I turn ideas into outcomes.

My name is Justin and ever since I was a kid I’ve turned restless curiosity - and an incessant drive to build things - into software that solves real problems in novel ways.

01 — Zero to one

Invent

I find opportunity gaps and invent novel solutions to fill them.

MORE → 02 — One to many

Scale

I open pathways for growth and foster cultures that fail fast, learn quickly, and compound their wins.

MORE → 03 — Refactor to win

Transform

I strip problems down to first principles, put the right people in the right framework, and give them room to evolve.

about

I’ve spent the better part of this millennium starting and running companies, while architecting and building some interesting tech along the way. I’ve had a bit of success, a bit of luck, and a lot of fun with a bunch of good people.

Justin speaking at a podium at Google — fig. 01 — talking nuclear meltdowns at google

I started my career right out of high school with a focus on network security, subsequently inventing one of the first systems to detect sophisticated covert channels over a network, alongside a next-level R&D group that I built and led.

I co-founded a professional-services firm focused on delivering mission-critical software that grew organically for over a decade up to a successful exit.

I’ve spent time applying decentralized patterns and protocols to real-world problems, creating one of the first commercial systems to integrate enterprise infrastructure with decentralized data, and co-authoring open protocol standards alongside the inventor of the Web.

I led the technology organization at a pioneering mobile app aggregator building a portfolio of 50+ apps counting over 150M lifetime downloads. Most recently, I’ve created a privacy-first federated data network capable of matching global pharma with hundreds of millions of patients for clinical trial recruitment via real-time query, and I’ve transformed a global product engineering firm resulting in substantial quarter over quarter growth.

The family on the beach at sunset, Cape Cod — fig. 02 — the home team, cape cod

I’ve given talks on myriad subjects across the world; from scalable application architecture and network security to decentralization and digital identity; including @ SXSW, MIT CSAIL, Google, the Fast Company Innovation Summit, Harvard Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society, BU Questrom School of Business, the RSA Security Conference, and the MIT Media Lab.

I’m a builder at heart. I love turning ideas into tangible business outcomes, and I love building teams of smart and relentless makers who enjoy the process as much as I do.

I live north of Boston, MA with my wife, my two little girls, and two fluffy, killer dogs.

See a detailed breakdown of my work history →

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Ten years ago I decided to spend a year working remotely, and travel around the country in a Jeep with my dog. I had a goal to hit every off-road spot I could find. Before I knew it, I’d amassed 100,000 followers, made friends all over the country, got a dozen sponsors (including Teraflex, Borla Exhaust, Rebel Off-Road, and Magnuson Superchargers), and rebuilt my Jeep twice.

some favorite videos:

→ How to Survive Black Bear Pass (CO) → Sand Hollow (UT) → Dune Buggin (OR) → Cullman Jamboree (AL) → Apple Valley Farms (WI) → Rubicon Trail (CA) → Prank Wars (OR) → Cajun Jamboree (LA)

The Jeep climbing a rock ledge on a trail — fig. 03 — the jeep, older than the web

The family on a Bahamas beach with one of the famous swimming pigs — fig. 04 — the swimming pigs, exuma

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I once spent months on a special top-secret project for one of the most famous tech CEOs in the world. When all was said and done, our work made the front pages of TechCrunch, Mashable, Forbes, and a handful of other publications.

All I can say is that somewhere there’s a picture of me in the desert showing Ron Howard how to remote control a robot armed with a light saber.

Justin presenting Solid at the Fast Company Innovation Festival — fig. 05 — fast company innovation festival

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I once teamed up with the heads of security at Orange, Deutsche Telekom, and Oracle Communications to design a novel approach to combat internetwork signal fraud between the world’s mobile network operators — a problem costing the industry $10B+ every year.

Justin speaking on stage at GSMA FASG #14 in Paris — fig. 06 — talking telecom fraud, paris

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I made a tool at my first tech job straight out of high school to help me keep track of intrusion detection events. Years later I realized it was being featured in books and articles.

featured in — books:

→ The Best Damn Firewall Book Period → Securing Linux → Open Source Security → Snort Intrusion Detection and Prevention Toolkit → Snort Intrusion Detection 2.0

articles:

→ ZDNET → Dr. Anton Chuvakin → ITWire

Justin at his desk with his daughter making a face in his chair — fig. 07 — pair programming

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I was honored to be nominated and unanimously approved by the Middleton Board of Selectmen to be an Election Registrar. As a long-time independent who believes that free and fair elections are fundamental to our representative democracy, I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve my community in this capacity.

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At my first startup I built an R&D team of PhDs, cryptographers, an astrophysicist, and some of the best hackers I knew. We created a product used by some of the biggest companies in the world, including Dupont, Bank of America, Motorola, Reebok, and American Electric Power.