About Jim McConnell

Jim McConnell is a converged security consultant with 36+ years of experience across physical security, cybersecurity, executive protection, fraud, insider threat, supply chain security, and M&A security. He is the Principal of Ask McConnell, LLC, a converged security services company headquartered in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. Jim previously served as a Fellow (Director level) in Verizon’s Corporate Security organization — the first person in that organization promoted to Fellow based on a broad converged security background.

Jim defines his work simply: he creates or matures converged security programs — building them from scratch or taking existing programs to the next level across all security domains.

What Jim Does

Ask McConnell, LLC provides operational support, program management, training, and strategic advisory services for internal security teams. Primary focus areas:

  • Insider Threat — detection, program design, and GSOC operations
  • M&A / Divestiture Security — due diligence, integration planning, Close Day readiness, and ongoing oversight across all 8 transaction phases
  • Supply Chain Security & Fraud — vendor risk, anti-bribery/KYC, on-site assessments, and fraud detection across global supply chains
  • Physical Security Vulnerability Discovery — kinetic assessments, access control, CPTED, and remediation planning
  • Executive Protection Program Management — including Texas Level IV PPO operations, program design, and international coverage
  • Security Metrics — building measurable programs across all security domains; author of 500+ metric book on converged security
  • Security Operations Centers (SOC) — design, staffing, and maturity development
  • Crisis Response — planning, tabletop exercises, and operational support
  • Converged Security Training — 47 topics delivered to 1,000s of professionals domestically and internationally

By the Numbers

36+ years in security & technology

33+ years in critical infrastructure industries

28 years in Verizon Corporate Security

14 countries, boots on the ground

450+ churches supported (pro bono)

120+ M&A transactions, $10M–$7B

16 US Patents

32 certifications and licenses

510+ students trained at TEEX

47 training topics delivered

2 books published (3rd in progress)

16+ published articles and journals

In the Field

Jim McConnell presenting Security Metrics Training at NCCPP 2024
Speaking — Security Metrics Training, NCCPP 2024
Jim McConnell coaching on a TEEX Cyber Range
Training — Coaching & Teaching on a Cyber Range
Jim McConnell in Swift Water Rescue Training
Always Learning — Swift Water Rescue Training
Jim McConnell as a certified sawyer during tornado disaster response
Field Work — Tornado Response, Major Sawyer Time Baby

Career Background

Jim’s security career spans from Unix system administration and network security in 1989 through building global converged security programs for a Fortune 25 organization:

  • 2025–Present — Information Security Officer, Ciera Bank (Dallas-Fort Worth)
  • 2023–Present — Principal, Ask McConnell, LLC (Dallas-Fort Worth)
  • 2023–Present — Adjunct Instructor, Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service – TEEX
  • 2021–2023 — Verizon Fellow (Director), Corporate Security Protection Operations
  • 2014–2021 — Corporate Security Protection Operations, Verizon (M&A PMO, EP, Supply Chain)
  • 2004–2014 — International Security Director, Verizon (30-member global team; built insider threat GSOC)
  • 2000–2004 — International Security Manager, Verizon
  • 1997–2000 — Corporate Security Manager, Verizon (SAS-70 Type II program; 16 audits)
  • 1994–1997 — Security Engineer, Verizon (Unix, CheckPoint, RADIUS, incident response)
  • 1989–1994 — Systems Engineer, fGTE (helpdesk through server administration, ~3,000 users)

Jim was Verizon Corporate Security’s first employee promoted to the role of Fellow — a recognition of his broad converged security background and enterprise-wide solutions. Jim’s father Bob also retired from Verizon — a combined 96 years of Verizon service between them.

Published Works

Books

  • Converged Security Metrics — First Edition December 2022, Second Edition 2025. 500+ actionable metrics across 22 security domains for CSOs, CISOs, CEOs, and Boards.
  • Converged Safety Metrics — Published September 2024. Nearly 400 actionable safety metrics.
  • Converged Supply Chain Security — Third book, in progress. Target: Q4 2026.

Selected Published Articles

  • 14 Top Cybersecurity Tools – DevX (November 2025)
  • Securing Smart Infrastructure: 8 Key Considerations – Transit Tomorrow (October 2025)
  • Church Security, Safety, Medical Response: A Senior Pastor’s Primer – XPastor (August 2024)
  • Security Metrics for Cultural Properties – ASIS International (July 2024)
  • Boosting Your Converged Supply Chain Security – Security Middle East Issue 136 (February 2024)
  • Executive Protection, Before the EP 101 Class – Security Journal Americas (November 2023)
  • Supply Chain Security 9001 (SME and Metrics Section) – TIA (January 2022)
  • Disaster Response Best Practices for Houses of Worship and NGOs – ASIS International (February 2021)

IETF Internet-Draft

Jim filed an IETF Internet-Draft in April 2026: “A Well-Known URI for Software Lifecycle Status” — proposing a standardized machine-readable URI where software vendors publish authoritative end-of-life dates. A step toward solving software supply chain transparency at scale.

Certifications & Licenses

Security

CISSP (1999) — CISA (1999) — CISM (2003) — CFE (2009) — CDPSE (2020) — PCI/ASIS (2020) — A-C|CISO (2024) — CompTIA Security+ (2002) — DoDD 8140/8570 (CSSP Manager, CSSP Auditor, IASAE II, IAM III, IAT III)

Texas Licenses

Level II (Unarmed) — Level III (Armed) — Level IV Personal Protection Officer (PPO) — TCOLE Authorized Trainer — Private Investigator — Private Security Business License (former)

First Responder & Emergency Management

USAF/USCG National Search & Rescue School Graduate — NASAR SARTECH III — GSAR Technician & Team Lead — FEMA ICS-300/400 — NWCG Wildland Firefighter (FFT2) — Flood & Swift Water Technician / Rescue Swimmer — ARES Level 3 — Skywarn Certified Spotter — Stop The Bleed Instructor — Wilderness First Aid — BLS/CPR/AED/FA (Red Cross/AHA)

Other

FAA Part 107 Commercial Drone Pilot (UAS) — FCC General Class Amateur Radio Licensee (1994) — FCC GMRS License — OSHA 510 — OSHA 7505 — Accessible US Government Clearance — HazMat Shipper (FedEx) — Forklift Operator

Industry Involvement

  • POTUS NSTAC NSIE — Industry Chair, 2016–2023; Verizon Representative, 2005–2023; Alumnus/Emeritus, 2023–Present
  • Board of Executive Protection Professionals — Standards SME, Working Group & Technical Committee Member (2021–Present)
  • International Protective Security Board — Volunteer and Speaker (2023–Present)
  • ASIS International — Speaker, Moderator, Session Reviewer, Council Member (2004–2013; 2016–Present)
  • Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) — Speaker, Advisory Council (2000–Present)
  • ISACA — Member (1999–Present); 1999 Board of Directors, CISA Coordinator
  • CompTIA — Security+ Exam Development SME (2002)
  • Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) — Certificate of Recognition, SCS 9001 Measurements SME (2022)

Giving Back

Pro bono service has been part of Jim’s career since 1994. It is not a marketing activity — it is a commitment.

Church Security

Jim has provided pro bono church security consulting for over 30 years. He has directly supported 450+ houses of worship across the country — online, by phone, and face-to-face — with security assessments, policy development, training, and program design. Jim is active in The Church Network (ChurchAdmin) and other online pastoral forums. His church security resources are available free at /versus/ and /checklists/.

Military & Law Enforcement Transition

Jim has been teaching his “I Want to Get Into Security” class to transitioning military and law enforcement professionals since 2018 — a course he has refined over 15+ years of corporate delivery. He has supported Veterati, American Corporate Partners (ACP), Hiring Heroes USA, and MilMentor platforms.

Disaster Response & First Responder

Jim is an active member of Minuteman Disaster Response (MDR) serving in rapid response, UAS operations, heavy equipment, sawyer (chainsaw), and security roles. He was formerly a Team Lead with Texas Search and Rescue (TEXSAR) and serves on the Denton County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Security & Communications Team. He created Verizon’s first “Heroes Among Us” employee resource community, supporting 250+ internal first responders.

Tools Jim Built

  • S3C Tool — Free, open-source software supply chain security tool. Scans installed software inventories for end-of-life, end-of-support, and known CVEs. Launched April 2026. IETF Internet-Draft filed for the underlying well-known URI standard.
  • Metrics On Demand — Security metrics reference tool for practitioners building security reporting programs. Based on the 500+ metrics from Jim’s published book.

Contact Jim

Email: jim@askmcconnell.com
Phone: 214-287-7350
Location: Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jimmcconnell
Schedule a call: Book an appointment

Disclaimers