Charles Goldner

Senior Technical Engineer at Counter Hack

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Charles Goldner

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About Charles Goldner

Charles "Charlie" Goldner is a Senior Technical Engineer at Counter Hack. With over two decades of experience working for SANS, the U.S. Army, and the Nevada National Guard, he brings a wealth of public and private sector expertise to the classroom. He has served as an instructor for over 25,000 new hires and has been a Network Operations Manager, Network Engineer, Application Developer, and Strategic Analyst. Before joining Counter Hack, Charlie supported the U.S. Army Defensive Cyber Operations Branch and served for five years as the Director of Information Security and Architecture for the Nevada Army National Guard.

Charlie is an experienced security architect, engineer, and leader who has been deeply involved in the planning, engineering, and implementation of enterprise-wide security programs from the ground up, leveraging technologies to enhance organizational security posture. With over 15 years of experience managing multifunctional teams, he has driven innovation at every organizational level through the utilization and administration of new technologies and processes to improve efficiency, security, and profitability. He has implemented sustainable policies, procedures, and technologies to transform organizational mindsets, leaving lasting impacts.

Pursuing a lifelong love of computers, Charlie built his first computer in 2001. When it was time for college, he started in Computer Science but, like many students, followed an indirect path into cybersecurity. His undergraduate degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry provided him with a unique perspective on how systems function. The catalyst for his move into cybersecurity came during his Army service, transitioning from the infantry to the signal corps with a focus on communications and IT. He discovered that many scientific methods applied to cybersecurity and, coupled with his desire to be in a fast-paced field with endless learning opportunities, he knew this was the right path. Charlie found cybersecurity to be an arena where he could continually learn, expand his skill set, and become a strong practitioner.

Charlie holds a BS in Biology with a minor in Chemistry and an MBA from the University of Nevada, and a Master of Science in Information Security Engineering (MSISE) from the SANS Technology Institute. In addition to his degrees, he holds the GIAC Security Expert (GSE #330) credential, numerous GIAC certifications, and other professional certifications including the CISSP. He is a member of the National Guard Association of the United States and volunteers his spare time supporting local sports and mentoring the next generation of security professionals.

In his spare time, Charlie enjoys snowboarding, traveling, playing chess, spending time with family, and mentoring others. As a lifelong learner, he is always attending new courses or studying for certifications or exams.

Speaker / Contributor: This individual participates in SANS events, presentations, written content, or other community resources as an external contributor. They are not a SANS employee, instructor, or affiliate.