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Draft:Rob T. Lee

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Rob T. Lee
BornDecember 7, 1973
Maryland, U.S.
Alma materUnited States Air Force Academy (B.S.); Georgetown University (M.B.A.)
Occupation(s)Cybersecurity expert, AI and emerging threats expert, digital forensics and incident response expert
Years active1990s–present
Known forDigital forensics and incident response (DFIR) training; SIFT Workstation
TitleChief of Research, SANS Institute
AwardsDigital Forensic Examiner of the Year (2009); DFIR Hall of Fame (2020)

Rob T. Lee (born December 7, 1973) is an American cybersecurity expert specializing in digital forensics and incident response (DFIR). A former U.S. Air Force cyber warfare officer, he is currently Chief of Research for AI and Emerging Threats at the SANS Institute. Lee is known for helping develop core DFIR methodologies, such as timeline analysis, and for creating the SIFT Workstation, an open-source forensic toolkit. His work has been recognized through industry awards, including induction into the Forensic 4:cast DFIR Hall of Fame.[1][2] He has also been referred to as the "Godfather of DFIR" a nickname cited in cybersecurity publications.[3]

Early Life and Education

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Lee grew up in a military family with ties to the U.S. Air Force and national security. He graduated from the United States Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Astronautical Engineering and later earned a Master of Business Administration from Georgetown University. This educational background combined technical and leadership training, contributing to his later work in cybersecurity.[4]

Military Career

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After commissioning, Lee helped launch the U.S. Air Force's first cyber warfare unit, the 609th Information Warfare Squadron, where he worked on early intrusion detection and cyber defense. He later led digital forensics and incident response efforts with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, analyzing cyber intrusions by nation-state actors. In 2002, he deployed one of the first wireless honeynets in Washington, D.C., reflecting early experimentation with cyber defense techniques during the initial development of U.S. cyber operations.[5]

Intelligence and Private-Sector Roles

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Following active duty, Lee supported U.S. intelligence and defense agencies in offensive cyber operations, leading teams focused on vulnerability research, digital forensics, and forensic software development for organizations including the CIA and NSA. In 2007, he joined Mandiant as Director of Incident Response, where he worked on investigations involving advanced persistent threats (APTs) and co-authored the first M-Trends report.[6] In 2009, he was named Digital Forensic Examiner of the Year by the Forensic 4:cast Awards.[7] After leaving Mandiant, he established a consulting practice focused on digital forensics and incident response, advising both government and private-sector clients.[4]

SANS Institute Leadership

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Since the early 2000s, Lee has been involved with the SANS Institute, contributing to digital forensics education as an instructor and course author.[4] He currently serves as Chief of Research and Head of Faculty, overseeing curriculum development and mentoring instructors. Lee co-authored the SANS courses FOR500: Windows Forensic Analysis and FOR508: Advanced Incident Response, Threat Hunting, and Digital Forensics.[8][9] He also contributed to the establishment of the SANS DFIR Summit and the development of the DFIR training track at the Institute.[10][11]

Major Contributions

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Lee has contributed to the development of modern digital forensics and incident response (DFIR), a term he is credited with coining in 2014 to describe the combined discipline. He introduced techniques such as timeline analysis and the "Super Timeline" methodology, and developed the SIFT Workstation, an open-source forensic toolkit used in training and investigations.[1][4] He has also contributed to the evolution of threat hunting practices, co-authoring resources such as Huntpedia and promoting structured, hypothesis-driven approaches to intrusion detection. [12]His work has included research and training in areas such as memory forensics, honeynet deployment, and intelligence-driven incident response.

Publications and Key Projects

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Lee has authored and contributed to a number of publications and training resources in the field of cybersecurity, particularly in digital forensics and threat hunting.[13] His work includes contributions to Know Your Enemy (2004), co-authorship of the M-Trends 2010 report on advanced persistent threats (APTs), and the SANS 2017 Threat Hunting Survey.[14] He also contributed to Huntpedia, a freely available collection of threat hunting techniques, and helped develop educational materials such as the "Windows Forensics" and "Hunt Evil" posters[12]. In addition to formal publications, Lee has written blog posts, whitepapers, and course materials used in cybersecurity training programs.[4]

Media Commentary and Influence

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Lee has participated in cybersecurity conferences, podcasts, and media interviews on topics such as nation-state cyber threats, ransomware, and emerging attack techniques.[15][16] He has spoken at events including the RSA Conference and the SANS DFIR Summit. In addition to public speaking, he has contributed to cybersecurity education through mentoring, participating in community forums, and supporting initiatives aimed at increasing diversity in the field.[17][18]

Awards and Recognition

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Lee has received several professional honors related to his work in cybersecurity and digital forensics. In 2009, he was named Digital Forensic Examiner of the Year by the Forensic 4:cast Awards.[7] In 2020, he was inducted into the Forensic 4:cast DFIR Hall of Fame.[2] In 2018, he was appointed as a Technical Amicus Curiae to the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, providing independent technical advice on matters involving cybersecurity and surveillance.[19] He has also been recognized as a SANS Faculty Fellow, the highest instructor rank at the SANS Institute.[20] The nickname "Godfather of DFIR" has been used in cybersecurity publications to refer to his role in the field.[5]

Legacy and Influence

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Lee has played a role in the development and formalization of digital forensics and incident response as a professional discipline. He is credited with coining the term "DFIR" and has advocated for a unified approach combining digital forensic analysis with incident response practices.[1] He has promoted the use of open-source tools, including the SIFT Workstation, and contributed to the development of training programs and certification standards. Through efforts such as the SANS DFIR Summit, he has supported collaboration within the DFIR community. His mentorship and educational work have been cited as influential in the careers of cybersecurity professionals. The nickname "Godfather of DFIR" has been used in industry publications to describe his contributions.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "SIFT Workstation | SANS Institute". www.sans.org. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  2. ^ a b "DFIR Hall of Fame – Forensic 4:cast". Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  3. ^ Admin, B. G. (2024-10-21). "Is AI a Friend or Foe in Cybersecurity? Insights from The Godfather of Digital Forensics". High Wire Networks. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Rob Lee | SANS Institute". www.sans.org. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
  5. ^ a b c "Rob T. Lee". RSA Conference. 20201107T193055Z. Retrieved 2025-03-25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ "Greater Augusta ISSA 2010 Q3 Public Meeting: Rob Lee presents the Mandiant M-Trends Report on APT (Advanced Persistent Threat)". Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  7. ^ a b "2009 Results – Forensic 4:cast". Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  8. ^ "FOR500: Windows Forensics Analysis™ | SANS Institute". www.sans.org. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  9. ^ "FOR508™: Advanced Incident Response, Threat Hunting, and Digital Forensics™ | SANS Institute". www.sans.org. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  10. ^ "Digital Forensics & Incident Response Summit & Training 2025 | SANS Institute". www.sans.org. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
  11. ^ "SANS Overview | SANS Institute". www.sans.org. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
  12. ^ a b "awesome-threat-detection/docs/huntpedia.pdf at master · 0x4D31/awesome-threat-detection" (PDF). GitHub. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
  13. ^ "Who wants to go threat hunting?". CSO Online. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
  14. ^ Project, Honeynet (2004). Know Your Enemy: Learning about Security Threats: Honeynet Project The: 9780321166463: Amazon.com: Books. Addison-Wesley. ISBN 0321166469.
  15. ^ "Episode 112: How SANS Fosters Action on Cybersecurity Trends". CIS. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
  16. ^ Sheridan, Patrick (2025-02-20). "Conversations with Chief Innovators Ep 9: SANS Institute". Modus Create. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
  17. ^ SANS Institute (2023-05-09). Wait Just An Infosec @ RSAC 2023: Rob Lee. Retrieved 2025-03-25 – via YouTube.
  18. ^ Lee, Rob T. (2024-01-11). "Look To Those With Transferable Skills For Cybersecurity Roles". StrategicCHRO360. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
  19. ^ "Amici Curiae | Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court | United States". www.fisc.uscourts.gov. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
  20. ^ "Instructors | SANS Institute". www.sans.org. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
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