CyberWire Daily Joe Carrigan: Build your network. [Security engineer] [Career Notes]
Sep 28, 2025
Joe Carrigan, a senior security engineer at the Johns Hopkins University Information Security Institute, shares his winding career journey from a theater enthusiast to a tech expert. He reveals how a chance conversation led him to pursue IT, the importance of cybersecurity education, and his concerns about the public’s cyber hygiene. Joe emphasizes the power of networking, noting that most of his job opportunities stem from his connections. His insights blend personal anecdotes with practical advice for anyone looking to navigate a career in technology.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
How A Chance Ride Changed His Career
- Joe Carrigan describes an aimless early career that shifted from theater to computers after hands-on lab work and self-teaching BASIC.
- A chance conversation on a commute and returning to school propelled him into IT and eventually Johns Hopkins.
From NetWare To Johns Hopkins
- Joe recounts moving from NetWare admin and help desk into programming and then returning to a defense contractor as a programmer.
- Prior project work with Hopkins led to a job there, aided by a prior connection with Avi Rubin.
Public Education Is The Key To Reducing Scams
- Joe highlights poor cyber hygiene among the public as a systemic risk that enables devastating scams.
- He sees public education as the primary remedy to reduce individual and societal harm.