Bill Gardner

Bill Gardner is an Associate Professor of Cyber Forensics and Security at Marshall University, where he serves as Undergraduate Program Director and NSA Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) Point of Contact. He teaches courses in information assurance, penetration testing, digital forensics, and foundational cybersecurity technologies, with an emphasis on experiential learning, workforce alignment, and ethical practice.

Bill is actively engaged in cybersecurity workforce development and curriculum innovation, particularly in aligning academic programs with the NICE Workforce Framework and CAE-CD Knowledge Units. His teaching integrates hands-on labs, applied research, and industry-informed frameworks such as PTES to prepare students for careers in cyber defense, digital investigation, and security operations.

He has extensive experience in K–12 cybersecurity outreach, including multiple summers leading GenCyber and technology camps focused on cybersecurity, coding, and foundational computing. His outreach efforts intentionally promote access and opportunity for women, rural students, and underrepresented populations in STEAM fields.

Bill is a past president and former information security chair of the Appalachian Institute of Digital Evidence (AIDE), a nonprofit organization dedicated to research and training for digital evidence professionals, attorneys, judges, and law enforcement. He is also a co-founder of SecureWV/Hack3rCon and 304geeks, a West Virginia technology networking organization.

An active member of the cybersecurity community, Bill has presented at numerous conferences including AIDE, DerbyCon, ShmooCon, and multiple BSides events. He is co-author of Building an Information Security Awareness Program: Defending Against Social Engineering and Technical Threats and Google Hacking for Penetration Testers.