Sign In

AJ Yawn

Partner In Charge, Product & Innovation at Armanino | AI Leader | Dad | Veteran | Mental Health Advocate | LinkedIn Top Voice in Technology | Keynote Speaker

AJ Yawn is a prominent figure in the cybersecurity and compliance industry, currently serving as the Partner in Charge of Product & Innovation at Armanino LLP.2 His career path has been diverse and impressive, spanning military service, entrepreneurship, and leadership roles in various organizations.

Career Highlights

Military Background:: AJ began his career as a Signal Officer in the US Army, where he served for nearly 6 years, reaching the rank of Captain.12 This experience introduced him to cybersecurity challenges and sparked his interest in the field.

Education:: He holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Sciences from Florida State University, where he was also a scholarship athlete on the Men's Division 1 Basketball team.2 Later, he earned a Master of Science in Technology Management from Georgetown University.12

Professional Journey::

  • Founder and CEO of ByteChek, a cybersecurity SaaS company (2020-2023)12
  • Principal at Coalfire, focusing on SOC-ISO-Healthcare (2017-2020)2
  • Associate Instructor at SANS Institute (2021-2023)12
  • LinkedIn Learning Instructor (2022-present)2

Expertise and Contributions

AJ is known for his expertise in:

  • Cloud security, particularly AWS
  • Compliance frameworks (SOC 2, ISO 27001, PCI, FedRAMP, HIPAA)
  • Automated compliance assessment

He holds numerous certifications, including CISSP and several AWS certifications.1 AJ is also a frequent contributor to industry publications and speaks at cybersecurity events.1

Leadership and Community Involvement

AJ has taken on several leadership roles in professional organizations:

  • Founding Board Member of the National Association of Black Compliance and Risk Management Professionals (NABCRMP)12
  • Former Board Member of the ISC2 Miami Chapter12
  • Advisory Board member for CISOMag2

Personal Philosophy

AJ is passionate about making compliance more accessible and less tedious, as evidenced by his motto at ByteChek: "We Make Compliance Suck Less".2 He emphasizes the importance of focusing on people rather than just credentials in cybersecurity.1

In his current role at Armanino LLP, AJ continues to innovate in the fields of cybersecurity and compliance, bringing his wealth of experience and unique perspective to drive product development and innovation.2

Highlights

Sep 4 · linkedin

It’s getting real!

See you tomorrow at the Future is Now: Leading in the AI Era!

Armanino AI @ Armanino #AI

Aug 29 · linkedin

🎉 WOW! Our "Future is Now: Leading in the AI Era" conference in Chicago next week is OFFICIALLY SOLD OUT! 🤩

I'm absolutely thrilled to see such overwhelming interest in AI leadership.

This incredible milestone wouldn't have been possible without the tireless efforts of our amazing team. Shoutout to Octavio "OJ" Laos, Derrick Magdefrau and Joey Johnston on the great work!

Their dedication, creativity, and hard work have truly paid off.

To everyone who secured their spot: get ready for an unforgettable experience filled with cutting-edge insights and networking opportunities. We can't wait to explore the future of AI with you!

For those who missed out, DM me and we can see if we can get you in.

The AI revolution waits for no one!

AI @ Armanino #SoldOut #AI

Related Questions

What inspired AJ Yawn to transition from the US Army to cybersecurity?
How did AJ Yawn's experience at Coalfire shape his approach to compliance assessments?
What are some of the key challenges AJ Yawn has faced in his role at Armanino LLP?
How does AJ Yawn's work at ByteChek differ from his role at Armanino LLP?
What motivated AJ Yawn to become a SANS Institute instructor?
AJ Yawn
AJ Yawn, photo 1
AJ Yawn, photo 2
Add to my network

Location

Dorado, Puerto Rico