ISSA Journal: July 2006 – January 2021

Information Systems Security Association – ISSA
The preeminent international organization of information security professionals

A fateful day in March or April, 2006, Ben Fields, whom I'd done a few graphics jobs for, approached me and asked if I wanted to put a magazine together. I said absolutely but it'll have to wait until next month. I would be heading to Montana to a friend's place in the Bitterroot Valley south of Darby - a former hot springs resort said friend had acquired. I got back and took on the project and my 14-year tenure with the ISSA Journal began. Ever since getting the graphics bug I wanted to publish a magazine. Now was the best of opportunities, for I could "make" the publication, not "write" it. At first it was layout; then Ben's brother who was editing at the time decided he wanted to go elsewhere and it all fell to me and the ISSA-member editor.

Chicago Conference

I'd attended four conferences in an official capacity – Anaheim, Chicago, Dallas and San Diego – but Chicago stands out the most.

Day One

Day Two

Journal Covers

InfoSec topics and concerns during my tenure. You can get a good sense of information security (InfoSec) over the years. What is interesting to me is we are still fighting the same battles, but now AI is involved.

2006 – 2021: 173 issues.

Editor Blurbs

Just what you'd expect from editor blurbs. I guess I got tired of writing them by 2017.

2008 – 2017: 71 issues.

Cartoon

Yes, just one. Anyone familiar with XKCD cartoons will notice the similarity. I actually contacted Randall Munroe, told him who I was and that my cartoon was in his style. I asked if he had any concerns. He said, "they're stick figures; go for it."

Alice & Bob

Exit Interview

Long-time Journal author and ISSA International board member, Curtis Campbell, hit me up for an interview, the only recognition I received other than a custom ISSA pen set.

The interview

The pen set