Dr Ron Martin’s Impact on the Security Industry

Introduction:

Cyber security is of great importance to the society at large and Dr Ron Martin’s impact on the industry is immeasurable.

Ron is a decorated security professional with extensive experience in the armed forces and public service. He has worked with multiple government agencies to implement strategies for the development of critical security infrastructure, receiving multiple awards for his contribution to cyber security and law enforcement.

One of the associations to which he belongs is the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), an organization dedicated to raising awareness on best practices and strategies that ensure a secure cloud computing environment. He is also a member of the ASIS International Standards Committee. ASIS is an organization responsible for the development of standards and guidelines to assist the needs of security professionals in the global environment.

Throughout his career, Dr Martin has dedicated his time to service, pushing the envelope on integrating new systems that can help secure information critical to community development. However, one way he has genuinely served the international community is by providing training programs for security professionals and technology enthusiasts. These programs help the community both by providing the knowledge to make changes in security infrastructure and providing individuals the skills necessary to gain employment in the information sector.

Early Life:

A large majority of his early school life was spent in the Bronx where he attended Evander Childs High School. He proved his doubters wrong by attending George Mason University where he received associate and bachelor's degrees in 1976 and 1978 respectively. He also received Master of Science degree from Frostburg State University.

Being greatly inspired by his granddaughter’s achievement of a double masters’ degree, he went on to pursue a doctorate degree at the Capital Technology University, where he is currently a Professor of Practice.

Service:

Dr Martin has lived a life dedicated to serving his country and making himself available in whatever capacity his expertise might be utilized. He was drafted into the military in 1969, serving two tours in the US armed forces and retiring as a United States Army Major in 1999.

In 1978, he joined the Virginia National Guard and was commissioned as an officer despite the police department making several claims that he would not be able to achieve this feat. In between his tours in the army, he served for five years as a civilian police officer in the commonwealth of Virginia. 

Upon his retirement from the US Army, Dr Martin devoted his time to service in numerous government agencies. At the US Department of Health and Human Services, he worked as the Program Director for the development and implementation of the department identity, credentialing and access management system.

In aid to Homeland Security, he led the implementation of the Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12). The directive advocated for policies for a common identification standard for federal employees and contractors. After his retirement from the Federal Government, the Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection presented him with an award of excellence for his service to the Federal Interagency Security Committee.

International Work:

Dr Martin is the executive director for Open Security Exchange (OSE). OSE is a non-profit organization that advances the security profession by providing a forum for consultants, government agencies and organizations to mutually define opportunities for physical and logical convergence and interoperability. It offers members the opportunity to engage in the security industry convergence of information technology and physical security.

Ron is also on the board of trustees for The African Foundation for System Integration. The foundation aims to bring African countries into the mainstream of global economy through free enterprise. One of the core principles of the foundation is finding ways to implement culture-based resilience in the African society resulting in the cultivation of a pathway for peace and prosperity from economic opportunities.

Conclusion:

Dr Ron Martin’s footprint on the information industry and his value as one of the leading minds in national security is untold. Principles such as dedication, patriotism and a stunning devotion to education are important takeaways from a study on his career. Through these principles, he has been able to set a lasting example for the next generation of public servants and students of Information Technology.

His influence has been felt on a global scale through various programs, especially in Africa, where he has trained both individuals and organizations in the development of critical security infrastructure.