Mr. Mellendick serves as the Chief Security Officer at PI Achievers, a Baltimore-based firm specializing in process improvement and Cybersecurity. In 2002, he founded Wireless Capture the Flag (WCTF) and became President of the Radio Frequency Hackers Sanctuary (RFHS). He also co-developed the Cyber Resiliency Assessment Methodology (CRAM) to enable companies to assess, identify, & remediate blindspots that may exist in their CyberSecurity programs, by testing network defenses in tandem with a company’s Security Operations Centers (SOC) to ensure SOC visibility & awareness of the attacks being carried out. With deep expertise in offensive Cybersecurity techniques, Mr. Mellendick focuses on designing and assessing network architectures to strengthen client defenses, bringing extensive experience in computer network operations, including the development of proof-of-concept attacks and the delivery of live demonstrations for both government and corporate clients. Recognized as a subject matter expert in computer network operations, Radio Frequency (RF) security both offense and defense, and enterprise-scale security program development, Mr. Mellendick has led and executed more than 500 vulnerability assessments and penetration tests, with a specialized focus on the RF spectrum. As Founder of Wireless Capture the Flag (WCTF) and President of the Radio Frequency Hackers Sanctuary (RFHS), Mr. Mellendick led the development and ongoing operation of the first offensive and defensive wireless and radio frequency (RF) competition, a featured event at DEFCON, and numerous other global conferences. WCTF challenges participants to apply real-world IT and RF skills in a dynamic, high-threat environment by manipulating RF physics and theory. To support this, a robust and secure infrastructure was engineered that includes automated scoring, comprehensive tutorials, and a full curriculum—designed to withstand advanced cyber-attacks from some of the world’s most skilled offensive security professionals. Since its inception, over 5,000 participants have trained and competed through the WCTF. This role provided firsthand insight into the tactics of elite adversaries and defenders alike, while maintaining a secure and educational environment for all participants.
Professional certifications include: CISSP, ISSAP, OPSA, CEH, IEM, IAM, MCP, Certified DoD System Administrator, and DoD Linux Security Professional.