bringing a hacker mindset to the general assembly

let’s reverse engineer and rebuild together

It’s true, Dana is a hacker and that’s a good thing. Thanks to Hollywood and the media you probably associate the word “hacker” with bad people doing bad things with computers. The reality is that there are millions of hackers around the world doing plenty of good for humanity with and without computers or technology. In general, hackers think differently than most other people and the hacker mindset can be distilled down to four key characteristics:

• Curiosity
• Creativity
• Tenacity
• Diversity (of thought)

Dana’s path to becoming a hacker is a bit unusual and it all started in Warwick Public Schools, where he graduated from Rhodes Elementary, Aldrich Junior High, and Pilgrim High. He went on to attend Norwich University, in the Corp of Cadets, where he originally studied Criminal Justice and joined the Army ROTC program. After completing the initial semester at Norwich, Dana accepted an Army ROTC scholarship at the University of Rhode Island where he changed majors and studied Computer Science. An unfortunate accident resulted in his medical disenrollment from the Army ROTC program; however, Dana resumed studies at URI on an academic scholarship and went on to graduate Summa Cum Laude.

Dana started working in the cyber security industry prior to completing his undergraduate degree at URI. He worked on campus doing network security and incident response before being hired as an analyst at a large managed security service provider. Dana has contributed to the open source community, including the Metasploit Framework, and has responsibly disclosed vulnerabilities in various software products both in public and in private. Dana has held many different titles and roles over the course of his career. Currently, he is employed as a Security Architect at one of the largest security software companies supporting major telecommunications and service provider partners around the world.

His work in the cyber security space has afforded Dana the opportunity to travel the world and collaborate with diverse groups of people. In a polarized political climate, Dana’s ability to engage in respectful, but meaningful conversation with people from all walks of life is paramount. A natural leader and problem solver, he is prepared to shoulder the weight of the challenges ahead while employing critical thinking, common sense, candor, determination, and persistence. It is the coalescence of his personal and professional experiences that sets Dana apart and makes him the ideal candidate to tackle the tough issues Rhode Islanders face today.

SUPPORT

dana at a glance

• Born and raised in Warwick, Rhode Island.
• Educated in Warwick Public Schools and at the University of Rhode Island.
• B.A. in Computer Science (Summa Cum Laude) from URI.
• Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP).
• Local friendly, neighborhood all around hacker.
• Local investor and small business owner.
• Avid golfer, working on becoming a scratch.
• Heavy coffee drinker and supporter of many local cafes.
• Grilling and smoking (BBQ) hobbyist.
• Local hiker, mountain biker, and general outdoorsman.
• Husband of the most amazing wife on Earth.
• Father of two young, crazy, beautiful children.
• Son of a local realtor and caregiver.
• Son of a retired Providence Firefighter, USAF/RIANG veteran, and small business owner.
• Brother of a registered nurse who works at the VA hospital.
• Extended family full of IBEW members, police officers, and other working class folks.

new face

Dana is the epitome of a political newcomer; however, he believes that regular people becoming politically active is key to improving the local political climate. He subscribes to the notion that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change things in Warwick, in Rhode Island, and the World. Win or lose come November, he hopes to inspire others in the community to become more civically and politically engaged.

new ideas

Dana embodies a fresh, principled perspective that he will take to the Rhode Island general assembly. He values bold, new ideas such as fiscal responsibility, individual liberty, and limited government. Dana believes that representatives should honor their oaths of office and truly represent their constituents.

new direction

Rhode Island has a rich history of being fiercely independent. From the burning of the HMS Gaspee by the Sons of Liberty on June 9, 1772, to being the first colony to declare independence from Britain on May 4, 1776, and on to be the last of the thirteen colonies to join the newly formed United States and adopt the U.S. Constitution on May 29, 1790.

Sadly, in 2022 after more than eighty years of single party rule, Rhode Island has strayed far off course. Rhode Islanders have endured tyranny, excessive taxation, misrepresentation, and more. Dana’s vision for the future of our state is a new direction that is perhaps best described as a course correction. He will inspire and lead Rhode Islanders back on course where the government answers to the people and liberty and justice prevail for all.