Mr. Pescatore joined SANS in January 2013 with 35 years of experience in computer, network and information security. He was Gartner’s lead security analyst for 13 years, working with global 5000 corporations and major technology and service providers. In 2008, he was named one of the top 15 most influential people in security and has testified before Congress on cybersecurity.

Prior to joining Gartner Inc. in 1999, Mr. Pescatore was Senior Consultant for Entrust Technologies and Trusted Information Systems, where he started, grew and managed security consulting groups focusing on firewalls, network security, encryption and Public Key Infrastructures. Prior to that, Mr. Pescatore spent 11 years with GTE developing secure computing and telecommunications systems.  In 1985 he won a GTE-wide Warner Technical Achievement award.

Mr. Pescatore began his career at the National Security Agency, where he designed secure voice systems, and the United States Secret Service, where he developed secure communications and surveillance systems – and the occasional ballistic armor installation.  He holds a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Connecticut and is a NSA Certified Cryptologic Engineer. He is an Extra class amateur radio operator, call sign K3TN.