The Secure Accelerator

Executive Cybersecurity & Data Science Strategist

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Timothy Harmon is a CISSP-certified cybersecurity strategist with a Master's in Data Science & Engineering from UC San Diego, pioneering 'Cyber Performance' to be implemented in elite motorsport. He developed Project Apex, a proprietary data-science framework that transforms cyber risk into a measurable competitive advantage by quantifying its impact on lap time. His work is purpose-built to prepare high-performance teams for the new cyber-physical battlefield of the 2026 F1 regulations and beyond.

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Strategic Vision: The New Horsepower

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In Formula 1, where victory is measured in milliseconds, every decision is powered by data. The risks are existential: industrial espionage is a documented part of the sport's history, and the integrity of telemetry and AI strategy models is fundamental to performance. In the cost-cap era, a single cyber incident doesn't just cost money; it costs lap time.

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This requires a paradigm shift. Cybersecurity is no longer a defensive cost center; it is the "New Horsepower." This philosophy drives my work to transform security from a shield into a strategic weapon that protects innovation and unlocks a new dimension of on-track performance.

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Core Competencies & Credentials

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My approach is built on a unique dual-mastery of executive-level strategy and deep analytical execution.

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• Master of Advanced Studies (M.A.S.) in Data Science & Engineering | University of California San Diego

  • Capstone Project: "Using LLMs to Improve Student Outcomes" -As the Administration Security lead, I ensured the project's compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). I designed and implemented a secure framework to provide AI-driven personalized feedback, ensuring data privacy and integrity by using SHA-256 hashing for anonymization and generating synthetic data* to train the model without exposing sensitive information. *Synthetic data was used until real data was presented to the team.

• Master of Science (M.S.) in Cyber Security and Information Assurance | National University

• Master of Science (M.S.) in Computer Science | National University

• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) | (ISC)²

• Cisco Certified Cybersecurity Associate | Cisco

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Specialized Motorsport & AI Training

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To ensure my frameworks are seamlessly integrated into the world of elite motorsport, I have proactively immersed myself in the sport's unique culture, governance, and emerging technologies.

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• FIA University Certifications:

  • Introduction to the role of a Race Director

  • Introduction to the role of a Steward

  • Leadership

  • Problem Solving

• High-Performance Leadership: Lessons from Formula 1

• AI Security: Managing Overconfidence

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Community Leadership & Influence

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My influence extends to shaping the broader technology community, where I contribute to building a more resilient and collaborative cybersecurity ecosystem.

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• Cisco Insider Champion (2016-Present): Recognized as an elite technical expert and passionate advocate for Cisco technologies.

• Cisco Networking Academy Student Advisory Board: Contributed to creating skills-based exams for the Cisco Cybersecurity Associate course.

• Exam Developer, AKYLADE: Developed questions for the Certified Cyber Resilience Fundamentals certification.

• BSides San Diego: Served in key leadership roles as Volunteer Coordinator and Graphic Designer, managing teams and event security.

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Publications & Thought Leadership

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As a published author, I translate complex security concepts into actionable executive insights on platforms including Medium, LinkedIn, and the official Cisco Perspectives blog. My work uses compelling analogies from the high-stakes world of Formula 1 to demonstrate how security can drive revenue, mitigate risk, and deliver quantifiable ROI.