root9B Names John Harbaugh Chief Operating Officer

NEW YORK, Sept. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- John Harbaugh, a former senior executive for the National Security Agency (NSA), has been appointed Chief Operating Officer of root9B, a subsidiary of Premier Alliance (OTCQB: PIMO), effective immediately. Mr. Harbaugh has more than 25 years of diverse experience within the cryptologic and intelligence community as both a member of the U.S. Military, and as a senior executive for NSA.

"John and the other subject matter experts root9B has added in the past month are among the leaders in combating what has become a primary issue for our global companies – defending their networks against cyber attacks," said Joe Grano, chairman and chief executive officer of Premier Alliance. "Companies are learning that plug and play systems are not a substitute for human intelligence, experience and training."

As one of a handful of NSA certified Master Computer Network Operations (CNO) operators, Mr. Harbaugh has led several "first-ever" events, including the creation of the U.S. Air Force's cyber operations capability, design of military and government cyber operations and security training platforms, and development of unique technology solutions. Mr. Harbaugh's leadership experience spans the technical and operational realms, from the Director of an elite cyber organization focused on critical, tactical mission execution, to the Senior Executive Service managing global enterprises. Given his unique cyber and security experience, Harbaugh participates as a member of the National Security Agency Advisory Board (NSAAB) Emerging Technologies Panel, providing advice on matters related to research, development, and the application of existing and emerging science and technology. Mr. Harbaugh holds a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity from University of Maryland, University College.

"Having dealt with some of the most demanding, critical, and challenging operations within the government, John brings unparalleled technical and leadership experience to his role as Chief Operating Officer," said Eric Hipkins, root9B's founder and CEO. "We are attracting the very best talent from the DoD and commercial communities to tackle the hardest challenges and opportunities in cyber security," added Hipkins, who has more than 25 years of experience in advanced cyber and technical operations in the U.S. Army and the NSA.

Joining Harbaugh on the root9B Senior Leadership team are Joseph Kennedy, Eric Stride, and Matt Weeks, veteran leaders and technical experts within the computer network operations field.

Kennedy, a 15-year veteran leader of the U.S. Air Force and National Security Agency, has been appointed Senior Vice President for root9B. Mr. Kennedy served as an intelligence officer at the NSA, where he ran intelligence support programs for military operations, served as a liaison to the intelligence community, and led multiple organizations responsible for executing tactical cyber operations. Mr. Kennedy is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, and holds an MBA from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin.

Stride, a 12-year veteran leader of the U.S. Air Force and NSA, has been appointed Vice President of Emerging Technologies, the research and development arm at root9B. Mr. Stride brings significant technical and command experience throughout the cyber operations domain that include numerous highly technical cyber operations for the Air Force, NSA, and Cyber Command. Mr. Stride holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Washington and a Master of Science in IT Management from Colorado Technical University, in addition to possessing numerous industry certifications.

Weeks, a veteran leader of the U.S. Air Force's Intrusion Forensics and Reverse Engineering Laboratory, has been appointed Director of Emerging Technologies. Mr. Weeks is well known as an information security researcher and subject matter expert. He is also credited as a major developer of the Metasploit Framework, the world's most widely used vulnerability assessment platform. Mr. Weeks' extensive work on network defense, intrusion detection, and active adversarial pursuit operations have been featured on CNN, and in numerous national publications.

"We are focused on changing the way Defensive Cyber operations are conducted in both the Department of Defense and commercial industries," said Mike Morris, root9B's Chief Technology Officer. "We currently support and train multiple operational Department of Defense cyber units performing HUNT missions as well as several commercial partners involved in implementing state-of-the-art network defenses. We focus on active pursuit and adversary engagement strategies that enable our defense teams to proactively hunt for, and engage, adversaries hiding deep within proprietary networks."

The solution to cybersecurity problems will not be found in an intrusion detection system (IDS), sturdier firewalls, or anti-virus products alone.  The game changer in the next phase of cyber defense is executing interactive cyber operations and proactively searching for malicious activity.  With the ability to understand how an attacker maneuvers and their arsenal of techniques, defenders can proactively detect, mitigate, and deter threats.

"root9B has created a turn-key solution representing a unique platform and training pipeline, packed with significant operational experience," said Judge William H. Webster, chairman of the Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC), a member of the root9B Advisory Board, and previously the Director of both the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). "This is the innovation that America needs to secure our data from the threats that have recently hit our retail and financial industries."

About root9B
Based in Colorado Springs, Colo., root9B is a leading provider of advanced cybersecurity services and training for commercial and government clients. Combining cutting-edge technology, tactics development, specialty tools, and deep mission experience, root9B personnel leverage their extensive backgrounds in the U.S. Intelligence Community to conduct advanced vulnerability analysis, penetration testing, digital forensics, incident response, industrial control system (ICS) security, and active adversarial pursuit (HUNT) engagements on networks worldwide. For more information, visit www.root9B.com.

About Premier Alliance Group, Inc.
Premier Alliance Group, Inc. (OTCQB: PIMO) is a leading provider of Cybersecurity, Energy and Business Advisory Solutions. Headquartered in New York City, Premier Alliance has been delivering results that improve productivity, mitigate risk and maximize profits since 1995. Its clients range in size from Fortune 100 companies to mid-sized and owner-managed businesses across a range of industries, including local, state and federal government agencies. For more information, visit www.premieralliance.com.

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SOURCE Premier Alliance Group, Inc.