SignaCert Advisory Board

Peter Christy
Principal, Internet Research Group

Peter Christy has been involved with the computer and communications industries since the late 1960s. After undergraduate studies at Harvard and graduate school at Berkeley, Peter started as a system programmer building operating systems at Computer Sciences Corporation. Next was an exploration of medical information systems at UC San Francisco. He was at DEC in the heyday period of 1975-1985, starting as technical staff to the VP of software engineering, and ending in the middle of wafer-scale systems, where he contributed early work to DECNet. Peter served briefly as manager of network architecture at HP, ran engineering for IBM/Rolm PhoneMail operations, and then was founder and VP of software engineering for MasPar Computer, where he built mid-range, highly parallel computers in the late 1980s. After MasPar Computer, Peter conducted business development and project management for Sun's object-oriented Spring operating system, and then ran much of Apple's developer tools efforts and had program responsibilities for Apple's involvement with IBM and Novell on OpenDoc. Peter learned the analysis business from Michael Slater, running the small Ziff-Davis operation that Michael had started around microprocessors and publishing the Microprocessor Report. IRG provides strategy consulting and market research services to companies whose products or services sit and the boundary between networks, applications, and systems.


Dr. Taher Elgamal
CTO, Tumbleweed Communications Corporation

Dr. Elgamal is a leading expert in computer, network, and information security. He is currently Chief Technology Officer at Tumbleweed Communications Corp. Previously, he served as Chairman and CEO of Ektasis, Inc., a second-generation Internet company; founder, CEO, and Chairman of Securify, Inc.; and as Chief Scientist at Netscape, Inc.

Recognized in the industry as the "inventor of SSL," Dr. Elgamal led the SSL efforts at Netscape and throughout the industry. He also wrote the SSL patent and promoted SSL as the Internet-security standard within standard committees and the industry.

Dr. Elgamal has invented several industry and government standards in data security and digital signatures areas, including the DSS government standard for digital signatures. Several thousand publications have been written in the space referred to as "the ElGamal Cryptography." He developed the basic work that has been adopted by about ten companies for commercial products and for several IEEE and ISO standards. This work has also been adapted for the DSS government standard for digital signatures and is the basis for the Elliptic Curve encryption methods recently introduced in the industry.

Dr. Elgamal has public company board experience with RSA Security, hi/fn, Phoenix Technologies, and Tumbleweed. He holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Computer Science from Stanford University and a B.S. in Computer Science from Cairo University.


Col. Jefferey Gerald
President and Chief Executive Officer, Comprehensive Intelligence Technology Training Corporation

Jeffrey P. Gerald is the president and CEO of Comprehensive Intelligence Technology Training Corporation. CINTT Corp. is a new company focused on real world analytical intelligence processing, analyst technology development, and intelligence community training. Jeff was formerly the manager of the Department of Defense's premiere initiative in Homeland Security command, control, and coordination. He was selected from industry to create, formulate, and lead this crucial Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration program in November 2001. The goal of this program was to improve the DoD response in consequence management, crisis response, and terrorist prevention and deterrence events. The program now encompasses more than 40 agencies representing the DoD, other Federal agencies, the National Guard, state and local government agencies, and commercial entities. This program has vastly improved the nation's security through the establishment of multiple partnerships that did not previously exist, and by transforming technologies used on the battlefield to provide protection for our homeland.

Jeff has led several successful commercial ventures that developed new technology and innovative telecommunications systems and he has been a leader in transforming technologies from concept to reality in both the marketplace and in military applications through government procurement. His diverse commercial background includes creation of new technologies and pioneering telecommunications systems, assisting in the development of video standards for global information exchange, and providing the vision and management required to build commercial enterprises.

Suzanne Gorman
Director of Governance, Omego

Suzanne Gorman joined Omgeo as their Director of Governance in May 2007. Omgeo is the market leader in development and deployment of post-trade, pre-settlement solutions. Previously, Suzanne was the Managing Director of Corporate Information Security for the Securities Industry Automation Corporation (SIAC) for 15 years. SIAC was responsible for critical components of the US financial infrastructure and operated trading and settlement systems for the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), American Stock Exchange (AMEX) and Depository Trust Clearing Corporation (DTCC). Through SIAC, Ms. Gorman worked with all of these organizations to prevent, respond to, and address, information security threats and incidents. At SIAC and The NYSE Group, Ms. Gorman designed and implemented a comprehensive Information Security program.

Ms. Gorman has over 25 years of experience in the Financial Services Sector, with a career focused on Information Security. Ms Gorman participated in a number of initiatives designed to improving the strength, security and resiliency of the Sector’s critical infrastructure components. She was an active contributor on numerous government councils and advisory committees, and worked on government initiatives on both a state and national level.

Ms. Gorman served four years as the Chairperson of the Financial Services Information Sharing Analysis Center (FS/ISAC). The FS/ISAC is a private sector organization that works closely with various government and private sector entities to help assess and prevent myriad threats to the US economy. Primarily, the FS/ISAC provides an anonymous information sharing mechanism through which member firms in the Banking and Finance community can contribute and receive data and analyses on the latest cyber and physical threats facing the Sector. Ms Gorman served two years as the Chairperson of the ISAC Council. This council was created by 14 critical infrastructure ISACs that work together, and directly with The Department of Homeland Security to save costs and identify what cyber and physical threats and incidents should be shared across sectors. Ms. Gorman also participated in a number of other initiatives. She was a founding member of the Financial Services Sector Coordinating Council (FSSCC); a Co-Chair of Financial and Economic Issues on the New York State Cyber Security and Critical Infrastructure Coordination Committee; and a member of the United States Secret Service New York Electronic Crimes Task Force. Ms. Gorman serves on NetWitness’ and SignaCerts Board of Advisors.

Information Security Magazine identified Ms. Gorman as one of the top 25 “Women of Vision” in September 2003. Network World named Ms. Gorman as on of "The 50 Most Powerful People in Networking" in December 2006

John Katsaros
Principal, Internet Research Group

John Katsaros is a principal at Silicon Valley-based Internet Research Group (IRG), a leading market research and consulting company focused exclusively on helping innovative companies gain market share. In March 2000, the original company named IRG, which Katsaros had founded, was acquired by Jupiter Communications. IRG provided strategic consulting for dozens of high-tech companies, including IBM, Lotus, Cisco, Oracle, Sun, and Hewlett Packard, as well as some of the Valley's brightest venture-backed start-ups. Subsequent to working with Jupiter, Katsaros, along with Peter Christy, started a successor research company, NetsEdge Research Group, which they later renamed Internet Research Group after the original IRG partners obtained the rights to use their former brand name. Katsaros has more than thirty years' experience in senior-level sales, marketing, product development, and business planning positions in a variety of environments ranging from Fortune 500 companies to startups. He is also the author of Selling High Tech (1994), and was a contributing author to Tricks of the Internet Gurus (1993). He is a frequent speaker at conferences and has written many reports on electronic commerce and infrastructure. Industry and national media call Katsaros for commentary about innovation-related events. He has also appeared as an industry expert on CNBC and CNN.

Dr. Harry Kloor
Chief Science Consultant, Universal Consultants

Dr. Harry Kloor is a Hollywood Writer-Producer, Chief Technology Officer, and National Science Policy Advisor. He has 10 years' experience creating and writing films and TV shows and 24 years' experience in developing and improving technological products, science and technology consulting, policy-making, and communicating science and technology to the public. Harry built his first computer at the age of seven and invented his first product at age of eight, giving him 35 years ' experience in numerous fields of science technology. In 1994, he earned the unique status of being the first and to date the only person in the world to simultaneously earn two Ph.D.'s, one in physics and the other in chemistry. Prior to becoming the chief scientist for Rocket Racing League and Marketshare Partners, Harry was the CTO for the X-Prize Organization, which last year awarded a $10 Million Dollar Prize to Paul Allen and Burt Ratan's Space Ship One team.

For 15 years, Harry has also held the position of chief science consultant for Universal Consultants, a company he also co-founded. He has provided in-depth technology consulting, scientific research, and technology mining to clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies and start-ups to NASA and national security agencies. Harry has also provided extensive guidance to his clients in the development of new technological products, patents, and policy positions. His clients have included NASA, Zero-G corporation, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Rocket Plane, the U.S. Senate, the American Medical Association (AMA), Jet Propulsion Laboratories (JPL), Heavy Mental Interactive, Mousetrap Solutions, Real Player and Next Computers. He has also provided a host of classified work for various think tanks and energy companies.

Peter L. O'Dell
Chief Operating Officer, Swan Island Networks

Pete O'Dell is a technology executive seasoned in multiple industry segments. Before joining Swan Island Networks, he was COO of Supertracks, COO of Online Interactive, CIO of MicroWarehouse, CIO/Sr. VP of Upgrade Corp. of America, president of Autodesk Retail Products (a $20m subsidiary), and director of technical services for Criton Technologies. He has also held technical positions at Microsoft, Digital Equipment, and Systems Development Corporation. Pete is the author of The Computer Networking Book, published by Ventana Press. He has four years of military service and a secret clearance. He's an avid fly-fisherman and a poor golfer.

Howard Schmidt
President and CEO, R & H Security Consulting LLC

Howard A. Schmidt's distinguished career in defense, law enforcement, and corporate security spans almost 40 years. He has served as vice president and chief information security officer and chief security strategist for online auction giant eBay. He most recently served as chief security strategist for the U.S. CERT Partners Program for the National Cyber Security Division, Department of Homeland Security.

Mr. Howard's distinguished career includes the following:

  • Vice chair of the President's Critical Infrastructure Protection Board and special adviser for cyberspace security for the White House from December 2001 to January 2003
  • Chair of the President's Critical Infrastructure Protection Board from January 2003 until his retirement in May 2003
  • Chief security officer for Microsoft Corp., where his duties included CISO, CSO, and forming and directing the Trustworthy Computing Security Strategies Group
  • Supervisory special agent and director of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) Computer Forensic Lab and Computer Crime and Information Warfare Division, where he established the first dedicated computer forensic lab in the government
  • Head of the Computer Exploitation Team for the FBI at the National Drug Intelligence Center
  • Police officer for Chandler Police Department in Arizona
    International president of the Information Systems Security Association (ISSA) and the first president of the Information Technology Information Sharing and Analysis Center (IT-ISAC)
  • Mr. Schmidt has been appointed to the Information Security Privacy Advisory Board (ISPAB) to advise the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the secretary of commerce, and the director of the office of management and budget on information security and privacy issues pertaining to federal government information systems, including thorough review of proposed standards and guidelines developed by NIST.

Mr. Schmidt holds a bachelor's degree in business administration (BSBA) and a master's degree in organizational management (MAOM) from the University of Phoenix. He also holds an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters. Howard holds board positions on a number of corporate boards in both advisory and director positions and has recently assumed the role of chairman of the board for Electronics Lifestyle Integration (ELI). Howard is a professor of practice at GA Tech, GTISC, and an adjunct senior fellow with Carnegie Mellon's CyLab.

Steve Sigmond
Partner, BlueStream Ventures

Steve Sigmond is a venture partner at BlueStream Ventures and has worked with emerging technology companies since 1995. Prior to joining BlueStream, Mr. Sigmond was a Managing Director in Equity Research at RBC Capital Markets, and its predecessor firms Dain Rauscher Wessels and Wessels, Arnold & Henderson. As an analyst, he founded and led one of Wall Street's most successful Internet research practices and covered more than 50 public companies in information security, enterprise software, and infrastructure services. Mr. Sigmond holds a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and bachelor's degrees in Physics and Economics from Stanford University.

Dr. Eugene H. Spafford
Professor, computer sciences, electrical and computer engineering at Purdue University

Dr. Eugene H. Spafford is professor of computer sciences and electrical and computer engineering at Purdue University, where he has served on the faculty since 1987. He is also a professor of philosophy (courtesy) and a professor of communication (courtesy). He serves on a number of advisory and editorial boards, and is internationally-known for his writing, research, and speaking on issues of security and ethics. Spafford's current research interests are primarily in the areas of information security, computer crime investigation, and information ethics.

Spaf (as he is known to his friends, colleagues, and students) is also the executive director of the Purdue Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security (CERIAS ), and was the founder and director of the (superseded) COAST Laboratory. His original research and that of his students has provided the foundation for many of the current mainstays of information security, including security scanners, IDS/IPS, firewalls, vulnerability analysis, integrity monitors, and cyberforensics.

Spaf is involved in a number of professional societies and activities outside Purdue, including serving on the Board of Directors of the Computing Research Association and as chair of ACM's U.S. Public Policy Committee. He was a member of the most recent President's Information Technology Advisory Committee (PITAC), and has served as an advisor to over a dozen Federal agencies and major corporations, including the Executive Office of the President, FBI, GAO, U.S. Air Force, NSA, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, and Unisys.

Spaf received his B.A. with a double major in mathematics and computer sciences from State University College at Brockport (1979, NY). He received his M.S. (1981) and Ph.D. (1986) from Georgia Institute of Technology. In 2005, he was awarded an honorary D.Sc. from SUNY. He is a Fellow of the ACM, the IEEE, and the AAAS, and is a recipient of the IEEE Taylor Booth Medal, the NCISSE William H. Murray Medal, and an IEEE Distinguished Technical Achievement Award for his work in information security. In 2006, he received the ACM Security, Audit and Control SIG "Outstanding Contribution Award." He is also an Honorary CISSP, and a member of the ISSA Hall of Fame.


John Stewart
Vice President and Chief Security Officer, Corporate Security Programs, Cisco

Mr. Stewart is the Vice President and Chief Security Officer, Corporate Security Programs at Cisco. Stewart has been actively involved with security and related issues throughout his career. His previous roles include chief security officer at Digital Island, research scientist at Cable & Wireless, and systems administrator at NASA Ames Research Center. A frequent speaker at security forums and author of numerous articles, Stewart is a co-author of the SANS book "Securing Cisco Routers Step-by-Step."

Dr. Yoshiyasu Takefuji
Professor of Environmental Information, Keio University

Dr. Yoshiyasu Takefuji has been a tenured professor of environmental information at Keio University since April 1992. From 1988-1992, he was on tenured faculty in the electrical engineering department at Case Western Reserve University. Before joining Case, he taught at the University of South Florida for two years and at the University of South Carolina for three years. He received his B.S .(1978), M.S. (1980), and Ph.D. (1983) in electrical engineering from Keio University under the supervision of Professor Hideo Aiso. His research interests focus on neural computing, security, electronic toys, and hyperspectral computing. He received the National Science Foundation/Research Initiation Award in 1989 and received the distinct service award from IEEE Trans. on Neural Networks in 1992 . He has also been an NSF advisory panelist. He has published more than 100 journal papers and more than 100 conference papers. He is included in Who's Who in America, Who's Who in the Midwest, and Who's Who in Science and Engineering, Men of Achievement. He is currently an advisor to JICA and Fire and Disaster Management Agency of the Japanese Government, PSDI of the Philippine government, and Vietnam Information Technology Training Institute (VITTI), Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Jordan CTTISC respectively. He is an official assessor of the Hong Kong government and a current board member of the Computer Software Association of Japan.

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