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Meet The Team
Cybersecurity leaders of today
Dr. D. Arlo Bess
Instructor
Dr. Bess is a distinguished expert in the field of cyber security with a track record of more than 25 years of practical experience in building and managing information security programs for major global organizations. He has worked across a wide range of industries, including finance, healthcare, retail, state government, and telecommunications, and has held various high-level positions, such as Senior Vice President Information Security, Chief Technology Officer, Chief Information Officer, Vice President of Data Center Operations, and Master Level consultant for three of the largest global Fortune 100 consulting organizations.
In his role as a technical lead for security architecture, Dr. Bess has provided trusted advisory services to C-level executives in Fortune 100 companies, guiding them in the direction and execution of their security initiatives. He has also been a Certified Information Security Systems Professional (CISSP) from the International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC)² for over two decades.
Apart from his impressive industry experience, Dr. Bess has over a decade of experience teaching Ph.D. and master's level courses in cyber security, where he leverages his extensive real-world insights to enrich the learning experience. Dr. Bess earned his Ph.D. in Information Security in 2012 from Nova Southeastern University and has a Master's degree in the management of information security.
Dr. Bess is a distinguished expert in the field of cyber security with a track record of more than 25 years of practical experience in building and managing information security programs for major global organizations. He has worked across a wide range of industries, including finance, healthcare, retail, state government, and telecommunications, and has held various high-level positions, such as Senior Vice President Information Security, Chief Technology Officer, Chief Information Officer, Vice President of Data Center Operations, and Master Level consultant for three of the largest global Fortune 100 consulting organizations.
In his role as a technical lead for security architecture, Dr. Bess has provided trusted advisory services to C-level executives in Fortune 100 companies, guiding them in the direction and execution of their security initiatives. He has also been a Certified Information Security Systems Professional (CISSP) from the International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC)² for over two decades.
Apart from his impressive industry experience, Dr. Bess has over a decade of experience teaching Ph.D. and master's level courses in cyber security, where he leverages his extensive real-world insights to enrich the learning experience. Dr. Bess earned his Ph.D. in Information Security in 2012 from Nova Southeastern University and has a Master's degree in the management of information security.
Dr. Domingo Castillo
Instructor
Dr. Castillo is a highly acclaimed and seasoned information security professional.
He is currently serving as the Chief Information Security Officer of Miami Dade College (MDC).
Before joining MDC, Dr. Castillo was the Chief Information Security Officer at the University of Arkansas (UofA) in Fayetteville, an esteemed institution recognized as one of only 3 percent of universities in America with the highest level of research activity by the Carnegie Foundation. Before that, Dr. Castillo held the position of Regional Information Security and Compliance Officer at Chubb, where he was responsible for implementing cost-effective solutions to protect the information assets of the company's Latin America division.
Dr. Castillo's contributions to the field of cybersecurity were acknowledged with the (ISC)² Best Information Security Practitioner Award at the 2018 Information Security Leadership Awards (ISLA®) Americas ceremony in New Orleans, LA. This award recognizes individuals in both the private and public sectors who are making a positive impact in the field of cybersecurity.
Dr. Castillo has earned Master of Business Administration (MBA) from H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business, Nova Southeastern University. He also holds Master's Degrees in project management (MPM) and Public Administration (MPA) from Keller Graduate School of Management, DeVry University, and an Executive Doctor of Business Administration with a focus on information security from St. Thomas University. In addition, Dr. Castillo is certified in several professional areas, including Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP), Project Manager Professional (PMP), and CompTIA Security+.
Dr. Castillo is a highly acclaimed and seasoned information security professional.
He is currently serving as the Chief Information Security Officer of Miami Dade College (MDC).
Before joining MDC, Dr. Castillo was the Chief Information Security Officer at the University of Arkansas (UofA) in Fayetteville, an esteemed institution recognized as one of only 3 percent of universities in America with the highest level of research activity by the Carnegie Foundation. Before that, Dr. Castillo held the position of Regional Information Security and Compliance Officer at Chubb, where he was responsible for implementing cost-effective solutions to protect the information assets of the company's Latin America division.
Dr. Castillo's contributions to the field of cybersecurity were acknowledged with the (ISC)² Best Information Security Practitioner Award at the 2018 Information Security Leadership Awards (ISLA®) Americas ceremony in New Orleans, LA. This award recognizes individuals in both the private and public sectors who are making a positive impact in the field of cybersecurity.
Dr. Castillo has earned Master of Business Administration (MBA) from H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business, Nova Southeastern University. He also holds Master's Degrees in project management (MPM) and Public Administration (MPA) from Keller Graduate School of Management, DeVry University, and an Executive Doctor of Business Administration with a focus on information security from St. Thomas University. In addition, Dr. Castillo is certified in several professional areas, including Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP), Project Manager Professional (PMP), and CompTIA Security+.
Dr. Abdul Rahim Charif
Instructor
Dr. Charif is a well-established Information System Security researcher with a strong focus on secure information system design. He has a wealth of experience in the field and has made significant contributions to the advancement of information security.
Throughout his career, Abdul has held several academic positions, including serving as an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs and St. Thomas University. Currently, he is a lecturer for information security classes, sharing his extensive knowledge with students.
Abdul is a certified ethical hacker (CEH) and received his certification in 2017. He also serves as an EC-Council review board member, further demonstrating his commitment to the field. In addition to his CEH certification, Abdul holds a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification, which he received in 2019.
Abdul's academic credentials are equally impressive. He holds a Master of Science in Information Security and a Ph.D. in Information Assurance from Nova Southeastern University, which he received in 2017. He has a wealth of experience as a software engineering leader for several Fortune 500 companies, making him an expert in the field.
Dr. Charif is a well-established Information System Security researcher with a strong focus on secure information system design. He has a wealth of experience in the field and has made significant contributions to the advancement of information security.
Throughout his career, Abdul has held several academic positions, including serving as an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs and St. Thomas University. Currently, he is a lecturer for information security classes, sharing his extensive knowledge with students.
Abdul is a certified ethical hacker (CEH) and received his certification in 2017. He also serves as an EC-Council review board member, further demonstrating his commitment to the field. In addition to his CEH certification, Abdul holds a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification, which he received in 2019.
Abdul's academic credentials are equally impressive. He holds a Master of Science in Information Security and a Ph.D. in Information Assurance from Nova Southeastern University, which he received in 2017. He has a wealth of experience as a software engineering leader for several Fortune 500 companies, making him an expert in the field.
Julia Costin
COO | Co-Founder
Dr. Tina Honey
Advisory Committee Member
(Bio coming soon)
(Bio coming soon)
Dr. Ed Joseph
Instructor
(Bio coming soon)
(Bio coming soon)
Dr. Mauricio Angee
Instructor
(Bio coming soon)
(Bio coming soon)
Dr. Zareef Mohammed
Advisory Committee Member
Daniel "Danny" Magallanes, CISSP
Instructor
Danny Magallanes, a U.S. military veteran, former FBI Analyst, and consultant with over 20 years of extensive intelligence and cybersecurity experience, has forged a versatile career marked by leadership, innovation, and notable achievements across public and private sectors. With a demonstrated track record in identifying, managing, and mitigating cyber threats, Danny has consistently delivered tangible results in enhancing overall security posture and promoting strategic solutions. Danny is currently host and producer of Inclusive Cyber. Danny served as a senior manager at Accenture where he built and led the development of a cyber threat intelligence program to protect the 2020 Census and led intelligence, threat emulation, pen testing teams. At Cigna, he served as the Director of the Fusion Cell where he led the Fusion Cell – Cyber Threat Intelligence, Threat Hunt, and Adversary Simulation teams. Currently, he is a Senior Director of Enterprise Security for a global entertainment company. Currently, he is a Senior Director of a global Security Engineering team within an Entertainment Company. Lastly, he is passionate about increasing diversity of thought in the cybersecurity workforce by mentoring college students and transitioning professionals on how to prepare for their cybersecurity careers and help address cybersecurity’s biggest challenges.
Danny Magallanes, a U.S. military veteran, former FBI Analyst, and consultant with over 20 years of extensive intelligence and cybersecurity experience, has forged a versatile career marked by leadership, innovation, and notable achievements across public and private sectors. With a demonstrated track record in identifying, managing, and mitigating cyber threats, Danny has consistently delivered tangible results in enhancing overall security posture and promoting strategic solutions. Danny is currently host and producer of Inclusive Cyber. Danny served as a senior manager at Accenture where he built and led the development of a cyber threat intelligence program to protect the 2020 Census and led intelligence, threat emulation, pen testing teams. At Cigna, he served as the Director of the Fusion Cell where he led the Fusion Cell – Cyber Threat Intelligence, Threat Hunt, and Adversary Simulation teams. Currently, he is a Senior Director of Enterprise Security for a global entertainment company. Currently, he is a Senior Director of a global Security Engineering team within an Entertainment Company. Lastly, he is passionate about increasing diversity of thought in the cybersecurity workforce by mentoring college students and transitioning professionals on how to prepare for their cybersecurity careers and help address cybersecurity’s biggest challenges.
Dr. Roger Seeholzer
Advisory Committee Member
Dr. Gurvirender Tejay
CEO | Founder
Dr. Tejay’s research expertise is in the field of cybersecurity management and digital privacy. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed research publications. Within cybersecurity, his work has focused on insider threat detection, security governance, policy compliance, security culture, and developing secure systems.
Dr. Tejay has secured over $12 million in grant funds to support the education, training and development of professionals and educators in cybersecurity management. He has taught 80 cybersecurity courses training over 700 students in cybersecurity. Dr. Tejay has led creation of four information security degrees, three security specializations, two security majors, and three graduate and undergraduate certificates in cybersecurity.
Dr. Tejay was selected to serve as High-Level Facilitator (Ministers Track) for the United Nation’s World Summit on the Information Society Forum 2020. He is currently serving as Editor-in-Chief for ‘Organizational Cybersecurity Journal: Practice, Process and People’ with Emerald Publishing. Dr. Tejay served as Guest Editor for Special Collection on ‘Organizational Cybersecurity’ for SAGE Open journal and Special Issue on Privacy for ACM’s The DATA BASE for Advances in Information Systems journal, in addition to many other research capacities.
Dr. Tejay received Ph.D. in Information Systems from Virginia Commonwealth University. He also holds M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Chicago, and M.A. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.
Dr. Tejay’s research expertise is in the field of cybersecurity management and digital privacy. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed research publications. Within cybersecurity, his work has focused on insider threat detection, security governance, policy compliance, security culture, and developing secure systems.
Dr. Tejay has secured over $12 million in grant funds to support the education, training and development of professionals and educators in cybersecurity management. He has taught 80 cybersecurity courses training over 700 students in cybersecurity. Dr. Tejay has led creation of four information security degrees, three security specializations, two security majors, and three graduate and undergraduate certificates in cybersecurity.
Dr. Tejay was selected to serve as High-Level Facilitator (Ministers Track) for the United Nation’s World Summit on the Information Society Forum 2020. He is currently serving as Editor-in-Chief for ‘Organizational Cybersecurity Journal: Practice, Process and People’ with Emerald Publishing. Dr. Tejay served as Guest Editor for Special Collection on ‘Organizational Cybersecurity’ for SAGE Open journal and Special Issue on Privacy for ACM’s The DATA BASE for Advances in Information Systems journal, in addition to many other research capacities.
Dr. Tejay received Ph.D. in Information Systems from Virginia Commonwealth University. He also holds M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Chicago, and M.A. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.
Dr. Marcus Winkfield
Instructor
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