James Shewmaker

James began his career in 1996 working as a System Administrator and later IT Manager and Director for a major national radio network, where he developed and maintained infrastructure supporting broadcast, internet, and satellite technologies. His work evolved into penetration testing, investigations, and security research through Bluenotch Corporation, the consulting firm he founded in Long Beach, California. Over the years, he has contributed to large-scale cybersecurity initiatives, including the development and operation of the NetWars US Cyber Challenge beginning in 2009. His experience designing realistic attack-and-defense environments directly influences the labs and exercises that students encounter in the course, where they learn to think like adversaries while improving defensive decision-making under pressure.

James holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Idaho and was among the first GIAC Platinum certified Malware (GSM) experts. He has also contributed to SEC401: Security Essentials and FOR610: Reverse-Engineering Malware: Malware Analysis Tools and Techniques. Beyond courseware development, he is known for his work building offensive training environments, cyber ranges, and challenge platforms, including Bunker011. James is also a faculty member of the SANS Technology Institute, which has been designated an NSA Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense and is a multi-year winner of the National Cyber League competition.

In the classroom, James is recognized for blending deep technical expertise with practical, hands-on instruction that emphasizes experimentation, problem solving, and operational realism. Students consistently praise his ability to move beyond slides and connect concepts to real-world offensive operations through immersive labs and challenge-based learning. Outside of teaching, he regularly contributes to the cybersecurity community through conference presentations, cyber competitions, and mentoring efforts focused on developing the next generation of offensive security professionals. When he is not immersed in cybersecurity research and gadgets, James enjoys snow skiing, water sports, and aviation with his wife and son.

Qualifications Summary

• Founder of Bluenotch Corporation
• SANS Principal Instructor; Co-author of SEC660: Advanced Penetration Testing, Exploit Writing, and Ethical Hacking
• One of the first GIAC Platinum certified Malware (GSM) experts
• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Idaho
• Led development and operations for the NetWars US Cyber Challenge beginning in 2009
• Creator and developer of the independent cyber challenge platform Bunker011
• Faculty member at the SANS Technology Institute