Tad Whitaker
About Tad Whitaker
Tad Whitaker is a Staff Product Security Engineer and co-founder of Day of Shecurity, actively contributing to the cybersecurity community through mentorship and leadership roles. He has extensive experience in security engineering, having held positions at several companies including Apollo GraphQL and CircleCI.
Work at Hotel Engine
Tad Whitaker currently holds the position of Staff Product Security Engineer at Hotel Engine. He has been with the company since 2024, contributing to the security of the organization's products. His role involves implementing security measures and ensuring compliance with industry standards.
Experience at Day of Shecurity
Tad Whitaker co-founded Day of Shecurity in 2017, an initiative aimed at empowering women in the cybersecurity field. The conference has become a platform for networking and professional development, focusing on increasing diversity within the industry. His involvement reflects his commitment to fostering an inclusive environment in cybersecurity.
Career at CircleCI
Tad Whitaker has held multiple positions at CircleCI, including Security Engineer, Senior Security Engineer, Engineering Manager - Security, and Director of Security. His tenure at CircleCI spanned from 2016 to 2023, during which he played a key role in enhancing the company's security protocols and practices.
Educational Background
Tad Whitaker studied Journalism at the University of Wyoming, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from 1994 to 1999. He also attended Hack Reactor, a coding bootcamp, which equipped him with technical skills relevant to his career in cybersecurity. Additionally, he has a background from Colorado Rocky Mountain School.
Professional Involvement and Mentorship
Tad Whitaker actively participates in the leadership group for the Bay Area OWASP chapter, contributing to the advancement of web application security. He also advises the HS(2) STEM program at Colorado Rocky Mountain School and mentors junior engineers outside of work, demonstrating his dedication to education and professional growth in the field.