (STI) and is currently enrolled in the Industrial Control Systems Security program.

Talented Ethical Hacker and Navy Veteran, with more than a decade of experience in several cybersecurity disciplines.

Chris has over 12 years of expertise in Penetration Testing, Incident Response, Risk Evaluation, Threat Intelligence, and System Administration. While Active Duty, Chris was the Incident Management Lead for the Navy Cyber Defense Operations Command where he specialized in response to attacks on classified and unclassified Navy networks across the globe. Throughout his career, Chris has provided actionable information for stakeholders to make informed decisions about reducing risk to the lowest possible levels.

In his spare time, Chris runs a series of honeypots to aggregate intelligence about Internet attacks, and has created content on HackTheBox, TryHackMe, and Cybrary. Chris is a multiple-time champion in the National Cyber League and the Red vs. Blue coach for the US Cyber Team. He recently co-authored a book, The Hack is Back: Techniques to Beat Hackers at Their Own Games, which was published by CRC Press in August 2024.

He holds a Master's in Cybersecurity Management and Policy, a Graduate Certificate in Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking, and numerous certifications, including CISSP, GICSP, GPEN, and GXPN. His work has led to over a dozen CVE's, showcasing his talent for identifying intricate vulnerabilities often overlooked by conventional scanning tools.

Chris is currently enrolled in the Industrial Control Systems Security program at STI.
His expertise focuses on identifying and attempting to exploit trust boundaries between security enclaves, allowing organizations with highly sensitive operational technologies to benefit from accurate assessments of risk leveraging Cyber Threat Intelligence.

Accomplished Penetration Tester and Leader, with more than a decade of experience in several cybersecurity disciplines.

Brett has over 14 years of IT experience, specializing in Penetration Testing, Incident Response, and Advanced Persistent Threat Simulation.

As the COO of Strong Crypto, Brett is responsible for implementing the company strategy into daily operations to meet strategic growth objectives.

As the founder and CEO of Axe.AI, a Dayton-based startup, Brett is working on developing innovative cybersecurity solutions. The company’s primary product is the world’s first AI-driven Cloud Native Offensive Security Platform designed to provide expert penetration testing capabilities to all IT specialists.

Brett holds degrees in Secure Systems Administration and Cybersecurity. He is currently enhancing his expertise by pursuing a master’s degree in Cybersecurity from the SANS Technology Institute (STI), a prestigious institution recognized as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the NSA.

Brett’s entrepreneurial journey includes participation in the Early Risers Academy, a 10-week business-building bootcamp. This experience helped accelerate the development of Axe.AI, leading to the company securing its first client and preparing its first white paper within a short period.

As a founder, Brett is described as having a passionate approach to his work, getting up “with fire every morning” since Axe.AI started to take off. He sees his company as being at the cutting edge where AI, cloud technology, and cybersecurity are converging, making it an exciting time in the industry.