InGuardians Team

“So, people hire you to break into their places to make sure no one can break into their places?” - Sneakers 1992
InGuardians, Inc. is an independent information security consulting company providing high-value services.  Our specialties include Red Team Penetration Testing, Hardware and  Application Security Assessments, Threat Hunting, Security Architecture Reviews, ICS and IIoT Security,  Kubernetes and Public Cloud Security, Incident Response, Custom Training, and more.

InGuardians strives to assemble the best and the brightest minds in information security.  Our aim is to channel the collective talents of our team in providing actionable business-focused information security consulting.

Established in 2003 by industry veterans, InGuardians brings technical experience and business acumen to your projects. Our information security professionals have authored tools, books, testing frameworks, and training programs.

Jimmy Alderson

Jimmy Alderson

Chief Product Officer & Chairman of the Board

Super Power: Rainmaker

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 Jimmy Alderson is a web application and data correlation expert. Jimmy conducts network architecture reviews and security audits. He is an author of the Syngress best seller Nessus Network Auditing. Jimmy joins InGuardians after working for ISS, Meta Security Group, and ESecurity Inc. Jimmy: “Been with InGuardians since inception. I’m the CEO, so I talk to a lot of technical champions inside numerous organizations. Occasionally I get up to shop myself. I work with Jay, who does Operations, and spend a lot of my time on the phone.”
Jay Beale

Jay Beale

Chief Executive Officer, CTO

Super Power: Command line Kung Fu

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Jay Beale is Chief Executive Officer and Principal Security Consultant for InGuardians. He works on Kubernetes, Linux and Cloud-Native security, both as a professional threat actor and an Open Source contributor. He’s the architect of the Peirates attack tool for Kubernetes and the Bustakube CTF Kubernetes cluster. He created Bastille Linux, a lockdown tool that introduced a vital security-training component, and the Center for Internet Security’s Linux scoring tool, both used by hundreds of thousands. Since 2000, he has led training classes on Linux & Kubernetes security at the Black Hat, RSA, CanSecWest and IDG conferences, as well as in private training.

Jay is a member of the Kubernetes project and previously co-led the project’s Security Audit Working Group. In the past, through Bastille Linux and his work with the Center for Internet Security, he provided leadership in the Linux system hardening space, participating in efforts to create and implement standards for Linux security within industry and government. He also served as a member of the Honeynet Project, Mitre’s OVAL Board, and the Cyber Security Policy and Research Institute at George Washington University.

As an author and series editor, Jay has contributed to nine books, including those in the “Jay Beale’s Open Source Security Series,” which included an international bestseller. As a speaker, Jay has given more than one hundred public talks and chaired two conferences.

Mike Poor

Mike Poor

Chief Information Security Officer

Super Power: I see dead packets

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Mike Poor, as one of the original founders, has been with InGuardians since its inception in 2003. As President, he primarily guides the vision of the company and acts as an insightful consigliere when the chips are down. As a Senior Security Analyst, he conducts large scale breach analysis for clients, tests new technology, and brings a thoughtful attack plan to any information security issue or incident. Mike has supported Intrusion Detection and Incident Response teams for the military, worked for Sourcefire as a research engineer, and served the SANS Institute by leading their Intrusion Analysis Team. He has also been leading and teaching the Intrusion Detection Track at the SANS Institute since 2001, is the author and editor of the international bestseller Snort 2.1, a technical book from Syngress, and acts as a Handler for the Internet Storm Center. Aside from his powerful security intelligence and overwhelming charisma, the team finds that his most useful superpower is his uncanny ability to get into any restaurant. The rest of the time, he enjoys fly fishing, mushroom hunting, sailing, and playing ukuleles.
Bob Hillery

Bob Hillery

Chief Operations Officer, CRO

Super Power: Asking the unasked questions and getting out of the way

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Bob Hillery is an experienced consultant in Information Systems Security Management. He is a founder and Chief Research Officer with InGuardians, Inc. and has an extensive background in computer networks gained through the Navy and R&D labs. Bob has worked in National Institute of Justice projects and been a Senior researcher with the Institute for Security Technology Studies at Dartmouth College. He served as the Vice President of Academic Affairs & Chair of Information Systems Department for NH Community Technical College, and currently teaches National Security and Cyber-terrorism research courses at the Henry C. Lee College of Forensic Sciences at the University of New Haven. He has significant experience with both the management side and technical issues of security incident handling from his consulting practice. Bob’s professional certifications and affiliations include CISSP, GIAC, MCSE, ISSA and HTCIA.
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Larry Pesce

Larry Pesce

Director of Research and Development, Principal Consultant

Super Power: The ability to consume unfathomable amounts of coffee and still get a good night sleep. 

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Larry Pesce graduated with a Bachelor of Computer Information Systems in 2006, and has worked professionally as Senior Managing Security Analyst with InGuardians since 2013 and as the Director of Research since 2015. His history with hardware hacking began with the family TV when he was a kid, rebuilding it after it caught on fire. Both times. Later, as a web developer for a university in the early days of the Internet, he managed some of the first Layer 3 switched networks in the world. His core specialities include hardware and wireless hacking, architectural review, and traditional pentesting, often in the financial, energy and healthcare sectors. On the managerial side, he makes sure all the wheels are still on the ground, going over reports, and leading up research efforts, concentrating especially on IoT. He also regularly gives talks at DEF CON, ShmooCon, DerbyCon, and various BSides. Larry holds the GAWN, GCISP, GCIH, GCFA, and ITIL certifications, and has been a certified instructor with SANS for 5 years, where he trains the industry in advanced wireless and Industrial Control Systems (ICS) hacking. He’s also the co-author of multiple papers and books, including Linksys WRT54G Ultimate Hacking, Using Wireshark and Ethereal, and How to Cheat at Configuring Open Source Security Tools; and the technical editor of Wireless Reconnaissance for Penetration Testing, and The Blue Team Handbook: Incident Response Edition. In 2006, he co-founded the multiple international award-winning security podcast, “Paul’s Security Weekly”, which he continues to co-host. Alongside inspiring 150,000 downloads a month, Larry’s independent research for the show has led to interviews with the New York Times with MythBusters’ Adam Savage, hacking internet-connected marital aids on stage at DEFCON, and having his RFID implant cloned on stage at Shmoocon. When not hard at work, Larry enjoys long walks on the beach weighed down by his ham radio, (DE KB1TNF), and thinking of ways to survive the impending zombie apocalypse.
Jaime Thornton

Jaime Thornton

Director of Sales

Super Power: Multitasking at the speed of light

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Jaime began her journey with InGuardians in 2011 as a Sales Associate and is presently the Director of Sales. Jaime spends her days working closely with multiple clients from a variety of industries around the world, overseeing each step of the InGuardians’ sales process. Jaime’s greatest strengths are her creativity, her exceptional writing skills, and her unique ability to skillfully listen and interpret information in order to assist clients with meeting their security assessment needs. Jaime received her BA from Wells College, and her MA from UAB. In addition to her unhealthy obsession with Monchhichis, Jaime has two unwavering convictions: 1) There’s nothing like a good penetration test. 2) David Bowie will always rock!
James Thornton

James Thornton

Sales Project Manager

Super Power: Legal Document Whisperer

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A die hard Crimson Tide fan, James has been with the InGuardians Team for over four years. He assists with sales, including preparing legal documents and responding to RFPs. After hours he likes to unplug and enjoy time with his family.
Rob CurtinSeufert

Rob CurtinSeufert

Director of Services

Super Power: RF armored PJ’s

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Rob CurtinSeufert has spent years in and out of Bank and Credit Union networks. Rob has conducted network, wireless, and web application penetration tests against organizations ranging from 25 million to 10 billion in assets. He also works in incident response and social engineering, both on and off site. He once took over a county from his couch while still wearing his pajamas

Justin Searle

Justin Searle

Director of ICS Security

Super Power: “This Justin does not have Super Cow Powers…”

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Justin Searle is the Director of ICS Security at InGuardians, specializing in ICS security architecture design and penetration testing. Justin led the Smart Grid Security Architecture group in the creation of NIST Interagency Report 7628 and has played key roles in the Advanced Security Acceleration Project for the Smart Grid (ASAP-SG), National Electric Sector Cybersecurity Organization Resources (NESCOR), and Smart Grid Interoperability Panel (SGIP). Justin has taught courses in hacking techniques, forensics, networking, and intrusion detection for multiple universities, corporations, and security conferences. Mr. Searle is currently a Senior Instructor for the SANS Institute. In addition to electric power industry conferences, Justin frequently presents at top international security conferences such as Black Hat, DEFCON, OWASP, Nullcon, and AusCERT. Justin co-leads prominent open source projects including the The Control Thing Platform, Samurai Web Testing Framework (SamuraiWTF), Samurai Security Testing Framework for Utilities (SamuraiSTFU), Yokoso!, and Laudanum. Justin has an MBA in International Technology and is a CISSP and SANS GIAC certified Incident Handler (GCIH), Intrusion Analyst (GCIA), Web Application Penetration Tester (GWAPT), and GIAC Industrial Control Security Professional (GICSP).

Zlatka Pavlova

Zlatka Pavlova

Marketing and Social Media Specialist

Super Power: Manual research

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Zlata Pavlova has been living two lives. In one life, she is Mrs. Pavlova, an Outreach and Marketing Coordinator for a consulting firm InGuardians. She is in charge of all things Social Media and Marketing. The other life is lived in computers, where she’s exploiting her OSINT and Social Engineering skills on Red Team engagements and various OSINT CTF events. In her free time, she enjoys watching true crime documentaries and traveling.
Jareth Kelly

Jareth Kelly

Senior Managing Consultant

Super Power: Locator of things

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Jareth Kelly graduated from Clover Park Technical College in 2015 with an AAT in computer networking and information systems security with an emphasis on Cisco network design and computer communications security. Jareth has been working in the field since graduation day, but has been intrigued about how things function since he was a child; taking apart toys and putting them back together just to see how they work. Prior to InGuardians Jareth spent most weeks breaking into financial institution networks or socially engineering his way into network closets and private areas.
Nora Fletcher

Nora Fletcher

Business Operations Manager

Super Power: Helping Others

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Nora is the Business Operations Manager for InGuardians. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Walsh College. Nora is an Air Force Veteran. She is passionate about team building and believes leadership is more about what you do than what you say. When Nora isn’t helping others; she is traveling, at a concert, or talking about The Rock Boat!
Erika Pshsniak

Erika Pshsniak

Sales Administrative Assistant

Super Power: Tenacity

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Erika joined InGuardians in 2019 and works as a Sales Assistant to our awesome Sales Team.
She works hard to keep the sales ship running smoothly by assisting the team with whatever tasks they need or don’t know they need.
Prior to working with InGuardians, she worked in the Arts & Entertainment industry doing promotions. On her off time, she loves to go concerts, be creative making things and nerding out on documentaries.  
Ray Ancel

Ray Ancel

Senior Security Consultant

Super Power: Information Absorption

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Ray has been obsessed with computers all his life. Realizing his dream early, he graduated from Clover Park Technical College at 18 years old with an AAS-T degree in Computer Networking and Information Systems Security. Since graduating he has used his skills as a penetration tester and red teamer to help clients of all kinds, with an emphasis on financial institutions, healthcare organizations, and payment processors. He particularly loves to learn new skills, then turn around and pass his newfound knowledge onto others.
When not breaking into computer networks and secure buildings, Ray enjoys jumping out of perfectly good airplanes, exploring dark caves, and playing Dungeons and Dragons.
Alana Trimble

Alana Trimble

Security Analyst

Super Power: Note-taking a.k.a The Scribe 

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Alana initially attended a prestigious private university and worked in their IT department. Quickly becoming a supervisor, Alana’s natural abilities to solve complex IT issues encouraged her to transfer to Clover Park Technical College. Alana focused on penetration testing and after encouragement from former CPTC alum and current InGuardians senior leadership, Alana joined the Pacific Rim Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition team. By her second year, Alana became the Co-Captain where they not only placed in the top 5 but were the only 2 year school to do so. Calm under pressure, Alana simultaneously prepared for the CPTC competition, attended classes full time and was the only accepted intern at InGuardians. Having graduated with honors with an AAS-T in Network Operations & Systems Security, Alana still manages to enjoy gaming with her husband and friends, making espresso for others, and listening to metal music, especially Killswitch Engage!
Brandon Rudolph

Brandon Rudolph

Security Consultant

Super Power: Never satisfied with knowing “just enough”

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Brandon Rudolph is a Security Consultant who enjoys digging in the weeds both as a security professional and organic gardener. Originally defending and hardening systems, Brandon eventually shifted his focus to more adversarial tactics and now takes a holistic approach to security by assessing an environment’s entire security stack. With extensive experience in best practices, architecture reviews, and cloud integrations, as well as OSINT, social engineering, and red team engagements, Brandon helps customers avoid common pitfalls, familiarizes them with available options specific to their environments, and provides practical and achievable solutions to their unique problems.
Brian Halbach

Brian Halbach

Senior Security Consultant

Super Power: To see the positive in every situation

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Brian Halbach graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stout with a degree in Information Technology Management and a Minor in Computer Science. During college, Brian spent several years working as a help-desk employee, which later led to a career as a Systems Administrator and then Network Engineer for both small companies and Fortune 5 companies. After realizing the lack of security that many organizations had Brian spent time as a lead Network Security Engineer helping organizations deploy the tools, technology, and processes to help make them more secure. After spending years helping defend organizations and realizing that companies still had problems seeing and understanding their security gaps, Brian switched over to red teaming and penetration testing, where he is able to use his knowledge and understanding of people, systems, and programming to bring new insights and intuition to his security testing. One of the things Brian enjoys the most about working in security consulting is being able to talk to clients about their issues and being able to help find answers to security questions when there is not an obvious solution.
Jonathan Studebaker

Jonathan Studebaker

Security Consultant

Super Power: Excessive whistling

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Jon has an educational background in Computer Science and holds Emeritus status at the University of Nevada, Reno for his contributions to the organization. Over the years he has worked in various Information Technology and Security related roles including software development, incident response, database and systems administration, IoT hacking, and security consulting. His varied skillset and background led him to penetration testing where he currently uses his abilities to help people and organizations find solutions that improve their security posture.

When Jon isn’t whistling behind a computer screen, he enjoys being a husband and father, attending concerts and festivals, woodworking, playing board games, and riding old mopeds.