Kirby Plessas is founder and CEO of Plessas Experts Network, Inc. Before devoting her work full time to PEN, Kirby established herself as one of the foremost tradecraft experts in OSINT through successful careers both as a member of the U.S. Military and as a contractor prior to founding PEN in 2008.

A service-disabled veteran, Kirby began her career in Military Intelligence as an Arabic linguist supporting the Department of Defense. Upon completion of her Army service, Ms. Plessas complemented her MI expertise through utilizing her OSINT experience at the Defense Intelligence Agency to support the warfighter as well as supporting other Intelligence Community activities. Acknowledged as an expert in her field, in 2007 she was selected to participate and instrumental in the creation and institution of an innovation center for conducting OSINT. In great tribute to her long list of personal and corporate accomplishments in her field, DHS declared Kirby Plessas an OSINT Technical Expert (2010). Through her work at PEN, Kirby shares her love of innovative technology and OSINT expert skill through corporate workshops as well as consulting and delivering hands-on training courses.

Although she maintains a diverse customer portfolio, one of Kirby’s main efforts is focused on law enforcement and the internet, where there is substantial interest in safe and investigative uses of social media. Ms. Plessas has additionally taught numerous social media, dark web, and bitcoin attribution classes for the U.S. Department of Justice and conferences including SXSW Interactive, the annual HTCIA Conference, and the International Conference on Transnational Organized Crime and Terrorism (ICTOCT). She is a founding member of The OSINT Curious Project, a former advisor to the SANS OSINT Summit, the Osmosis Institute, a committee member of the OSINT Foundation, and is on the advisory board of the International Association of Financial Crime Investigators (IAFCI).

Kyle Elliott is the Chief Operations Officer and a Project Manager for Plessas Experts Network, Inc., who partners with law enforcement, government, and industry to consult and provide training on Open Source Intelligence (OSINT), internet technology, information and dark web data extraction, security, linguistics, and worldwide internet usage.  After spending over a decade working in security and technology for federal, local, and state government, academia, multi-million-dollar brands and startups, Kyle knows what truly drives success and enjoys connecting with others to apply Internet innovations and emerging technology to challenges in safety and security.

Kyle holds a BA in Philosophy and Theology from the University of Notre Dame.  His extensive study in these areas have provided him with a unique ability to communicate effectively, problem solve, think objectively, appreciate cultural diversity, assess influential human ideas, evaluate compelling points of view and process critical information in support of developing new problem-solving approaches in his day to day work.

 A community organizer and non-profit leader, Kyle serves and has contributed to his community through a variety of roles and engagements including Rotary Club President, Hospice Volunteer, PTA, and Assistant Rescue Chief at the Arcola Volunteer Fire Department where he managed EMS teams. Kyle’s commitment to volunteerism has generated organizational connections and aided countless individuals and families within the community.  

When he is not working for PEN or serving the community, Kyle enjoys spending time with his family and furry four-legged friends, traveling, culinary adventures, and sharing a pint of stout with his lovely wife of over 20 years.

Sarah Womer is an Open Source Intelligence practitioner with over 20 years of experience as an OSINT tutor and teacher, production manager, researcher, editor, and analyst.  

She worked as the lead OSINT instructor for the 304th MI Bn at Fort Huachuca in Arizona after working with Mr. Ben Benavides as a part of a two person OSINT team prior to his retirement.  She developed course curriculums, was the primary lead to their academic OSINT production cell which wrote, edited, and published multiple OSINT products and news summaries-in addition to instructing hundreds of soldiers. Several of her authored reports were highlighted by the mass media- such as her October 16, 2008 draft report entitled “Sample Overview: al Qaida-Like Mobile Discussions & Potential Creative Uses” that contained a section projecting terrorist use of Twitter.  Prior to working as OSINT support to the 304th MI Bn she was an instructor at the Fort Huachuca Enhanced Analysis and Interrogation Team as an Analyst-Instructor.  She also has a background in assessing hostile and extremist propaganda and has supported projects as a media advisor and analyst.  She deployed with the Coalition Provisional Authority during the invasion of Iraq in 2003 as a media analyst in Baghdad and was a media advisor and analyst in support to the U.S. Public Affairs Office at the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh in 2002.  Sarah also provided support at the U.S. Department of State to the Strategic Communications Office after September 11, 2001 to assist in a counter extremism program and to provide research support to their counter disinformation team.  She also has provided guest lectures and has a few publications that stress terrorist and criminal use of the Internet.  

Outside of OSINT Sarah enjoys laughter yoga and rescue hounds.