Phoenix Chapter Officers
Walter Opaska
President
A CISSP and member of ISC2 since 1994, Walter has had over thirty five years work and management experience in cybersecurity and IT audit with Federal government agencies, Inspectors General, and contractors. Besides being a CISSP, he is also a CISA, an MBA, and a CPA licensed in two states, Arizona and North Carolina. Previously, Walter was Treasurer of the Quantico, Virginia ISC2 Chapter. In addition to Treasurer, he served as Quantico’s Membership Chair. An experienced presenter, Walter spoke at meetings for the Quantico and Richmond, Virginia ISC2 Chapters on The Default Password Conundrum.
Walter currently holds ISC2 Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).
Shaun Angley
Vice President
Throughout his 20+ year career, Shaun has worked in most IT disciplines and held many roles. He has experience building and managing IT operations and IT teams across multiple industries. Over the past 8+ years, Shaun has been working in various Cybersecurity disciplines and formally transitioned into a full time Information Security Management role in January of 2022 where he leads Information Security at an insurance company.
Shaun holds multiple certifications including ISC2 Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and ISACA Certified Information Security Manager (CISM).
Larry Heinz
Treasurer
Larry currently holds ISC2 Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).
Josh Howard
Secretary
Like many, Josh entered Cyberecurity from software development. Josh has extensive experience managing multiple small teams working on engineered BIM projects, tending to the needs of internal/external stakeholders, and being a good steward of project compliance. Later, Josh moved to the software development industry and actively works to balance the needs of development with requirements of adequate controls.
Josh has passed the ISC2 Certified Cloud Security Professional (CSSP) exam and is actively closing in on meeting the full requirements.
Marcos Saiz
VP, Programs
Marcos Saiz is a cybersecurity professional with over 20 years of experience in the information security industry. He has extensive experience in enterprise risk management, security architecture, incident response, and cybersecurity operations. As CISO at TBC, he is responsible for Managed Cybersecurity Services which includes GRC, 24x7 SOC, and xTDR. Marcos also serves a member of the Air National Guard, working part-time as an incident responder with AZ-DHS.
Marcos holds multiple certifications including ISC2 Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), ISACA Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), and EC-Council Certified Chief Information Security Officer (CCISO).
Zandel Buel
VP, Communications.
Vacant
VP, External Relations
The Chapter's Vice President of External Relations is available
Akash Verma
Director-at-Large
Akash is a seasoned cybersecurity professional bringing over a decade of expertise in threat intelligence, information security, and technology risk management. With a track record of spearheading critical projects in renowned organizations like Google, LinkedIn and Discover Financial Services, he excels in operational risk and regulatory compliance.
Akash holds multiple certifications including ISC2 Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH), and ISACA Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), alongside a Master's in Information Systems and BE in Electronics Engineering
Alfred "Griff" Griffith
Director-at-Large
Griff's experience includes two decades of experience implementing technology security strategies and deploying highly successful data protection technologies. He have engineered, deployed and overseen a host of security and data protection technologies, processes, and security awareness training modules.
Griff currently holds ISC2 Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and ISC2 Cloud Computing Security Professional (CCSP).
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Jayanth Kumar Mallapu
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Jayanth Kumar Mallapu is the Chapter Webmaster for ISC2 Phoenix Chapter. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Anna University and a Master’s degree in Computer Science from Northern Arizona University (NAU), where he served as a Webmaster. Jayanth has experience in full-stack development, AI/ML, and backend technologies. At Think Book Company, he contributed to backend functionalities and web development, working on no-code platforms and personalized connectors. He also applied his web technology skills while conducting research at NAU. | Brice Blankenship Director at Large |
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Brice Blankenship is the Founder and Principal Consultant of TechHorizon Consulting, specializing in cybersecurity, vCISO services, Currently holds ISC2 Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and an MBA from Western Governors University. |
Board Candidacy Application and Additional Information
We are looking for exceptional people to volunteer and help the Chapter succeed in providing information security content, CPEs, and networking opportunities to Arizona's cyber community. Click here to apply and join the Chapter Board.
Additional information can be obtained by contacting the Chapter's Secretary via email:
president@isc2chapter-phoenix.org