About
Learn more about Justin - Information Security Practitioner, Technology Hacker, and Lifelong Learner
Hey, I’m Justin
I (Justin) am a Technologist and Cybersecurity Aficionado. I have had the blessing to work and play in the Information Technology and Information Security Industry for 10+ years, and enjoyed almost every minute of it.
I spend my days advising organizations on how to keep their most valuable data safe, leading CMMC assessments, and helping defense contractors navigate a labyrinth of acronyms that could make even a seasoned bureaucrat sweat. By night and on weekends, you will usually find me behind a camera, tinkering with something I probably just voided a warranty on, or tumbling down a rabbit hole of curiosity that started with a simple question like “How does that work?” and ended three hours later with a new side project.
What I Do
My path has taken me through the trenches of managed security services, where I built and led security teams from scratch, into strategic consulting roles focused on risk, compliance, and making the complex understandable. I have helped healthcare organizations reach HITRUST certification, guided defense contractors through CMMC readiness, and supported businesses across industries in strengthening their security posture.
Along the way, I collected a handful of certifications including CISSP, OSCP, GXPN, CISM, LCCA and more than a dozen others. I do not take them too seriously; the real value has always been the learning itself. Every time I think I am getting a handle on the field, it reveals a new, unexplored continent of ideas; and it keeps me humble.
I earned a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology with a focus on Security from Western Governors University, and I am currently pursuing my MBA at Boston University. My learning does not stop at technology either. I wander freely through interests like horology (yes, clocks), psychology, horticulture, mythology, physics, philosophy, chemistry, and biology. Curiosity rules the kingdom.
Beyond Security
When I am not threat modeling or untangling compliance frameworks, you will probably find me doing something equally nerdy but with better lighting.
Behind the lens: Photography and videography give me a way to slow the world down. Sometimes I even manage to make it hold still long enough to get the shot.
Building things: A home lab running Kubernetes? Absolutely. NixOS configs that grow into sprawling ecosystems? Guilty. A side project in Go or Python because I had a thought at 1 a.m.? That happens more often than it should.
Exploring ideas: I have never met a topic I did not want to poke at. Blockchain, offensive security, esoteric math, strange philosophical side quests. All fair game.
Why “Focus with Justin”?
The name plays on more than photography. It is also a gentle nod to everyone who grew up hearing focus as if it were a moral directive. Focus with Justin is meant to soften that command into an invitation. It is about approaching things with intention, not tension. Whether I am knee deep in a security assessment, lining up a shot, or learning something new, I try to create a space where attention feels inviting rather than demanded; like a companion instead of a critic.
Let’s Connect
Beyond my occasional delusions of grandeur and technology prowess; I appreciate good company, good wine, good scotch, good food, and good conversation with curious minds. Whether you are into cybersecurity, photography, collaboration, or tinkering with unusual ideas, feel free to reach out through the contact page or find me on social.
Explore my work and connect with me through social media.