American Board of Information Security and Computer Forensics

This is an exciting time to serve as Chair of the ABISCF. How long have you been involved with the ABCHS program and how did you obtain the position of Board Chair?

I’ve been a CHS member since 2007. Herman Statum, an ABCHS Executive Committee member at the time, was one of my college teaching colleagues in Nashville. Herman introduced me to the CHS program and encouraged me to earn the CHS-I through CHS-V certifications. I met several other CHS members and the great ABCHS staff when I attended the annual conference in San Diego last year, and that’s when I decided to offer my cyber-security expertise to the CHS program on a volunteer basis. When [CHS Chief Association Officer] Marianne Schmid announced the formation of a new information security and digital forensics board within the Certified in Homeland Security program, I told her I’d be happy to help. Marianne’s call informing me I’d been selected as ABISCF chairman came at the perfect time, as I was transitioning out of the academic world and looking for new professional opportunities in the security field.

What do you consider to be the short-term and long-term goals of the ABISCF?

The short-term priority is clearly membership development: spreading the word, to current CHS members as well as prospective members, that we have a new board with a focus on information security and digital forensics.

Taking a longer view, we intend to become a source of continuing education, networking opportunities, and professional development for information security professionals. Today’s cyber-security pros are facing unprecedented challenges, and the skills that keep them competitive must be constantly updated and reinforced with new knowledge. When we share what we know, that knowledge becomes wisdom.

The Board is preparing to launch a certification program soon. How will that certification help individuals? Will it bring more recognition to the ABCHS program?

While there are several information security certifications already on the market, ours will test cyber-security and digital forensics knowledge within a larger Homeland Security framework. That’s really a focus for so many of us who are involved with the CHS program: the defense of our country’s critical infrastructure. In the case of information technology professionals, that means defending networks and information assets from both internal and external threats. These are skills that will become more relevant and more valuable over time, and we want to offer our members a way to validate their expertise by earning a respected credential. Ultimately, we hope that the new board and certification will mean increased involvement in CHS from cyber-security professionals who might not otherwise have been familiar with the Certified in Homeland Security program.

What types of professionals does the ABISCF seek to interest?

The term “information security” covers such a broad range of professional interests and specialties, it’s difficult to pin down the background and qualifications of a typical member. We certainly want the involvement of information technology specialists who realize the value of enhanced security within their organizations and professions. We have had a lot of interest from law enforcement, the military, and academia, and we welcome their participation as well. The “digital forensics” focus of our group may be of particular interest to police detectives, private investigators, legal professionals, and others involved in the analysis of digital evidence.

For ABCHS members who are looking to become involved with the Board, what information can you offer them?

There are many areas in which CHS members can contribute their talents and expertise. We need subject matter experts who can assist with the development and review of certification exam questions and courseware. We have formed an official ABISCF group on LinkedIn, and we invite active participation on our LinkedIn discussion board from members and prospective members. Anyone with an interest in ABISCF is welcome to contact me via e-mail at
chairman@abiscf.org. CHS members attending this year’s conference in Las Vegas are welcome to meet with me and our board members to discuss cyber-security, computer forensics, and other topics of current interest. We need your expertise! Let’s connect, discuss, and share.