Security Center of Excellence (SCE)

Open HU Bio – Bruce Young

Bruce aligns with business objectives, considering how security initiatives reduce risks while providing a competitive advantage. He develops proven security strategies to combat emerging threats when researching security vulnerabilities to determine compromising trends. Recognized as a change agent, Bruce has proven problem-solving, project management, and interpersonal skills. Through years of cybersecurity experience, he impacts cultural change through awareness programs and security advocacy.

Bruce is a full-time faculty member as a Cybersecurity Graduate Program Lead and Professor. He completed his Doctoral degree in Information Assurance in 2022. Past positions include Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for a Fortune 500 company, Global Security and Compliance Officer, Threat Risk Control Officer, Cloud Security Design Directory, Cybersecurity Program Architecture, and Initiations. Bruce also has extensive experience with PCI-DSS, HIPAA, Sarbanes Oxley, NIST Security Frameworks, and SOC2 Compliance.

Degrees: Doctorate in Information Assurance, MPS in Cybersecurity & Information Assurance; Masters Business Administration

Certifications: CISSP, PMP, ITILv3

Chris Allwein has over 20 years of experience in many facets of IT, the last 2+ focusing on Cyber Security. Chris leads the Pennsylvania Cybersecurity Threat Intelligence Unit (PA Cybercom) that focuses on making Pennsylvania safer digitally. Chris and his unit are engaged in providing oversight into identifying, collecting, analyzing, and disseminating cyber threat, vulnerability, and incident information to private and public sector partners and owners and operators of critical infrastructure within the Commonwealth.

Shawnte´ Arrington is a versatile cybersecurity professional and seasoned technical leader known to implement progressive solutions to modernize workflows and shift company cultures to embrace digitization, integration, and automation. Priding herself on building dynamic teams and empowering others, she is committed to transparency and inclusion and mentors women in tech both at work and through HU’s STEM-UP Network.

Shawnte´ is currently employed as a Host Detection Engineer with TikTok where she enjoys exchanging knowledge with her colleagues to better support organizations through collaboration, transparency and inclusion. Shawnte´ is the first student to finish HU’s Cybersecurity Operations and Management program, accepting her Bachelor of Science as Summa Cum Laude. Past positions include Human Resources Manager, Policy & Compliance Manager, Lead Software Developer, and Technical Consultant.

Degrees
BS, Cybersecurity Ops & Management
BA, Visual & Performing Arts

Certifications
Security +
IT Security Analyst
Tanium Certified Operator
Tanium Certified Administrator

Erik Avakian is a former state chief information security officer for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Erik has over 22 years enterprise experience in security and program management, strategy, service delivery, relationship management, cross-collaboration, program execution, and leading and mentoring teams. Erik now fills the role of a senior advisor as a Cybersecurity Executive Counselor at Info-Tech Research Group.

Throughout his 12 ½-year tenure in a CISO role, spanning three different administrations, Erik has amassed a wide range of practical cybersecurity experience in organizational information security strategy, service design, technical standards, security policy, governance, risk management, and compliance. Erik has led numerous enterprise projects and strategic initiatives in areas including intrusion detection and prevention, multifactor authentication, endpoint detection and response, security awareness training, security information and event management, data protection, identity and access management, vulnerability management, digital forensics, and cyber incident response.

Erik’s accomplishments and contributions to the security profession have been nationally recognized. In 2015, Erik was named by GovTech as one of the top 10 Influencers in Government. Erik received a Top 50 in Cybersecurity from StateScoop in 2018, and was named a Top 25 Doer, Dreamer & Driver from GovTech in 2019.

Scott Becvar currently serves as the Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Deputy Command Information Officer. He is responsible for providing management of the Information Systems Program across the NAVSUP Enterprise.

Director, Logistics Solutions Department for the NAVSUP Business Systems Center in Mechanicsburg, PA. He is responsible for supporting operations, development, and maintenance of NAVSUP Supply and Logistics applications.

Mr. Becvar initially joined NAVSUP Business Systems Center in October, 2000 supporting various aspects of NAVSUP cybersecurity. He was later assigned as the NAVSUP Assistant Information Assurance Program Manager; Deputy Director, Technology Services Department; Director, Technology Services Department; and Director, Logistics Solutions Department before assuming his current position in July 2023.

Prior to joining NAVSUP Business Systems Center, Mr. Becvar served 24 years in the United States Marine Corps from 1976 to 2000 within the Signals Intelligence/Ground Electronic Warfield specialty. He was stationed in multiple locations to include Okinawa, Korea, Scotland, Camp Lejeune, NC, MCAS El Toro, CA, and Fort Meade, MD. His final tour was as the Operations Officer, Marine Cryptologic Support Battalion at Fort Meade, MD. He participated in numerous deployments to include shipboard expeditionary forces and Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

Mr. Becvar received his Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Maryland for Computer Science and Information Systems, and a Master of Science Degree from Shippensburg University for Information Systems Management. He holds current certifications for Certified Information Systems Security Professional and Certified Authorization Professional. He was selected as the 2003 NAVSISA Employee of the year, and in 2006, was a recipient of the Civilian Meritorious Service Award Medal.

Mr. Gobin assumed the duties of the Command Operations Officer on 16 December 2024. He is a native of McConnellsburg, PA and graduated from Indiana University of PA. In 1994 he completed his Masters of Information Systems, graduating with Academic Distinction from Hawai’i Pacific University. Mr. Gobin completed the Chief Information Officer Certificate program with a concentration in Cyber-Security from the National Defense University in 2010.

Mr. Gobin’s previous assignments included the Director of Technology Services Support Department and Director, Data / Analytics Solutions Department at the Navy Supply Systems Command, Business Systems Center. He also served as the Director, Command, Control, Communications, and Computers (C4) Department / Command Information Officer (CIO) at the Marine Corps Logistics Command and as the Director, Communications Information and Systems Division / CIO, Marine Corps Logistics Base, Albany GA.

Mr. Gobin enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1984 and was commissioned through the Enlisted Commissioning Program in 1986. He has had numerous tours during his 22-year career, retiring in 2006 as a Lieutenant Colonel while serving as the Deputy C4 / CIO for the Marine Corps Logistics Command. Notable assignments included the Defense Finance and Accounting Service in Kansas City, Missouri, where he participated in the Capability Maturity Model Level 2 certification for the Marine Corps Total Force System and served as the Technical Project Officer for the Standard Accounting, Budgeting and Reporting System; Operations Officer for U.S. Marine Corps Forces Atlantic, responsible for Communications solutions for Marine Expeditionary Units aboard Naval Amphibious Shipping; and Marine Corps Liaison Officer in support of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command during Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.

During his service to Marine Forces Atlantic and Logistics Command, he was a member of the Headquarters, Marine Corps Information Technology Steering Group, responsible for defining Capital Planning and Investment Control strategies, managing the Marine Corps IT portfolio, and identifying IT investment opportunities for the Marine Corps.

Mr. Gobin has earned numerous personal decorations during his service to include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and three Navy / Marine Corps Meritorious Service Medals. He was awarded the Superior Service Medal in June of 2018, the Meritorious Civilian Service Medal in November of 2012, and was the Marine Corps finalist for the DoD CIO award in 2002.

Dr. Handorf recently worked for Google, Twitter, Human Security (formerly WhiteOps) and the FBI. Prior to that, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia and NASDAQ-OMX as their Senior Security Analyst, and also was the operational CISO for the Philadelphia Stock Exchange which was recently acquired by NASDAQ-OMX. Before this he consulted for the US Federal and State Governments, companies and educational institutions where he performed security audits and assessments of their clients, infrastructure and networks. His industry experience started as the CIO and Director of Research and Development for a Philadelphia based wireless broadband solutions provider. Before CNI, he had developed proprietary wireless security authentication mechanisms which assure and secure a wireless network, developed a distributed computing IDS event evaluation and pattern recognition system, confirmed existing white papers on wireless security and proved many proposed but untested methods as being insecure with Computer Sciences Corporation, and verified the compliance of the wireless Hot Spot installations provided by T-Mobile at Starbucks across the USA. In his spare time, he completed his master’s degree in information security, teaches at Drexel University’s Goodwin College, and works with the Philadelphia Amateur Radio Emergency Service as a Net Control Station.

Specialties: Wireless networks, wireless network security, network security, network architecture, research and development processes, employee management, data forensics, network policy and procedure, server architecture, policy, compliance, and being Tucker Carlson’s Safe Word.

Brian manages the datacenter operations at the CSIU. Additionally, Brian has developed a cybersecurity program and works to continually advance the security posture of the organization. Brian also managse over the deployment, monitoring and technical troubleshooting of the CSIU’s enterprise student and financial application packages for approximately 300 school districts across the state of Pennsylvania.

Phillip Serio is the Director of IT Security & Compliance at Hershey Entertainment & Resorts, a world-class entertainment and leisure company. He has over 18 years of experience in Information Technology, including Systems & Applications, Data Center/Infrastructure, IT Security and management roles.

In his current position, Phillip oversees the company’s IT security program and ensures that the computing environment is properly secured with controls & processes that align with best practice frameworks. His team is also responsible for maintaining regulatory compliance, including PCI-DSS and the various emerging state data privacy laws.

Phillip holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Digital Communications and is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).

Tim Snyder is currently the Chief Information Security Officer at PSECU and has been with the company for over 25 years. Prior to entering information security, Chris was a network engineer.  Chris has 30+ years of experience in technology and security.

Justin Stover serves as the Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Select Medical, one of the largest providers of critical illness recovery hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, outpatient rehabilitation centers and occupational health clinics in the United States. In this role, Justin is responsible for leadership, strategy and oversight of all aspects of Information Security including; Governance, Risk & Compliance, Identity & Access Management, and Security Technology, Operations & Incident Response. Justin has over 20 years of information security and technology experience with Select Medical, and is based out of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.

Additionally, Justin holds a masters degree in business administration, and undergraduate degrees in computer science and electronic business. Justin also serves on cybersecurity and technology advisory boards as a way to give back, and collaborate with industry leaders and peers. In his spare time, he enjoys spending quality time with his family, being outdoors, and participating in various fitness activities.

Director of Technology; 38 years K12 IT experience at the Central Susquehanna IU #16; MS-ISAC Executive Board for five years, Harrisburg University Cyber Summit advisory board, PA Digital Government advisory board, Commonwealth SLCGP cyber grant committee, Harrisburg University Cybersecurity Advisory Board, Valley College Cybersecurity Advisory Board.

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