Christopher Symonds
About Christopher Symonds
Christopher Symonds is the Principal Member of Technical Staff in Cybersecurity R&D at Sandia National Laboratories, with a diverse background in technical and creative roles.
Current Role at Sandia National Laboratories
Christopher Symonds holds the position of Principal Member Of Technical Staff in Cybersecurity R&D at Sandia National Laboratories. Since 2020, he has been based in Livermore, California, playing a critical role in cybersecurity research and development. His responsibilities involve overseeing advanced projects in cybersecurity, contributing to the safeguarding of critical national infrastructure.
Previous Positions at Sandia National Laboratories
Before becoming Principal Member Of Technical Staff, Christopher Symonds served in various roles at Sandia National Laboratories. From 2016 to 2020, he was a Senior Member Of Technical Staff in Livermore, CA. Prior to that, he spent two years from 2014 to 2016 as a Senior Member Of Technical Staff in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In these roles, he contributed significantly to the laboratories' cybersecurity initiatives.
Experience in Marketing and Film Production
Christopher Symonds's career also encompasses roles outside of cybersecurity. From 2007 to 2013, he worked at Diodes Inc as a Marketing Communications Associate in San Jose, CA. Earlier, from 2000 to 2002, he served as a Video Editor / Photoshop Artist / Production Assistant at Finali Corporation in San Francisco. Additionally, he spent a decade, starting in 2000, working in various capacities in film production, including acting and production assistance, in Los Angeles and the Bay Area.
Educational Background in Computer Science and Film
Christopher Symonds has pursued extensive education. He holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from The University of New Mexico, obtained between 2013 and 2015. He also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Cinematography and Film/Video Production from San Francisco State University, completing his degree in 2001. These diverse academic credentials underpin his varied career and expertise in both technical and creative fields.
Contributions to Cybersecurity Tools and High-Performance Computing
In his current role, Christopher Symonds leads the development of Sandia's open-source Emulation and Analytics tool suite known as minimega. He works closely with the High-Performance Computing (HPC) team at Sandia to manage multiple compute-cluster resources. His work supports various cyber experiments, aiding decision-makers on critical national security issues.