Platform Security Engineer · Omaha, NE

Logan Mears

CliftonStrengths®
  • Learner
  • Analytical
  • Responsibility
  • Developer
  • Achiever

I help secure cloud and on-premises environments at Gallup, with a focus on detection, monitoring and strong security baselines. Explore my background below, then try GeoTrace, a small security-themed game.

Play GeoTrace Explore the timeline
Illustrated portrait of Logan Mears
Platform Security Engineer

01 · About

Building secure, well-monitored platforms.

I'm a Platform Security Engineer at Gallup, where I partner with cloud, network and system architects to establish security baselines, address risk and recommend mitigations. I also monitor applications, systems, databases and networks, in the cloud and on premises, using SIEM tooling.

My path into security began somewhere unconventional: a music degree. I built my hands-on foundation as a Security Analyst Intern at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, tuning detections in Microsoft Sentinel with KQL. Outside of work, I enjoy CTFs and geography games.

  • ☁️ Cloud & on-prem security
  • 🛡️ Threat detection
  • 🚩 CTFs
  • 🌍 Geography games

02 · Timeline

Career and education.

  1. Platform Security Engineer

    Gallup

    • Partner with system, network and cloud architects to implement security baselines, address risks and recommend mitigations
    • Monitor cloud and on-premises applications, systems, databases and networks with SIEM tools
    • Troubleshoot a wide variety of security issues

    Cloud & on-premSIEM

  2. B.S. Cybersecurity

    University of Nebraska-Omaha · minor in Computer Science

    • Magna Cum Laude

    Cybersecurity

  3. Security Analyst Intern

    Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska

    • Tuned and optimized Microsoft Sentinel alerts with KQL to sharpen threat detection and response
    • Investigated phishing with Proofpoint TAP and KnowBe4
    • Evaluated security solutions against organizational requirements

    SentinelKQLPhishing

  4. President

    NULLify, UNO Cybersecurity Club

    • Led meetings, guest speaker events and CTF competitions
    • Coordinated hands-on workshops in practical security tooling

    CTFLeadership

  5. Cybersecurity Research Assistant

    University of Nebraska-Omaha

    • Developed an introductory cybersecurity course for the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska
    • Ran a literature review on cybersecurity fundamentals and educational approaches

    ResearchEducation

  6. B.A. Music Studies

    University of Nebraska-Omaha

    • Cum Laude

    Music

03 · Play

GeoTrace

A short, security-themed game. Investigate a simulated intrusion alert, use recon clues to work out where it originated, and name the country. A new case is available every day.

🔥 0

Your GeoTrace history

How to play GeoTrace

Goal: identify which country an attack came from in 6 guesses or fewer, using as few recon commands as you can.

  1. Investigate. Run recon commands in the terminal. Each reveals one clue about the attacker's connection.
  2. Guess. Type guess <country> (for example guess japan). Press Tab to autocomplete country names.
  3. Read the feedback. A wrong guess shows how far away the answer is, which direction it lies in, and a closeness percentage. The country you guessed is drawn next to the result, so you can learn the shapes as you play.

Recon commands

whois
The country-code domain (like .fr) of the attacker's registrant.
ping
Round-trip latency from the Omaha sensor. Farther away means slower.
tz
The timezone in the attacker's session logs.
lang
The browser's language header, like ja-JP.
phone
The country calling code of the MFA text-message number.
continent
The region the attacker's network is registered in.
traceroute
The network path. The last hop is named after the capital city, which is the biggest clue.

Other commands

help, countries (all valid answers), history, stats, clear, expand (fill the screen, Esc to exit), and new for a practice case. Use ↑ and ↓ to recall earlier commands.

Reading a guess

✗ Japan: 13,501 km W ⬅️ (32% close)

That means the answer is about 13,500 km west of Japan. The closer to 100%, the warmer you are.

Good to know

04 · Running

Recent miles.

When I'm not in front of a screen, I'm usually running. Here's what the last month and the last twelve weeks look like, straight from my watch.

Miles per week, last 12 weeks

Select a week for details.

Total miles, last 12 weeks

Hover the line for running totals.

Indoor vs outdoor, last 12 weeks

    Run length in miles, last 12 weeks

    05 · Toolkit

    Tools and certifications.

    Select a tile to learn more.

    Tools

    Certifications

    06 · Contact

    Get in touch.

    Interested in connecting? Reach out on LinkedIn.

    Connect on LinkedIn

    Tip: press ⌘K / Ctrl K anywhere to jump around.