The person behind the notes
About
Security engineer. Curious builder. Plenty of side quests.
Hi, I’m Derek.
I’m a security engineer, homelabber, husband, dad, and someone who tends to learn best by building something and seeing what happens.
My work sits around security engineering and architecture. I’m particularly interested in cloud security, automation, and how we manage and secure AI agents.
Why Field Notes?
I wanted a place to keep the things I learn while I’m working on a project, chasing a problem, or trying something new. Some discoveries only need a few sentences. Others deserve a walkthrough.
Quick Bits is for the small things worth remembering. The blog is for the longer version. Projects & Labs is where the things I’m building and experimenting with can live.
Outside the terminal
There’s usually another project waiting: something in the garage, something around the house, or an idea that seemed simple when I started it. I also enjoy books, bourbon, and spending time with my family.
I volunteer with the Ohio Cyber Reserve, helping communities improve their cybersecurity.
Find me elsewhere
This is my personal site. Views expressed here are my own.