Bachelor of Science (BS) — Computer Engineering
1990
University of the Pacific · School of Engineering and Computer Science · Stockton, CA
BioSketch
Research Focus
Eric Yocam's research spans adversarial machine learning, post-quantum cryptography, agricultural IoT security, LLM hallucination mitigation, autonomous vehicle lane detection, and space IoT cybersecurity risk. He is an IEEE Senior Member whose industry innovations span DeepFake Detection, Behavioral Biometrics, and Temporal Identity Vaulting.
Across his portfolio, a unifying question emerges: how do you secure systems that lack strong central authority? His technical work — hardening AI models, securing distributed networks, defending autonomous systems — addresses this from an engineering perspective. A second, less conventional layer of his research examines it through governance: his work on celebrity board directors and decentralized cryptocurrency markets argues that technical security is necessary but not sufficient — who controls a system, and under what incentives, matters just as much as the code. Taken together, his research is interdisciplinary and emerging-topic focused, tracking where risk is growing fastest across AI ecosystems, distributed networks, and markets where institutional oversight is thin.
Senior Member
Held by fewer than 10% of IEEE's 400,000+ members
Universities & National Labs
Dakota State University
University of South Dakota
North Carolina A&T State University
South Carolina State University
University of Idaho
Augusta University
Cal Poly State University
University of Dubai
University of Washington
École de Technologie Supérieure (ETS)
Claremont Graduate University
Savannah River National Laboratory
Idaho National Laboratory
Research collaboration across 13 institutions and over 35+ researchers
Industry Experience
Before turning to academia full-time, Eric spent 25 years inside some of the most influential technology companies in the world — Apple, HP, Microsoft, and T-Mobile, with earlier product development roles at MediaVision, MetaCreations (Ray Dream), and Intuit. His work touched notable products including DIGITS and the 5G Network at T-Mobile; Active Directory and the Microsoft Partner Network at Microsoft; the HP Pavilion at Hewlett-Packard; WebTurboTax at Intuit; Ray Dream Studio at MetaCreations (Ray Dream); the Pro AudioSpectrum PC Sound Cards/CD-ROM at MediaVision; ClarisWorks at Apple (Claris); and the Macintosh II and Macintosh SE at Apple Computer. He built and led security and technical program teams, shaped enterprise-scale platforms, and turned ideas into inventions. It's a practitioner's foundation that continues to inform everything he researches and teaches.
Academic Background
Eric Yocam holds a Ph.D. in Cyber Operations from Dakota State University's Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences. Dakota State University is one of only nine universities in the nation to hold all three National Security Agency National Centers of Academic Excellence designations — Cyber Defense (CAE-CD), Cyber Operations (CAE-CO), and Cyber Research (CAE-R). Eric also holds a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) — a combination that bridges deep technical cyber expertise with business strategy and leadership, equipping Eric to address cybersecurity not only as a technical discipline but as an organizational and strategic imperative. Eric concurrently serves as a Lecturer at California Polytechnic State University teaching undergraduate students cybersecurity, and as Adjunct Assistant Professor at Dominican University of California teaching an online course he developed — Information Security Risk Management — as part of their MS in Cybersecurity program.
Books & Creative Work
Beyond academia, Eric is the author of Cyber Inference (Book 1 of The Convergence Chronicles), a hard science fiction series exploring AI consciousness and superintelligence that has been well received by readers. He is actively developing Book 2, Cyber Emergence.
He is also the author of The Applied AI Universe Coding Guide (Book 1 of the Adaptive AI Codex Series, 2026), a complete hands-on handbook that takes readers from foundational neural networks through modern generative AI — pairing clear explanations with practical, code-first examples for building and understanding real AI systems. Learn more ↗
On the governance side, Eric co-authored Corporate Governance: A Board Director's Pocket Guide (4th Edition, 2026), a practical handbook for board directors navigating AI governance, cybersecurity oversight, and the high-risk environment of 2026. Learn more ↗
Education
Eric holds 7 degrees across cybersecurity, computer engineering, computer science, business administration, and finance — supported by 3 graduate fellowships from Syracuse University, the University of San Diego, and the National Security Innovation Network (US DoD).
Cybersecurity, Computer Engineering & Computer Science
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) — Cyber Operations
2026
Dakota State University · Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences · Madison, SD · GPA 4.0/4.0
Dissertation: Hybrid Neural Network Model Defenses · Advisor: Prof. Varghese Vaidyan, PhD
Master of Science (MS) — Computer Engineering
2020
Syracuse University · College of Engineering and Computer Science · Syracuse, NY
Master of Science (MS) — Computer Science
2004
California State University, Chico · College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology · Chico, CA
Thesis: A Fuzzy Enabled Edge Network Device Simulation Software Application · Advisor: Prof. Seung Bae Im, PhD
Business Administration & Finance
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
2008
University of Phoenix · School of Advanced Studies · Phoenix, AZ
Dissertation: The Extent To Which A Board of Director's Celebrity Status Affects Shareholder Wealth Maximization · Advisor: Prof. Santosh Sambara, PhD
Master of Science (MS) — Finance
2002
Seattle University · Albers School of Business and Economics · Seattle, WA
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
1997
University of San Diego · Knauss School of Business · San Diego, CA
Knauss School of Business Academic Fellowship · Featured in the USD President's Report 1999: "Reshaping The Business World — Eric Yocam '97 (M.B.A.)"
Academic Appointments
Eric has held 7 academic appointments across doctoral, graduate, and undergraduate institutions spanning cybersecurity, information assurance, computer science, and business — teaching online and in-person from 2007 to present. Read Eric's Teaching Philosophy & Narrative ↗
Lecturer In Person
2024 – Present
California Polytechnic State University · College of Engineering · San Luis Obispo, CA · Polyratings
Fast Response Time · Flexible Grading Policy · Uploads Slides · Flexible Attendance Policy
| CSC321 | Introduction to Computer Security* Undergrad Canvas |
* Taught multiple times
Adjunct Assistant Professor Online
2024 – Present
Dominican University of California · Barowsky School of Business · San Rafael, CA
Designed and created a synchronous Information Security Risk Management course (Wednesdays, 6–10 PM) as part of the core curriculum of the Master of Science in Cybersecurity program at the AACSB-accredited Barowsky School of Business.
| MSC5703 | Information Security Risk Management* Graduate Moodle |
* Taught multiple times
Affiliate Instructor Online
2018 – 2021
University of Washington · College of Built Environments · Dept. of Urban Design and Planning · Seattle, WA
Taught graduate course in Critical Infrastructure & Cybersecurity. Center for Information Assurance and Cybersecurity (CIAC). Recipient of the University of Washington Teaching Excellence Award.
| IPM509 | Communications and Cyber Infrastructure Systems* Graduate Canvas |
* Taught multiple times
Part Time Professor Online
2013 – 2018
American Public University System · School of STEM · Charles Town, WV
Taught undergraduate and graduate courses in information security, cybersecurity law, networking, and IT management across multiple programs serving military and public service communities.
| ISSC631 | Cyber Ethics: Privacy and Intellectual Property* Graduate Sakai |
| ISSC660 | Information Assurance* Graduate Sakai |
| ITMG624 | Information Technology Project Management* Graduate Sakai |
| ISSC699 | Cybersecurity Studies Capstone* Graduate Sakai |
| ISSC331 | Legal Issues in Information Security* Undergrad Sakai |
| ISSC340 | Local Area Network Technologies* Undergrad Sakai Content & Assessment Dev. |
| ISSC341 | Introduction to Networking* Undergrad Sakai |
| ISSC366 | IT Security: Cryptography Undergrad Sakai Lead Course Content Manager |
| ISSC422 | Information Security* Undergrad Sakai |
| ISSC471 | IT Security: Auditing* Undergrad Sakai |
| ISSC481 | IT Security: Planning and Policy* Undergrad Sakai |
| ISSC498 | Information Security Capstone* Undergrad Sakai |
| ISSC499 | Senior Seminar in Cybersecurity Capstone* Undergrad Sakai |
| ITMG481 | Ethics in Information Technology* Undergrad Sakai Content & Assessment Dev. |
* Taught multiple times · Courses marked Content & Assessment Dev. reflect course content and assessment development contributions (2013 – 2018, Sakai LMS)
Adjunct Professor Online
2010 – 2015
University of Fairfax · Graduate School · Salem, VA
Taught courses in information systems, cybersecurity, ethics, and legal practices at graduate and doctoral levels. Rated "Awesome" on Rate My Professors.
| IA8125 | Information Security Policy Planning and Analysis* Doctoral Blackboard Content & Assessment Dev. |
| CEX8240 | Strategic and Technological Trends in Information Security I* Doctoral Blackboard |
| CEX9200 | Research Topics in Information Security II* Doctoral Blackboard |
| IA7020 | Information Security Systems and Organizational Awareness* Graduate Blackboard Content & Assessment Dev. |
| IA7030 | Legal and Ethical Practices in Information Security* Graduate Blackboard Content & Assessment Dev. |
| IA8030 | Design, Development and Evaluation of Security Controls* Graduate Blackboard |
| IA8080 | Security Solution Implementation* Graduate Blackboard |
| IA8110 | Certification and Accreditation* Graduate Blackboard |
* Taught multiple times · Courses marked Content & Assessment Dev. reflect course content and assessment development contributions (2010 – 2015, Blackboard LMS)
Adjunct Professor Online
2010 – 2011
City University of Seattle · School of Management · Seattle, WA
Taught a graduate course in Network Intrusion and Computer Forensics.
| ISEC520 | Ethical Obligations in Information Security Graduate Blackboard |
Adjunct Professor Online
2007 – 2010
EC-Council University · Graduate School · Albuquerque, NM
Taught courses in information systems, networks, and information security at graduate level.
| ECCU502 | Investigating Network Intrusion and Computer Forensics* Graduate Blackboard & Moodle |
| ECCU506 | Conducting Penetration and Security Tests* Graduate Blackboard & Moodle |
| ECCU509 | Securing Wireless Networks* Graduate Blackboard & Moodle |
| ECCU513 | Disaster Recovery* Graduate Blackboard & Moodle |
| ECCU515 | Project Management in IT Security* Graduate Blackboard & Moodle |
| ECCU524 | Principles of E-Business Security* Graduate Blackboard & Moodle |
* Taught multiple times
Professional Experience
Over 25 years of industry experience spanning cybersecurity, technical program management, and enterprise technology — with senior roles at Microsoft and T-Mobile, expert roles at HP, Intuit, and Apple, and early innovation work at startups MediaVision and RayDream, culminating in 23 issued patents.
Security and Technical Program Consultant
2023 – 2024
Self-Employed · San Diego, CA
Technology Strategy
Infrastructure Optimization
Process Improvement
Enterprise Consulting
Business Requirements
Vendor Management
Stakeholder Engagement
Notable Product: Graduate Degree Program (MSC-5703-ISRM)
Worked closely with Tolgay Kizilelma, PhD, Director of MS in Cybersecurity Program.
Sr. Manager, Security and Technical Program Staff
2010 – 2023
T-Mobile · Bellevue, WA
Enterprise Security
InfoSec
Risk Management
Program Management
23 Issued Patents
Inventor
Secure SDLC
Cross-functional Leadership
Talent Management
Enterprise Risk Management
Notable Products: DIGITS 5G Network
Worked closely with consecutive CISOs: Bill Boni and Timothy Youngblood.
Manager, Technical Program Management Staff
1999 – 2010
Microsoft · Redmond, WA
Platform Delivery
CRM
Enterprise Applications
Systems Integration
Data Analysis
Agile & Waterfall
SDLC
IT Project Implementation
Statements of Work
Business Analytics
Notable Products: Microsoft Partner Network Active Directory
Worked closely with VPs: Mike Adams, Matt Rossmeissl, Nathalie D'Hers.
Employment History
Earlier in his career, Eric worked in product development for several notable products.
Intuit Corporation Product Development
1998 – 1999
Notable Product: WebTurboTax
Worked closely with CTO: Eric Dunn.
Hewlett-Packard Product Development
1997 – 1998
Notable Product: HP Pavilion
Worked closely with Home Products Division GM: Harry McKinney.
MetaCreations (Ray Dream) Product Development
1995 – 1997
Notable Product: Ray Dream Studio
Worked closely with Company Founders: Eric Hautemont, Pierre Berkaloff, Yann Corno.
MediaVision Product Development
1994 – 1995
Notable Product: Pro AudioSpectrum PC Sound Cards/CD-ROM
Worked closely with VP of Engineering: Jim Evans.
Apple (Claris) Product Development
1991 – 1993
Notable Product: ClarisWorks
Worked closely with ClarisWorks Original Developers: Bob Hearn, Scott Holdaway.
Apple Computer Product Development
Internship — 1986, 1988
Notable Products: Macintosh II (Internship – 1986) Macintosh SE (Internship – 1988)
Worked closely with Motherboard/ASIC Designers: Jack McHenry, Bob Bailey.
Publications
Eric has authored and co-authored 20+ peer-reviewed publications spanning adversarial machine learning, post-quantum cryptography, IoT security, LLM hallucination mitigation, and autonomous vehicle systems — with work appearing in IEEE Access, IEEE Transactions, Springer, Elsevier, and arXiv. Work is grouped by research theme. Published papers and public preprints are shown directly; each theme's under-review and in-development pipeline can be expanded with the Show more control.
Adversarial ML & AI Defense
LLM Security
Post-Quantum & Quantum
Quantum & Hybrid Sensing
IoT, Network & Space
Governance & Finance
Sci-Fi & Public Writing
Adversarial Machine Learning & AI Model Defense
Hardening neural networks and autonomous-system perception against adversarial attacks — the core of Eric's doctoral work on hybrid neural network model defenses.
Quantum Adversarial Machine Learning and Defense Strategies: Challenges and Opportunities Book Chapter — 2026
Quantum Robustness in Artificial Intelligence, Springer Quantum Science and Technology Series
doi: 10.1007/978-3-032-11153-1_4 · Springer
PyRHOH: A Meta-Learning Analysis Framework for Determining the Impact of Compilation on Malicious JavaScript Identification Published — 2025
Machine Learning with Applications, 100724
Exploring Machine Learning with FNNs for Identifying Modified DGAs Through Noise and Linear Recursive Sequences (LRS) Published — 2024
2024 Cyber Awareness and Research Symposium (CARS)
Superspace Concentration and Adversarial Robustness in Quantum Algorithms Preprint
Target: IEEE Transactions on Quantum Engineering
Cross-Domain Adversarial Robustness of Geometric Prior Neural Networks: Safety-Critical Deployment Guidelines Under Review
IEEE Transactions on Emerging Topics in Computational Intelligence · MS ID: TETCI-2026-0503
Hardening Black-Box Neural Networks Against Adversarial Attacks Through Surrogate-Based Defense Transfer Under Review
IEEE Transactions on Dependable and Secure Computing
Architectural Robustness in Lane Detection Systems: Geometric Constraints and Adversarial Stability Under Review
Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives (Elsevier) · MS ID: TRIP-D-26-00418
Protection of UAV-Based Crop Row Detection Against Adversarial Attacks Under Review
IEEE Transactions on Emerging Topics in Computational Intelligence · MS ID: TETCI-2025-2766
Retroreflectivity-Based Traffic Sign Cybersecurity: Synthetic Data and Defense Models Under Review
Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence (Elsevier) · MS ID: EAAI-S-26-15207 · Preprint on SSRN
Probabilistic Interpretation of Bi-Directional Transformer Models for Office Document Macro Detection In Development
Target: Expert Systems with Applications (Elsevier)
Large Language Model Security & Reliability
Attacking and defending large language models — hallucination mitigation, internal-node attacks, randomness analysis, and applied generative-AI engineering.
From LLMs to Randomness: Analyzing Program Input Efficacy with Resource and Language Metrics Published — 2025
IEEE Access, 2025
The Applied AI Universe Coding Guide: A Complete Hands-On Handbook from Neural Networks to Generative AI Published — 2026
Independently Published · Adaptive AI Codex Series, Book 1 · ISBN-13: 979-8198797932
Adaptive Activation Cancellation for Hallucination Mitigation in Large Language Models Under Review
SN Computer Science (Springer Nature) · Submission ID: SNCS-D-26-02755
H-Node Attack and Defense in Large Language Models Under Review
IEEE Transactions on Emerging Topics in Computational Intelligence · MS ID: TETCI-2026-0776
Post-Quantum Cryptography & Quantum Systems Security
Quantum-resistant encryption for resource-limited devices and side-channel analysis of quantum and hardware systems.
A Dynamic Quantum-Resistant Selective Encryption Approach for Agricultural Sensors with Limited Resources Published — 2026
IEEE Access
A Novel Approach to Quantum-Resistant Selective Encryption for Agricultural Sensors with Limited Resources Published — 2025
2025 IEEE 15th Annual Computing and Communication Workshop and Conference (CCWC) · IEEE Best Paper Award
Multi-level Post Quantum Encryption for Images with Quantum Fourier Transform Published — 2025
2025 IEEE International Conference on Electro Information Technology (eIT)
TriSweep: A Four-Drone Swarm Framework for Electromagnetic Side-Channel Analysis Preprint
arXiv
Quantum AI Security: Threats, Defenses, and Practical Strategies in the Post-Quantum Era In Development
Springer · Monograph (18 chapters)
Semantic Multi-Tier Quantum-Resistant Encryption for Agricultural IoT with Hardware Validation In Development
Target: Future Generation Computer Systems (Elsevier)
Quantum Control Plane Side Channel Attack In Development
Target: IEEE CARS
Quantum Timing Attacks — Raspberry Pi Hardware Implementation In Development
Target: TBD
Quantum & Hybrid Sensing — Methane Detection, Drones & Scientific ML
Hybrid quantum-classical and quantum-inspired models for gas-leak detection, multi-drone path optimization, and predictive scientific computing.
A Novel Hybrid Quantum-Classical Path Optimization for Methane Detection Using Remote Quantum Intensity Prediction Models Published — 2026
IEEE Access · DOI: 10.1109/ACCESS.2026.3675450
Hybrid Quantum-Classical Path Optimization for Multi-Drone Gas Leak Detection Under Review
IEEE Transactions on Emerging Topics in Computational Intelligence · MS ID: TETCI-2025-2170
Event-Driven Methane Leak Prediction with Quantum Spiking Neural Networks In Development
Target: IEEE Transactions on Emerging Topics in Computational Intelligence or IEEE Access
Functional Benchmarking and Performance Assessment of Predictive Models for Methane Leak Detection Across Classical, Quantum-Inspired, and Quantum Frameworks In Development
Target: TBD
Scaling Predictive Models for Germanium Crystal Growth through MLOps (Ge-STAR) In Development
Target: IEEE Access
IoT, Network & Space Systems Security
Securing constrained and distributed systems — from space IoT risk methodologies and narrow-band IoT to 5G networks, mobile computing, and digital-presence privacy.
Probabilistic Space IoT Risk Management Methodology (P-SIRM2) Published — 2026
Digital Engineering, vol. 11, 100118, 2026
doi: 10.1016/j.dte.2026.100118 · Elsevier
A Privacy-Preserving System Design for Digital Presence Protection Published — 2023
Computers, Materials & Continua, 75(2), 3091–3110
Enhanced Not Recently Used Algorithm for Cache Memory Systems in Mobile Computing Published — 2023
ACR 2023, Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems
5G Mobile Networks: Reviewing Security Control Correctness for Mischievous Activity Published — 2022
SN Applied Sciences, 4(11), 304
Narrow-band Internet of Things Protocol Standards: Survey of Security and Privacy Control Effectiveness Published — 2020
2020 International Symposium on Networks, Computers and Communications (ISNCC)
Evolution on the Edge: Intelligent Devices Published — 2003
IEEE Computer Society IT Professional, 5(2), 32–36
Corporate Governance & Empirical Finance
Empirical analysis of board governance, celebrity directors, and decentralized markets — arguing that who controls a system matters as much as the code that runs it.
Corporate Governance: A Board Director's Pocket Guide — Leadership, Diligence, and Wisdom (4th Edition) Published — 2026
Independently Published · ISBN-13: 9798197255204
Featured among the best-reviewed books of the month in the Kirkus Discoveries newsletter. Referenced by the American Institute of Certified Board Advisors as core knowledge.
Celebrity Board Directors and Shareholder Wealth: A Composite Multi-Theory Assessment Preprint
Social Science Research Network (SSRN)
Celebrity Governance Without Institutions: Evidence from Cryptocurrency Markets Preprint
Social Science Research Network (SSRN)
Leverage Discipline and Board Governance in Construction and Real Estate Preprint
Social Science Research Network (SSRN)
Science Fiction & Public Writing
Creative and trade writing running parallel to the research — hard science fiction on AI consciousness and cybersecurity commentary for general audiences.
Cyber Inference: Unraveling Consciousness — Book 1 of The Convergence Chronicles Published — 2025
Hard Science Fiction · The Convergence Chronicles Series · ISBN-13: 9798292661238
Feature articles Non-refereed
United States Cybersecurity Magazine · 2014–2015
Inventions & Patents
Eric holds 23+ issued patents, all assigned to T-Mobile USA, spanning wireless networks, security, AI, privacy, and drone systems.
Privacy & Data Protection
Privacy Manager Issued — 2024
Privacy Breach Detection Issued — 2023
Privacy Manager Issued — 2023
Wireless Carrier Network-Enabled Protection of High Value Data Issued — 2022
Privacy Breach Detection Issued — 2021
Privacy Breach Detection Issued — 2019
Identity, Biometrics & Trust
Identity Management Issued — 2024
Persona and Device Based Certificate Management Issued — 2023
Behavioral Biometric Protection for Wireless Carrier Subscribers Issued — 2022
Persona and Device Based Certificate Management Issued — 2021
Temporal Identity Vaulting Issued — 2020
Persona and Device Based Certificate Management Issued — 2020
Trust Policy for Telecommunications Device Issued — 2020
Trust Policy for Telecommunications Device Issued — 2019
AI & DeepFake Detection
Modified Media Detection (DeepFake) Issued — 2024
Modified Media Detection (DeepFake) Issued — 2022
Drones & Aerial Systems
Mobile Aerial Drone Early Warning Privacy Breach Detect, Intercept, and Defend Issued — 2024
Mobile Aerial Drone Early Warning Privacy Breach Detect, Intercept, and Defend Issued — 2023
Mobile Aerial Drone Early Warning Privacy Breach Detect, Intercept, and Defend Issued — 2022
Dynamic Wireless Communications Network with Aerial Drones Issued — 2021
Dynamic Wireless Communications Network with Aerial Drones Issued — 2019
Wireless Networks & Devices
Monitoring of Radio Frequency Signal Levels Within a Wireless Communication Network Issued — 2024
Monitoring of Radio Frequency Signal Levels Within a Wireless Communication Network Issued — 2023
Peer-to-Peer Distribution of Radio Protocol Data for SDR Updates Issued — 2022
Telecommunication Device Utilization Based on Heartbeat Communication Issued — 2020
Peer-to-Peer Distribution of Radio Protocol Data for SDR Updates Issued — 2019
Location, Proximity & AR
Collision Avoidance System for Augmented Reality Environments Issued — 2019
Establishing Geo-Fences and Related Alarms Issued — 2018
Mobile Device In-Motion Proximity Guidance System Issued — 2018
Establishing Geo-Fences and Related Alarms Issued — 2017
Mobile Device In-Motion Proximity Guidance System Issued — 2017
Service to Profession
Eric contributes broadly to the academic and professional community through certification authorship, peer review, mentorship, advisory roles, and community leadership.
Certification Authoring
Certificate Holder
Peer Review
Advisory & Community
Dissertation Committees
Grant Funding
Panels & Workshops
Certification Exam Question Author
Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer (CDPSE) Cert Author Holder
2020 – 2023
Issuer: ISACA · Schaumburg, IL
Tests knowledge of privacy governance, privacy architecture, and data lifecycle management for engineering privacy into technology solutions.
Certificate holder since 2024.
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) Cert Author Holder
2007 – 2023
Issuer: ISC2 · Tampa, FL
Tests knowledge across eight security domains including risk management, asset security, cryptography, network security, identity management, and software development security.
Certificate holder since 2002.
Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) Cert Author Holder
2012 – 2023
Issuer: ISACA · Schaumburg, IL
Tests knowledge of IT risk identification, assessment, response, and monitoring within enterprise risk management frameworks.
Certificate holder since 2011.
Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) Cert Author
2007 – 2010
Issuer: EC-Council · Albuquerque, NM
Tests knowledge of penetration testing techniques, hacking tools, attack vectors, and countermeasures used to identify and secure vulnerabilities in systems.
Certified Software Development Professional (CSDP) Cert Author
2015 – 2023
Issuer: IEEE Computer Society · Washington, DC
Tests knowledge of software engineering processes, design, construction, testing, maintenance, and professional practice standards.
UC Berkeley Executive Education — Leading Innovative Change Certificate
2017
A Berkeley Haas executive program on implementing innovation opportunities and leading organizational change in competitive landscapes.
Certificate Holder
View Verified Digital Badges on Credly ↗
Project Management Professional (PMP) Holder
2002 – Present
Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK) Holder
2016 – Present
Issuer: Cloud Security Alliance
Peer Review
Manuscript Reviewer Advisory
2015 – 2020
ACM · New York, NY · IEEE · Piscataway, NJ · Society of Digital Information and Wireless Communications · Academy of Management · Springer · New York, NY
Reviewed submitted research manuscripts for technical accuracy, methodological rigor, and scholarly contribution across computing, cybersecurity, information systems, and management disciplines.
Advisory & Community Roles
ABET Program Evaluator Advisory
2022 – 2025
Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) · Baltimore, MD · Computer Science, Cybersecurity, and Computer Engineering
InfraGard Member Advisory
2014 – Present
InfraGard National Members Alliance · Washington, DC · Science and Technology · Partnership for Protection
InfraGard is an FBI-sponsored partnership between the private sector and the US government for sharing information and intelligence to protect critical national infrastructure.
Cybersecurity Advisory Board Member Advisory
2018 – 2019
Rutgers University · New Brunswick, NJ
Provided strategic guidance to Rutgers University's cybersecurity programs on curriculum development, industry alignment, and emerging threat landscapes.
Mentorship Advisory
2017 – 2021
Cybersecurity Workforce Alliance · Washington, DC
Mentored emerging cybersecurity professionals through workforce development programs, providing career guidance, technical coaching, and industry connections.
Mentorship Advisory
2017 – 2021
EPIC Challenge · IQ4 · Washington, DC
Mentored students and early-career professionals through cybersecurity challenge programs and IQ4's digital talent development platform, bridging academic learning with real-world cybersecurity practice.
Mentorship Advisory
2017 – 2021
Michael G. Foster School of Business · University of Washington · Seattle, WA
Mentored MBA and business students at the Foster School on cybersecurity strategy, entrepreneurship, and technology career pathways.
National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Apprenticeship Subgroup Member Advisory
2017 – 2019
National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) · Gaithersburg, MD
Contributed to the NICE Apprenticeship Subgroup, a national effort to develop registered apprenticeship pathways that expand the cybersecurity workforce pipeline through work-based learning.
Vice-Chair & Board Member Advisory
2015 – 2018
Northwest Dollars for Scholars · Non-profit · Bellevue, WA · Affiliate of Scholarship America · Minneapolis, MN
Served on the board of a nonprofit scholarship chapter affiliated with Scholarship America, the nation's largest private-sector scholarship organization. Supported college-bound students in the Pacific Northwest through community fundraising and financial aid programs.
Chapter Advisor Advisory
2015 – 2016
Local Chapter, ISACA Student Group · American Public University System · School of Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM)
Dissertation Committee Participation
External Committee Member Committee
Conferred April 2017
Jeffrey Colorossi, D.Sc. Dissertation · Capitol Technology University
"Understanding Perceptions of the Dual-Use Dilemma Applied to Open-Source Security Software: A Phenomenological Case Study."
Grant Funding
Location Detection of Rogue Base Stations/IMSI Catchers Grant Award
2019
2018 National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) Security and Resilience Challenge · NIHS-DHS · Communications Sector Coordinating Council, Communications ISAC · $198,000
Goal: research and identify actionable steps mobile service providers and other stakeholders could use to detect rogue base stations and protect mobile communications infrastructure — culminating in a white paper covering research findings, best-practice recommendations, and a proposed algorithm for detecting rogue base station devices in a real-world carrier network.
Role: Project Manager, "Concept/Design." · Fact Sheet PDF ↗
Invited Panels & Workshops
"DoL, T-Mobile and University of Washington Pioneer Virtual-Cyber-Apprenticeships" Panel
2018
2018 National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Conference & Expo · Miami, FL · Concurrent Breakout Session 10:00–10:45am
Panelists: Carolyn Renick (US Department of Labor), Eric Yocam (T-Mobile), Barbara Endicott-Popovsky (University of Washington), Bill Mayville.
CISSP Exam Development Workshop for Distinguished Subject Matter Experts Workshop
Feb 2018
ISC2 · Tampa, FL
"Cooperative Education Model: Accelerating Cybersecurity Professionals" Panel
2017
2017 National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Conference · Dayton, OH
Panelists: Barbara Endicott-Popovsky (Executive Director, UW Center for Information Assurance Cybersecurity), Eric Yocam (Sr. Manager of Cybersecurity Innovation, T-Mobile), Morgan Zantua (Director, Workforce Development, UW CIAC). Moderator: Corrinne Sande, CyberWatch West.
Featured Talks & Media
Eric has delivered public talks and appeared in media covering cybersecurity fundamentals, workforce development, and industry-academic partnerships.
Invited Talks & Lectures
CEM Model: Develop Students as Professionals Talk
2018
Experiential Learning for Emerging Professionals: Cooperative Education Model presentation.
Connecting the Dots in Cybersecurity Talk
2020
University of Washington · Center for Information Assurance and Cybersecurity · Seattle, WA · Video
A cybersecurity fundamentals talk covering the Cyber Kill Chain, OSI Security Architecture, and Monte Carlo Simulation — exploring how these tools interconnect to build strong cybersecurity strategies. Aimed at students, professionals, and anyone seeking to understand contemporary digital security threats.
Guest Speaker — "Investor's Perspective of Corporate Governance" Talk
2010
Seattle University · Seattle, WA
Invited guest lecture exploring the investor's perspective on corporate governance principles, board accountability, and shareholder wealth maximization.
Media & Press
Cyber Inference — Book Launch Press Coverage Media
Sep 2025
cipherghostseries.com/media-coverage · Nationwide
Featured across 300+ news outlets following the September 2025 launch of Cyber Inference. Coverage included NBC affiliates (KVOA Tucson, FWNBC Texas), ABC (WKOW Madison), CBS (KUTV Salt Lake City), Google News, and major publications including the Boston Herald, San Diego Union-Tribune, and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Coverage spanned technology, entertainment, and financial news sectors nationwide.
CLTC 2nd Annual Research Exchange Media
2018
UC Berkeley Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity · Berkeley, CA
"This is where a lot of innovation happens. The location and quality of research at UC Berkeley made it very attractive for us to come here. The Corporate Membership Program is a vehicle through which we can crawl, walk, and run — where we can get introduced to folks, and then maybe partner on some research." — Eric Yocam, T-Mobile
Honors & Awards
Eric has been recognized with competitive fellowships, government credentials, and professional honors across cybersecurity, academia, and industry.
Awards & Fellowships
IEEE Best Paper Award — Security, Trust and Privacy Award
Mar 9, 2025
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) · Piscataway, NJ
Awarded for "A Novel Approach to Quantum-Resistant Selective Encryption for Agricultural Sensors with Limited Resources" in the category of Security, Trust and Privacy. Presented at the 2025 IEEE 15th Annual Computing and Communication Workshop and Conference (CCWC), Las Vegas, NV, USA, pp. 00262–00271. doi: 10.1109/CCWC62904.2025.10903955 ↗
Affiliate Distinguished Fellow Award
2026 – Present
PATRIOT Lab, Madison Cyber Labs · Beacom College of Computer & Cyber Sciences · Dakota State University
Honorary appointment recognizing ongoing research collaboration in cybersecurity, quantum computing, AI/ML, and IoT security. View Official Lab Page ↗
DoD X-Force Award
Jun – Aug 2021
National Security Innovation Network · US Department of Defense · Washington, DC · Associated with Syracuse University
Competitive summer fellowship solving real-world national security problems in collaboration with the US Department of Defense.
Graduate Fellowship Award Award
2015 – 2020
College of Engineering and Computer Science · Syracuse University · Syracuse, NY
Graduate Fellowship Award Award
1996 – 1997
Knauss School of Business · University of San Diego · San Diego, CA
Teaching Excellence Award Award
2019
University of Washington · College of Built Environments · Dept. of Urban Design and Planning · Seattle, WA
Awarded for outstanding contributions to graduate instruction in cybersecurity and critical infrastructure.
Honors & Credentials
Order of the Sword & Shield National Honor Society Honor Society
2014
The leading national honor society for homeland security, intelligence, emergency management, cyber and information security, and protective security disciplines.
Golden Key International Honour Society Honor Society
2012
The world's largest collegiate honor society, recognizing undergraduate and graduate students in the top 15% of their class across all academic disciplines.
Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society Honor Society
2009
An international honor society recognizing scientific and engineering research achievement across all disciplines, founded in 1886.
Upsilon Pi Epsilon — Honor Society in the Computing Sciences Honor Society
2003
The first and only international honor society dedicated to the computing and information disciplines, endorsed by ACM and the IEEE Computer Society.
The National Society of Collegiate Scholars — Scholarship, Leadership and Service Honor Society
2013
An honors organization recognizing high-achieving college students, built on the pillars of scholarship, leadership, and service.
The National Honor and Merit Scholars Society Honor Society
2012
An academic honor society, established in 2001, recognizing high-achieving students across all disciplines for scholarship, leadership, integrity, creativity, and civic engagement.
Delta Pi Epsilon — National Honorary Professional Graduate Society in Business Education Honor Society
2006
A national graduate honorary society, founded in 1936 at New York University, recognizing scholarship, leadership, and cooperation in business education.
Pi Sigma Epsilon Fraternity Honor Society
2005
The nation's only co-ed professional fraternity in marketing, sales, management, and entrepreneurship, founded in 1952.
IEEE Senior Member Honor
2020
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) · Piscataway, NJ
Senior Member is the highest grade of IEEE membership for which a member can apply. Only 10% of IEEE's 400,000+ members hold this distinction.
University Technical Affiliate Honor
2017 – 2021
ACM Featured Reviewer Honor
2018
Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) · New York, NY · Reviews from 2003 to 2014
Published 39 reviews for ACM Computing Reviews, earning Featured Reviewer status along with Reader Recommended and Reviewer Selected (Highlighted) distinctions. Reviewer profile ↗
Honorary Council Member Honor
2007 – 2010
EC-Council · Albuquerque, NM
Recognized by EC-Council for contributions to cybersecurity education and professional certification development. EC-Council is the world's largest cybersecurity technical certification body.
Security Clearance — TOP SECRET/SCI Honor
Aug 2020 – Aug 2023
US Department of Homeland Security · Washington, DC · Associated with T-Mobile · Bellevue, WA
Inactive.
Avocations
Outside of academia and industry, Eric pursues a range of interests spanning underwater exploration, aviation, music, and creative writing.
Voyager
Golfing
Scuba Diving
Piloting
Percussion
Screenwriting
Playwriting
Surfing
Sailing
Water Skiing
Snow Skiing
Languages
Voyager Avocation 🇺🇸 🇫🇷 🇬🇧 🇩🇪 🇪🇬 🇭🇰 🇲🇴 🇨🇳 🇮🇩 🇮🇳 🇸🇬 🇹🇭 🇲🇽 🇧🇲 🇧🇸 🇨🇦
1980 – Present
Home: San Luis Obispo, California, USA.
Visited: Europe (Paris, France; London, England; Munich, Germany); Africa (Cairo, Egypt; Aswan, Egypt); Asia (Hong Kong; Macau; Shanghai, China; Jakarta, Indonesia; Bali, Indonesia; New Delhi, India; Singapore; Bangkok, Thailand); Mexico (Cancún, Puerto Vallarta, Puerto Peñasco/Rocky Point, Tijuana, Cabo San Lucas); Caribbean/Atlantic (Bermuda; Nassau, Bahamas); Canada (Victoria, BC; Vancouver, BC).
Golfer Avocation Recreational
1988 – Present
Non-tournament.
Previous Home Club: The Plateau Club.
Equipment: Callaway clubs, Odyssey putter, Titleist golf balls.
Played in CA, OR, WA, ID, TX, CT, NV, HI, and Bali.
Certified Scuba Diver Avocation
1983 – 1991
NAUI is a nonprofit dive certification and training organization founded in 1960, recognized for its "Dive Safety Through Education" standards used by recreational divers, dive professionals, and organizations including the U.S. Navy SEALs and NOAA.
Dive locations: Maui — Molokini Crater; Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary; Lake Tahoe (High-Altitude Diving).
Licensed Private Pilot Avocation
1989 – 1991
The FAA Private Pilot Certificate authorizes an individual to act as pilot in command of an aircraft for personal and recreational flight, following completion of required flight training, ground instruction, and both written and practical examinations.
Holds a Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit from the FCC.
Aircraft flown: Cessna 172 Skyhawk, Grumman, Cessna 152, Cessna 182, and Cessna 182RG.
Member of the San Jose Flying Club and Stockton Flying Club. Flew in the Bay Area, San Joaquin Valley, Napa and Sonoma, Half Moon Bay, and Maryland.
Participant in the FAA's WINGS Pilot Proficiency Program.
Percussionist Avocation
1980 – Present
Instructor: Olaf Schiappacasse, Santa Cruz, CA.
Played in a garage band and gigged, performing various genres and styles of percussion.
Accepted to Berklee College of Music in 1985, but decided to pursue Computer Engineering instead.
Screenwriter Avocation
2025 – Present
Developed a television series adaptation of The CipherGhost Codex, exploring themes of AI consciousness and cybersecurity through serialized storytelling.
Registered with the WGAW Script Registry.
Playwright Avocation Finalist Semi-Finalist
2025 – Present
Adapted The CipherGhost Codex for the stage, bringing its themes of technology and identity to a live theatrical format.
Surfer Avocation Recreational
1980 – 1991
Longtime surfer across Pacific and Southeast Asian coastlines, drawn to the sport's balance of physical discipline and ocean awareness. Rode a custom shortboard from SeaTrend, designed by Randy French of Surftech, and also surfed on various longboards.
Locations: Santa Cruz, CA (The Hook, Pleasure Point, 38th Ave, Steamer Lane, Three Mile); Newport Beach, CA (The Wedge); Huntington Beach, CA; Maui, HI; and Bali, Indonesia.
Sailer Avocation Recreational
1988 – 1991
Sails both coastal New England waters and high-altitude mountain lakes, ranging from the tidal waters of Long Island Sound to the alpine conditions of the Sierra Nevada. Sailed both a two-person dinghy and a catamaran.
Locations: Old Saybrook, CT; Lake Tahoe, CA/NV.
Water Skier Avocation Recreational
1982 – 1999
Two skis, single ski, and wakeboard. Locations: San Diego, CA; Lake Tahoe, CA/NV; Old Saybrook, CT.
Certified Boater: California Boater Card — Boat-Ed
Snow Skier Avocation Recreational
1982 – Present
Advanced/expert skill level. Locations: Lake Tahoe, CA/NV; Oregon; Washington; Vancouver, BC.
Linguist Avocation
1980 – Present
Spanish (4 years, Soquel High School), Japanese (2 years, University of the Pacific — Hiragana, Katakana, Kanji), and Mandarin (1 year, Bellevue College), with continued self-study. Varying levels of oral and written proficiency across all three languages.