SSIF Governing Board

Meet the SNIA Storage Security Industry Forum (SSIF) Governing Board, leading a successful agenda communicating SNIA and SSIF member expertise in data/information security and driving new opportunities to enhance security in the storage industry through education and best practices development.

  Gordon Arnold, IBM - Chair 

Gordon Arnold is the technical strategy lead for storage software for IBM, where he defines strategy and roadmaps for storage software including Information on Demand, security, compliance, data governance, and archive/backup products.

Gordon joined IBM through acquisition in 1994. Prior to joining IBM he worked in a variety of technical and development management positions for e-mail and directory integration company Soft-Switch. His focus in IBM has been on large-scale Internet deployments, security, and storage. He was part of the core team that brought to market IBM storage virtualization offerings.

Gordon has a BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences from the University of Illinois, over 25 years experience in IT products development, and holds the Senior Technical Staff Member grade in IBM. He also currently serves on the board of the SNIA Data Management Forum.

  Blair Semple, CISSP, ISSEP,  NetApp - Vice Chair

With over 10 years of specific storage security experience, Blair is a Storage Security Evangelist at NetApp focused on information security and, more specifically, storage security. He is responsible for delivering global outbound communications on the state of the storage security market, emerging standards for storage security, “Introduction to Encryption”, the work being done in the IEEE P1619 and other communities.  In addition, Blair works directly with NetApp customers defining the requirements, challenges and benefits of storage security along with the value that NetApp solutions bring to this environment
 
Prior to joining NetApp, Blair was with Kasten Chase in a variety of roles including Technology Officer and Business Development Director.  From 1996 – 2004 he was the company’s primary interface with the National Security Agency’s RASP program. Working together with NSA, Kasten Chase created a multifaceted technology solution that supported over 20,000 users requiring access to classified data via mobile laptops.  The RASP solution included both encrypting PCMCIA modems and the first laptop security solution certified by NSA to protect classified information.  A large part of Blair’s role involved educating military, intelligence and other government personnel on aspects of storage and communications security for mobile users in the U.S., and around the world.

A physics major at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo Canada, Blair has continued his education in information security including having attained both CISSP and ISSEP certifications - the latter credential demonstrating competence in the rigorous requirements for information security engineering and currently held by only 300 or so individuals worldwide.

James Norton, Brocade – Marketing Officer

James Norton is in the Office of the CTO at Brocade, where he works on technology issues and standards.  James is a business oriented engineer with extensive experience in the storage networking industry and with the ability to apply skills in strategic planning, project management and problem resolution along with hardware and software experience to develop strong business plans.  

James is a long time SNIA member with leadership roles as CIFS Technical Working Group Chair, IP Storage Technical Working Group Chair, and Project Manager of the SNIA Compliance Test Program (CTP).  He also has additional experience in multi-company negotiations and standards organization leadership.  James holds Electrical Engineering degrees from Oklahoma State University and an MBA from the University of Santa Clara.

Gianna DaGiau, Seagate Technology – Treasurer   

Gianna DaGiau is a Product Marketing Manager at Seagate Technology.  Gianna is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University.

 Karen Huffstutter,  LSI Corporation - Membership and Business Development Officer

 

Karen Huffstutter comes to the SSIF Governing Board as the Membership and Business Development Officer. Karen is with LSI Corporation - Engenio division where she currently works in the Alliance partner organization.  At LSI,  Karen has also worked in the Sales organization as the Central Area Sales Director in the Custom Silicon Group. Prior to LSI,  Karen worked on custom silicon design at Control Data Corporation in the Government Systems division. Karen has over 20 years of experience in different aspects of the semiconductor, storage and technology areas.

 

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