Author: Eghosa Agbonkina
Dave Kennedy holds a prominent position as a highly respected and influential figure in the field of cybersecurity with over 25 years of experience.
He has gained widespread recognition for his exceptional expertise in areas such as penetration testing, social engineering, and offensive security techniques. Throughout his remarkable career, Kennedy has made noteworthy contributions to the industry by drawing upon his diverse background that encompasses military service, significant consulting roles, and active engagement within the cybersecurity community
David Kennedy is founder of TrustedSec and Binary Defense Systems. Both organizations focus on the betterment of the security industry from an offense and a defense perspective. David also serves as a board of director for the ISC2 organization.
David was the former CSO for Diebold Incorporated where he ran the entire INFOSEC program. David is a co-author of the book Metasploit: The Penetration Testers Guide, the creator of the Social Engineer Toolkit (SET), Artillery, and several popular open source tools.
David has been interviewed by several news organizations including CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, CNBC, Katie Couric, and BBC World News. David is the co-host of the social-engineer podcast and on several additional podcasts.
David has testified in front of Congress on two occasions on the security around government websites. David is one of the founding authors of the Penetration Testing Execution Standard (PTES); a framework designed to fix the penetration testing industry. David is the co-founder of DerbyCon, a large scale conference in Louisville, Kentucky. Prior to the private sector, David worked for the United States Marine Corps and deployed to Iraq twice for intelligence related missions.
Kennedy holds a prominent position as a highly respected and influential figure in the field of cybersecurity with over 25 years of experience.
He has gained widespread recognition for his exceptional expertise in areas such as penetration testing, social engineering, and offensive security techniques. Throughout his remarkable career, Kennedy has made noteworthy contributions to the industry by drawing upon his diverse background that encompasses military service, significant consulting roles, and active engagement within the cybersecurity community
Dave Kennedy was born in the early 1980s in Ohio, United States.
He developed a strong passion for computers during his nomadic upbringing, which involved frequent moves. As his family relocated from one place to another, building long-lasting friendships became increasingly difficult. Nevertheless, the realm of computers consistently provided him with a sense of connection and familiarity in the ever-changing environment. Engrossed in the world of technology, these machines became loyal companions that allowed him to explore personal interests and pave the way for future endeavors.
During his early years, Dave discovered a strong affinity for computer programming and gaming, cultivating these passions from a young age. However, his enthusiasm for these computer related activities contrasted with his feelings about traditional schooling, which lacked the subjects he truly enjoyed. He attended multiple high schools before ultimately attaining his educational milestone at Bedford High School in Ohio.
Despite his graduation, the conventional academic path did not resonate with him, leading him to make the decision not to enroll in college. Instead, he followed his passion for technology and embarked on a remarkable journey that would eventually establish him as a prominent figure in the cybersecurity industry.
Dave embarked on a remarkable career that commenced with dedicated service in the United States Marine Corps, where his focus was on cyber warfare and forensic analytics. He completed two tours in Iraq, accumulating a total of 2 years of experience in the Middle East.
Following his commendable 5-year tenure in the Marines, he transitioned to the private sector and joined a small consulting firm based in Cleveland. What sets him apart is his appointment as Diebold’s Chief Security Officer (CSO), an impressive achievement considering he was merely 27 at the time. Diebold, headquartered in northeast Ohio, is a fortune 1000 company.
In 2011, Kennedy decided to make a significant impact in the realm of cybersecurity, leading him to establish TrustedSec, an information security consulting company. Alongside this venture, he also founded Binary Defense, a sister company of TrustedSec in 2014.
References:
Reference:
•https://www.allamericanspeakers.com
https://trustedsec.com/team-members/david-kennedy
