John Sammons

Associate Director for the MU ICS, Professor
,
WAEC 2003
304-696-7241

Biography

John Sammons is an accomplished scholar, author, and educator with a wealth of experience in the field of digital forensics. As a Professor at Marshall University, he serves as the Associate Director of the Institute for Cyber Security and is a well-respected instructor in the areas of advanced digital forensics and firearms. In addition to his academic work, John is also a former Huntington Police officer and has received recognition for his investigative work from the United States Department of Justice.

John is the author, co-author, and contributor of several books on digital forensics, including the best-selling “The Basics of Digital Forensics,” which was nominated for Digital Forensics Book of the Year by Forensic 4 Cast in 2013. He has also co-authored the digital forensics chapter in Douglas Ubelaker’s “Forensic Science: Current Issues, Future Directions,” which is co-published with the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. In addition to his academic work, John also serves as a Fusion Center Liaison Officer for the West Virginia Intelligence Fusion Center and is the founder and President of the Appalachian Institute of Digital Evidence, a non-profit organization that provides research and training for digital evidence professionals.

John is highly regarded in his field, holding multiple certifications, including the AccessData Certified Examiner (ACE), the Cellebrite Certified Logical Operator (CCLO), and the Cellebrite Certified Physical Analyst (CCPA). He is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, the High Technology Crime Investigation Association, and the FBI Infragard. Prior to joining the faculty at Marshall, John co-founded Second Creek Technologies, a digital forensics and electronic discovery firm located in Barboursville, West Virginia. He is an adjunct instructor at the Marshall University Forensic Science Center where he teaches advanced digital forensics and firearms to graduate students. John routinely provides training for the legal and law enforcement communities in the areas of digital forensics, investigations, and electronic discovery.

Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia, Doctor of Education, Curriculum and Instruction, Ed.D Spring 2018 – 2019
Mountain State University, Beckley, West Virginia, 2005 – 2008 M.S. in Strategic Leadership
Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia, 1984 – 1989 R.B.A

John Sammons believes in the value of hands-on, experiential learning and the importance of fostering collaboration and partnerships with community organizations. As an educator, he strives to create a dynamic and engaging learning environment that challenges and supports students as they develop their skills and knowledge. He is committed to staying current with the latest developments in his field and incorporating that knowledge into his teaching. He values the importance of diversity and inclusion in the classroom and is dedicated to providing students with the tools and resources they need to succeed in their careers.

Tenure & Promotion to Associate Professor, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, May, 2016
Basics of Digital Forensics book nominated Digital Forensics Book of the Year 2013 by Forensic 4Cast
Nominee Marshall University Pickens Queen Teaching Award, 2013
United States Department of Justice Award for Public Service
West Virginia State Police Academy, Pistol Master
Tactical Pistol, Gunsite Training Center, Paulden, Arizona – Expert Rating
Commandant’s List, US Army Armor Officer Basic Course. Ft. Knox, KY
US Army Commendation Medal
US Army Achievement Medal with Two Oak Leaf Clusters
Higher Education – Partnerships and Investments Advancing Cyber. Panel discussion. 2019 West Virginia Coding & Cyber Summit. Charleston, West Virginia. December 3, 2019.
Marshall University Digital Forensics & Information Assurance Program: Capabilities and Capacity. Homeland Security Investigations Cyber Crime Center. Fairfax, VA. September 17, 2019.
Vehicle Forensics: The Road Ahead. 28th Annual ROCIC Homicide Conference, Little Rock, Arkansas. September 9, 2019.
Marshall University Digital Forensics & Information Assurance Program: Capabilities and Capacity. Homeland Security Investigations/Cyber Crime Center Stakeholders. Huntington, WV. March 19, 2019.
Marshall University Digital Forensics & Information Assurance Program: Capabilities and Capacity. Homeland Security Investigations Director & Command Staff. Washington, D.C. October 15, 2018.
Vehicle Forensics: The Road Ahead. West Virginia University College of Law, Continuing Legal Education, Summer School, Stonewall Jackson Resort, Roanoke, WV. June 26, 2018.
Vehicle Forensics: The Road Ahead. The National Cyber Crime Conference. Norwood, Massachusetts. April 23, 24, 25 2018.
Technical Testimony. Crimes Against Children’s Conference, Dallas, TX. August 6, 2017
Vehicle Forensics: An Emerging Source of Evidence. Crimes Against Children’s Conference, Dallas, TX. August 6, 2017
Presenting for Comprehension: The Power of Visuals. Appalachian Institute of Digital Evidence Conference, April 7, 2017.
Vehicle Forensics: A tale of two cars, 69th Annual Scientific Meeting, American Academy of Forensic Sciences, New Orleans, Louisiana. February 16, 2017
Applying Forensic Science, SecureWV 2016, Charleston, WV
Forensic Analysis, SecureWV 2016, Charleston, WV
Putting the Suspect Behind the Keyboard, AIDE 2014, Huntington, WV
Interviewing and Interrogating the Technical Suspect, AIDE 2014, Huntington, WV
Using Digital Evidence to Connect the Dots, AIDE 2014, Huntington, WV
Geek Speak: Interpreting the Affidavit. West Virginia Magistrates Training Conference 2013. Charleston, WV
DIY Forensics: When Incident Response Morphs into Digital Forensics. DerbyCon 2013. Louisville, KY
Internet Safety, Operation Reach Out Fair, US Department of Justice, Charleston, WV, April, 2013 Protecting You and Your Computer. 1st Annual Cyber Safety Summit, Marshall University, November, 2012.
Game On: Taking a Byte Out of Crime. West Virginia Criminal Justice Educators Association. 16th Annual State Conference. October, 2012
West Virginia Youth Science Camp, Ripley, WV, July 2012
Digital Forensics Best Practices: Three Rules to Live By, National Association of Prosecutor Coordinators, December 2011
An Army of One: You Against the Botnets, Nicholas County High School Students, December 2011
What You Need to Know About Digital Evidence Right Now, International Association of Arson Investigators – WV, October 2011
Introduction to Digital Forensics, West Virginia Prosecuting Attorney’s Institute, November 2009
Introduction to Internet Forensics, West Virginia Prosecuting Attorney’s Institute, November 2009
Speak Geek, West Virginia Prosecuting Attorney’s Institute, November 2009
AccessData Certified Examiner, October, 2010
Certified Cyber Crime Examiner (CCCE), National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), Feb 8, 2019
Cellebrite Certified Physical Analyst, Huntington, WV, August, 2015
Cellebrite Certified Logical Operator, Huntington, WV, August, 2015
CacheBack Certified Examiner, August, 2010
Kroll OnTrack Electronic Discovery Certification Program, June, 2006
Malware Investigator Certification, Wetstone, June 2007
Steganography Examiner Certification, BackBone Security, November 2006
Sammons, John. Innovations in Cybersecurity Education 2019. Advanced Concept Mapping: An Active Learning, Multi-sensory Learning Tool. National Cyberwatch Center. August, 2019.
Sammons, John. Daniels, Lars. Digital Forensics Trial Graphics, March 9, 2017. Syngress, Waltham, MA
Sammons, John. Cross, Michael. The Basics of Cyber Safety: Computer and Mobile Device Safety Made Easy 1st Edition. September 25, 2016. Syngress, Waltham, MA
Sammons, John (Editor). Digital Forensics: Threatscape and Best Practices, December 14, 2015. Syngress, Waltham, MA.
Sammons, John, The Basics of Digital Forensics: The Primer for Getting Started in Digital Forensics, Second Edition, December 9, 2014, Syngress, Waltham, MA
Sammons, John, The Basics of Digital Forensics: The Primer for Getting Started in Digital Forensics, First Edition, March 9, 2012, Syngress, Waltham, MA
Sammons, John, The Basics of Digital Forensics: The Primer for Getting Started in Digital Forensics, Korean Edition, June 4, 2013, Bjpublic and Elsevier Korea, LLC, Seoul, South Korea
Introduction to Information Security: A Strategic Based Approach. Timothy Shimeal, Jonathan Spring. December 3, 2013, Syngress, Waltham, MA. Authored Chapter 13, “Digital Forensics.”
Forensic Science: Current Issues, Future Directions. Edited by Douglas Ubelaker, November, 2012, Wiley-Blackell. Co-published with the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. Co-authored Chapter 10, "Digiwtal evolution: history, challenges, and future directions for the digital and multimedia sciences section.”
Sammons, John. McIntyre, Jill. “Protecting Your Digital Footprint.” West Virginia Executive Magazine. Fall, 2012
Sammons, John, Solid-State Drives Are a Game Changer for Deleted Files, Technology for the Litigator, American Bar Association, June, 2012
Sammons, John, 2009. Forensic Files: Times are Changing: Electronic Evidence is Different. The West Virginia Record
Sammons, John, 2009. Forensic Files: Clouds on the Horizon. The West Virginia Record
Sammons, John. 1997. Up Close and Personal, Examining the Basics of Close Quarter Shooting. The Firearms Instructor: The Official Publication of the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors.
Associate Director, Institute for Cyber Security (October 13, 2021 – present)
Director, Cyber Forensics and Security Graduate Program (January 13, 2020 – October 12, 2022)
Chair, Department of Cyber Forensics & Security (August 15, 2017 – October 12, 2022)
Interim Chair, Department of Forensic Sciences (July 1, 2016 – August 15, 2017)
Director, Digital Forensics & Information Assurance Program (July 1, 2016 – August 15, 2017)