// IOWA STATE CAPITOL — Testified before the Iowa House Appropriations Sub-Committee as VP of Public Relations, Phi Theta Kappa Beta Zeta Epsilon Chapter · Advocated in closed session for legislation securing ~$12M in community college funding
I'm Allen, a former welder and industrial tradesman who spent years working around real equipment, real systems, and real consequences. When something failed, it wasn't a theoretical exercise. It meant downtime, danger, or thousands of dollars burning away by the minute. That kind of environment teaches you how systems behave in the real world, not just on paper.
That experience is exactly why I'm moving into cybersecurity. I'm not here to stay on the factory floor; I'm here to help secure the environments I used to work in. My focus is shifting toward GRC and OT/ICS security, where understanding both the people and the process actually matters.
I'm building a full home lab, studying cybersecurity, and developing tools like AchillesOracle to sharpen my technical foundation. I'm also learning how the systems behind manufacturing, utilities, and critical infrastructure are designed, attacked, and defended.
I'm not trying to be everything to everyone. I'm building toward a future where I can bridge the gap between technical security, real-world operations, and the governance frameworks that keep organizations safe. The people who built and ran these systems need someone who speaks both languages. That's the gap I'm filling.
// Current Focus
- Building foundational skills in GRC and risk analysis
- Learning OT/ICS security concepts and architecture
- Developing AchillesOracle into a full security platform
- Expanding home lab with SIEM, identity, and network security tooling
- Pursuing GICSP certification and INL ICS training
// What I Bring
- Hands-on experience inside real industrial OT environments
- A practical mindset shaped by years in the trades
- Calm decision-making under pressure with real consequences
- Leadership proven in the field and at the legislative level
- A drive to understand both the technical and human sides of security