Certification Committee

The FITSI Certification Committee is charged with reviewing certification applications of candidates to determine if candidates meet the necessary requirements for being awarded certification.  The certification committee renders certification decisions for the organization.

All certification committee members are both subject matter experts in Federal IT security as well as possessing strong experience in the IT security certification market.

Current members are listed below:

Bert Belisch - FITSP-M, CISSP, PMP
Bert is currently working as a Program Manager for Nationwide IT Services at the U.S. Geological Survey, providing Enterprise IT Service support for over 10,000 end users across the United States. He was a Director/Program Manager for New Directions Technologies Inc. (NDTI), supporting critical DHS and DOD operations on a daily basis. Prior to joining NDTI Bert was a career U.S. Army Officer, from 1988 to 2008, retiring at the grade of Lieutenant Colonel. His culminating assignment was as the Information Assurance Manager, for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff networks at the Pentagon. As an Army officer he had many challenging assignments in Europe and the U.S. and as an Artillery Officer he was responsible for nuclear compliance, platoon and battery operations and safety. Changing career paths in 1997, as an Information Systems Management Officer (FA 53), Bert took on new career challenges working with NATO and US Army information technology systems/networks in assignments from Europe, the US and Iraq.

Andy Bruce - FITSP-D, CISSP, PMP
Andrew Bruce is a Lead Scientist for Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) in the Army Programs group of the North American Public Sector. CSC provides professional services to the Federal Government and the Department of Defense, specializing in customizing and developing architecture and governance models that enable tight integration to the Army’s enterprise portfolio management initiatives. Mr. Bruce's job responsibilities include: working directly with customers and partners for new business development, supporting proposal efforts, overseeing Army customers’ network infrastructure, working with project managers to ensure project completion, managing software development efforts throughout the entire system life-cycle, and leading new technology research and proofs-of-concept. After a career spanning three decades in shrink-wrap, commercial, and corporate software development, Mr. Bruce is focusing on Information Assurance to achieve his goal of building and managing large data centers providing cloud computing utility services for commercial and Government customers. Mr. Bruce holds the CISSP, PMP, and FITSP-D certifications as well as a Master’s Degree in Information Assurance from Norwich University.

Don Call - FITSP-M, FITSP-A, CISSP
Mr. Don Call is currently assigned to the United States Coast Guard as a Lead IT Specialist (INFOSEC). Mr. Call has been with the Coast Guard for over 13 years. He currently serves in the USCG Cybersecurity Program Management Office as a team lead providing policy, guidance and programmatic oversight in the defense and protection of the Coast Guard’s C4IT infrastructure and enforcing policy through effective execution of compliance and controls. Mr. Call also provides subject matter expertise for the Defense Security/Cybersecurity Authorization Working Group (DSAWG), the DoD Mission Partner Environment (MPE) Training and Mission Partnering working group, Joint Staff Action Process (JSAP) requests, and other CG, DHS and DoD initiatives. Prior to coming to the USCG Mr. Call worked for the Social Security Administration as an IT Specialist (INFOSEC) providing administrative, operational, technical and functional leadership for SSA information systems security programs for the Office of Systems, Office of Enterprise Support Architecture and Engineering, Enterprise Security Support Branch. Mr. Call started his IT career in the U.S. Army and has over 30 years’ experience in industry and federal government.

Jay Coplon – FITSP-A, FITSP-M, CISSP, CISM, CISA, CAP
Jay has been working in cyber security since 1999 at the US Department of State and was responsible for implementing and managing the Assessment & Authorization program. Since 2016, Jay has served as the agency Governance, Risk, and Compliance application system manager and ensures the rigorous application of Department of State, OMB, NIST and FISMA requirements. Jay works in partnership with the agency CIO, CISO, as well as system and process owners to develop and implement requirements consistent with the agencies risk management strategy. Jay also partnered with Diplomatic Security to help develop agency role-based training that ensures those in key security roles have the knowledge needed. Finally, Jay works closely with other federal agencies and private sector leaders to reduce costs, improve security and streamline A&A processes.

Francis Edwards – FITSP-M, FITSP-A, CISSP, CAP, IAM/IEM, CCP     
Francis has over 45 years’ experience in IT, the last 20 in IT/cyber security. As a contractor cybersecurity analyst, he supports FISMA-related information assurance activities for NIH, FDA, HRSA, NRC and Interior. Previously he founded Montani Solutions, LLC as a consulting firm to provide InfoSec assistance for small and medium businesses. His other work includes IT Security Manager at Montgomery College, Project Manager at Fannie Mae, End-User Support Manager at GEICO, and Director of Academic Computing at Towson University. In addition to other professional organizations, Francis is a Senior Member of ISSA and has served on the National Capital chapter’s board of directors as president and other offices.

Francis ‘Clint’on Kelley FITSP-M, FITSP-A, CISSP, CEH, Security+
Clint Kelley has over 20 years’ experience with developing and maintaining network security plans. Most recently he has been supporting the US Coast Guard as an ISSO helping them make transition from IT systems based on DHS requirements to the DoD requirements to ride on the NIPR/SIPRNet. He has also completed training for the Risk Management Framework (RMF) course in support of the transition from DIACAP to RMF. He has completed the Defense Security Service (DSS) Center for Development of Security Excellence DoD Security Specialist Course and is qualified to conduct security inspections of site under DSS control. He is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and has his Federal IT Security Professional- Manager and Auditor (FITSP-M/A) certification. Mr. Kelley is a highly accomplished network engineer with over 20 years’ experience designing, installing, operating, and testing LAN/WAN systems, designing disaster recovery plans and data backup restoration schemes. Mr. Kelley is also experienced setting up and operating NOC and Call Centers. Mr. Kelley’s experience includes operating with forward deployed Army, Navy, and Joint War Fighting Staffs in various areas of the world.

Tamarcus A. Person - FITSP-M, ITILv3, TCNA, C)ISSO, ISCAP
Mr. Person currently serves as an Information Assurance Principal Engineer for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Biometrics & Identity Management (OBIM). He has over 18+ years of work experience in the Information Technology (IT) and CyberSecurity fields. His primary job duties included coordinating with clients to ensure policy requirements are met, development & enforcement of IT policy/procedures/processes, ensuring operational security, supporting IT/Financial audits, physical security, personnel security, configuration management, acquisitions management, technical writing, patch management, flaw remediation, security assessments, and performing market analysis/research for Commercial-of-the-Shelf (COTS) products. His past roles included serving as a Cloud Service Provider (CSP) Internal Information System Security Officer (ISSO) under Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP), DHS/FEMA-appointed Alternate ISSO as well as Project Lead/Subject Matter Expert for several Federal clients/contracts such as DHS, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Federeal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Justice (DoJ), Department of Defense (DoD), Department of State (DoS), Department of Administration (DoA), and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). He was born in Weldon, North Carolina and later moved to Washington, D.C. before settling in Silver Spring, Maryland. During this timeframe, Mr. Person has volunteered under several programs and mentored a quite extensive list of successful counterparts. Additionally, Mr. Person served in the military as an Intelligence Specialist in the United States Navy.

Janae Roberts, CISSP, FITSP-M, C|EH
Janae Roberts is the Deputy Installation Information System Security Manager for the Department of Army, United States Army Test and Evaluation Command at White Sands Missile Range. With more than 18 years of experience in Information Technology, Janae Roberts is a seasoned Information Specialist, industry thought leader, and a certified security professional with extensive experience in Information Technology.
As a subject matter Expert, she’s primarily responsible for Information Assurance/Cybersecurity for the G6 Enterprise Communications for White Sands Missile Range. This includes, but not limited to, ensuring procedures fully support the security integrity of information systems and network operations, and comply with Public Law (Federal Information Systems Management Act), Department of the Army (DA), Department of Defense (DOD), National Security Agency (NSA), and national Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) security directives. She reviews threats and vulnerabilities to assess risks, and determines effective measures to minimize such risk and identify resources to be protected. In addition she analyzes the risk of espionage, sabotage, damage, fraud and theft to determine the level of protection needed. She has experience in system administration, network administration, web design, planning, strategy, analysis, development, implementation, maintenance, and enhancement of information systems security, programs, policies, and procedures in accordance to federal policy to help secure the Nation’s Federal Information Systems. Ms. Roberts holds an M.S.I.S., in Computer Security Management, an M.P.A., in Policy and Management and has earned prestigious professional certifications including Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP), Federal IT Security Professional Manager (FITSP-M), and Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH).

Tommy Thompson, Sr. - FITSP-M, FITSP-A, CISSP, CAP, CISA, CISM, CRISC, ITIL v3
Thomas “Tommy” Thompson, Sr. has a comprehensive and diverse career in Information Technology security spanning over 35 years. In 2005, Mr. Thompson provided support to three line offices starting with the NOAA National Ocean Service as a Lead Assessor, then for NOAA OCIO as an Information System Security Officer (ISSO). In 2010, he became the Information Technology Security Officer (ITSO). Later Mr. Thompson joined NWS as an ITSO to Lead an Assessment Team and is now serving NWS Office of Observation as the Information Technology Security Program Manager.
Throughout the years, Mr. Thompson has received awards from the NOAA CIO, SOX Institute (IT Governance, Risk Management, Compliance and Controls) Most Valuable Professional Award, Paladin Technologies Employee of the Year, and the D&D Services Pointman Award three years in a row.  While attending University of Maryland University of Maryland for Cyber Security and Program Management, Mr. Thompson has obtained professional certifications such as the CISSP, CAP, CRISC, CISM, CISA, CGRCM, CGRCM-IT, CITGP, ITILv3, and FITSP Manager/Auditor.  Mr. Thompson served in the U.S. Army as a Military Policeman and Instructor for 6 years reaching the rank of Sargent. He has a beautiful wife, three children and three granddaughters.

Jim Wiggins - CISSP-ISSEP, CISM, CISA, CAP, SSCP, IAM, IEM, SCNA, SCNP, SCNS, CEH, ECSA, CHFI, LPT, TICSA, CIWSA, Security+, and MCSE: Security
Jim possesses over 21 years direct experience in information technology management with the past 16 years focused on information systems security. In Jim’s "for profit" life he has served as both the Chief Technology Officer for a boutique training organization as well as been a partner in a highly successful technology consulting firm. He has managed, designed, operated and audited IT systems over his career. He also has an extensive background in technical education and specializes in security related courses targeted at Federal and government contracting clients. Jim is the founder and executive director of the Federal IT Security Institute (FITSI). FITSI is a 501c6, non-profit organization that provides a role-based IT security certification program targeted at the federal workforce. Jim is also the executive director of the FITSI Foundation. The FITSI Foundation is 501c3 public charity that runs the Wounded Warrior Cyber Combat Academy (W2CCA). Currently as a contractor, Jim provides education and training support for the Federal Network Resilience Division at DHS and its Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation program. In 2011, the Federal Information Systems Security Educators’ Association (FISSEA) named him “Educator of the Year” for the impact he continues to make in the federal workforce.

Terrel Williams - FITSP-M, CISSP, PMP, CEH, CCNA Security, Security +, ECSA, ITIL
Terrel currently serves as a Cybersecurity Service Provider for the Department of Defense in the Intelligence Community. He has over 35+ years of experience in Information Technology and Information Assurance. During his 28-year military career he served in various IT Operations and Security roles leading major efforts both nationally and abroad. After military retirement, he assumed a project manager position leading system control and computer network defense watch officers for the United States Cyber Command before accepting a civil service position with the Defense Information Systems Agency. Since then, he has served at numerous other agencies performing both offensive and defensive cyber operations.