My journalism has run a gamut from the technical to the personal.

Technology & Criminal Justice

My articles have appeared in national trade magazines Law Enforcement Technology, Police & Security News, Law & Order, The Informant, Evidence Technology, Forensic Magazine, and Digital Forensics Magazine. A selected list appears below:

BYOB to a CTF to Improve Your DFIR Game
Now offered in virtual formats both during and outside of conferences, CTFs continue to attract participants. What can you expect from the experience, and what do you need to participate? Bring your own box (BYOB) and find out!
Forensic Focus, August 2020

Following Up: When Digital Forensics Vendors Hire Research Talent, Where Does It Leave Research?
When we published our March opinion piece, the reaction on Twitter — mostly from vendor representatives themselves — was swift and strong. While few other non-vendor researchers joined the discussion, the points participants raised are worth a follow-up.
Forensic Focus, June 2020

Forensic Pattern of Life Analysis
When it comes to digital devices, how users interact with them can tell a very detailed story about any given timeframe.
Forensic Focus, February 2020

How To Help Small Governments Respond to Ransomware Attacks
Ransomware has captured a large share of mainstream media coverage in recent months, due in no small part to attacks that have crippled small local and county governments in the United States.
Forensic Focus, December 2019

The 5 Enduring Challenges of Mobile Forensics
Consumer demand for a better balance between privacy and convenience drives changes to apps and devices that create obstacles in retrieving evidentiary data.
Evidence Technology Magazine, Spring 2018

Next-Generation Digital Forensics: Expanding the Toolkit
New approaches give investigative teams the opportunity to identify priority data, analyze the evidence in an easy-to-digest format, and, ultimately, accelerate the investigative process.
Forensic Magazine, March 2018

Making Smart Technology Decisions to Improve Case Collaboration
With the stakes so high but resource constraints unlikely to budge anytime soon, leaders need to be able to stretch their thinking to accommodate the right blend of personnel, technology, and approach to the work.
Forensic Focus, November 2017

Developing the Next Generation of Police Leadership
What are some of the best practices which commanders can utilize to foster millennial officers’ educational aspirations?
Police & Security News, March 2017

Mobile Device Search and Seizure in a Post-Riley World
The latest Supreme Court ruling requires training, policy, and technology for the proper handling of mobile device evidence
DFI News, March 2015

Decentralized Mobile Forensics with Lee Papathanasiou, Cellebrite
Technology, training, and enforcement form the foundation needed for successful mobile forensics
Evidence Technology, September 2014

Mobile Victimology
Data recovered from a victim’s mobile device can identify leads, reveal behavior patterns, and contextualize other evidence
Police Magazine, February 2014

Smartphone Overload with Ronen Engler & Lee Papathanasiou, Cellebrite
Prepare to overcome the challenges posed by an abundance of mobile operating systems
Law Enforcement Technology, June 2013

The Value of Mobile Data in Criminal Investigations
Case studies are proof of the value
Law & Order, June 2013

6 Persistent Challenges with Smartphone Forensics with Ronen Engler, Cellebrite
Smartphones, the most popular mobile communications devices today, are also some of the most difficult to extract evidentiary data from.
DFI News, February 2013

The Newest Way to Get the Message
More people are turning to high-tech methods to report crime — and law enforcement agencies need to be prepared
The Informant, Winter 2011

The 2-Year Digital Forensics Degree with Chris Curran, Huntington Beach (CA) Police Dept./Cypress College
How community colleges fit in the ever-expanding field of digital forensics education
DFI News, January 2011

The Ideal Digital Forensics Course with Tim Watson & Gary Kessler
No one disputes the growing need for digital forensics experts and services. In a push to meet demand, many colleges and universities have created courses, certificates, and degree programmes. However, to remain competitive in the long run, academic institutions must be able to graduate properly educated and trained examiners who fulfill the need for their expertise.
Digital Forensics Magazine, Issue 5

A Digital Forensics Lab by Any Other Name with Todd Shipley, Warren Kruse & James Carden
Digital forensics laboratories may once have been specialized, but increasing case complexity demands broader capabilities across disciplines
Digital Forensics Magazine, Issue 3

Investigating the Social Web
New training helps investigators find criminals and evidence on the Internet
Law Enforcement Technology, January 2010

The Crime Scene Evidence You’re Ignoring with Det. Kipp Loving, Tracy (CA) Police Dept.
Computers and cell phones aren’t the only digital devices that hold evidence
Law Enforcement Technology, October 2009

Wireless Crime, Wireless Criminals
Investigating 802.11 networks and the people who abuse them
Law Enforcement Technology, July 2009

High-Tech Stalking
GPS devices, IP sniffers and even identity theft are used to harass victims. How do investigators get evidence to build a case?
Law Enforcement Technology, May 2009

The Mobile Device Investigator’s Toolbox
What works best for newbies, what requires more training, and how to tell the difference
Law Enforcement Technology, November 2008

The Other Side of Mobile Forensics
How service provider data fit into the larger mobile-evidence picture
Law Enforcement Technology, July 2008

Cell Phone Bombs
How law enforcement can (and can’t) prevent them
Law Enforcement Technology, November 2006

Cyber Stalking and Bullying
What law enforcement needs to know
Law Enforcement Technology, April 2006

Cyber Harassment
Its forms and perpetrators
Law Enforcement Technology, April 2006

Does Your Agency Need an ICAC Unit?
Part I: Blueprinting Success
Law Enforcement Technology, March 2005
Part II: Nuts and Bolts
Law Enforcement Technology, April 2005

Vehicle Event Data Recorders
What they can and can’t do, and what to do when you encounter them
Law Enforcement Technology, November 2004

More Than a Cell Phone
Tools you can use in criminal investigations
Law Enforcement Technology, April 2003

Lifestyle Bylines

My first-person journalism focuses on my experiences with ADHD, parenting, and the work world. I also write about the outdoors.

First-Person

Hacking My ADHD
Managing my time and energy can be challenging. Here’s how I combine digital and analog tools in a system that works for me. (A Magenta Best of 2019 story!)
Magenta, October 2019

Profiles

Where Conservation and Community Meet
PLATT’s Parker Platt on the principal values governing his approach
Plateau Magazine, August-September 2021

What’s in a Destination?
John Woods has distinguished The Park on Main- now he’s part of distinguishing all of Highlands for a whole new demographic
Plateau Magazine, February-March 2021

Handbuilding Highlands’ Future
Kaye McHan is piecing together a plan for uncertain times
Plateau Magazine, October-November 2020

A Community of Residents and Visitors
How Old Edwards Inn’s General Manager Inspires a Sense of Togetherness
Plateau Magazine, August-September 2020

A Love for the Mountains
Inspiring memories – and tourism revenue – with luxury lakefront property rentals
Plateau Magazine, June-July 2020

Lifestyle & Culture

Fly Me to The…Three River Fly Fishing Festival
Join fly-fishing enthusiasts from all over the U.S. Eastern Seaboard—from Alabama and Georgia to New York and Pennsylvania—as they gather with western North Carolina locals for the two-day Three River Fly Fishing Festival in Highlands, NC.
Plateau Magazine, August-September 2021

Comfort & Joy
A brighter, fresher, mountain take on holiday traditions
Plateau Magazine, December-January 2020

Lush Landscapes
Outdoor living designs that highlight the luxury nature has to offer
Plateau Magazine, June-July 2020

Modern Mountain Zen
The retreat-like home designed by Custom Home Designer Travis Mileti designed in the heart of Cashiers mountain country
Plateau Magazine, April-May 2020

Enlivening Our Living Spaces
How three Western North Carolina architects’ fresh designs inspire a sense of renewal
Plateau Magazine, Feb-Mar 2020

Rock Climbing’s Slicker Sibling
The thrill of ice climbing is for the cold at heart
Plateau Magazine, Feb-Mar 2020