Joshua Copeland

Joshua Copeland is a battle-tested cybersecurity expert with a wealth of experience in the field. Currently serving as the Cybersecurity Director at AT&T, he plays a pivotal role in guiding security solutions for SLTT (State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial) organizations. Prior to his tenure at AT&T, Joshua worked at GDIT, focusing on cloud platform and cloud platform security within the federal space. With an impressive 20-year career in the United States Air Force, he retired with distinction and pride, having honed his leadership skills and amassed extensive experience in team management and compliance/security.

Renowned for his thought-provoking viewpoints on cybersecurity, hiring practices, leadership, and breaking into the field, Joshua is widely recognized as a purveyor of "Unpopular Opinion." Over the course of his career spanning 25 years, he has worked in various sectors, including DoD, Fed Gov, SLTT, SLED, and the commercial industry. Joshua has delved into diverse domains, ranging from endpoint support, Security Operations Center, and penetration testing to policy formulation, among others. He is a sought-after guest speaker at prestigious conferences such as BlackHat and RSAC, and his expertise makes him a highly coveted guest for podcasts and webinars. Notably, Joshua held the esteemed position of cybersecurity SME (Subject Matter Expert) for the Installation Threat Working Group within the Air Force's nuclear weapons major command. Additionally, he contributed to the RAND study on Industrial Control Systems (ICS) vulnerabilities, specifically focusing on cyber-to-kinetic attacks and command and control systems.

Joshua holds a Master of Science in Cybersecurity Management from Tulane University and a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems (with Honors) from Charter Oak State College. His dedication to professional growth is evident through his impressive collection of over 80 certifications from esteemed organizations such as ETA-I, CompTIA, ISC(2), EC-Council, and the Air Force. Notably, he possesses Air Force certifications in IT Project Management, Cyber Ops, Management, and Inspections. Furthermore, Joshua has made substantial contributions to the field, serving as a co-author for ETA's Network Systems Technician since 2016 and Information Technology Security since 2020. He also served as the technical editor for the book titled "The Art and Math of Cryptography: A Practical Guide for Cybersecurity Professionals." Joshua's expertise extends to publishing articles in esteemed publications like High Tech News and Cyber Security Review, where he delves into various topics related to cybersecurity and IT/cybersecurity leadership.