Jeff Moss

Jeff Moss is an American computer security expert best known under his handle 'The Dark Tangent.' Born January 1, 1975, in California, he graduated from Gonzaga University with a degree in Criminal Justice before beginning his security career at Ernst & Young's Information System Security division and later as a director at Secure Computing Corporation.

In 1993, at age 18, Moss founded DEF CON, the long-running hacker convention held annually in Las Vegas. The event began as an impromptu gathering after plans for a smaller farewell party fell through, drawing roughly 100 attendees to its first edition; it has since grown into one of the world's largest hacker and information-security gatherings. Moss has remained closely tied to the event's identity and direction over the decades. In 2018 he extended the brand internationally by launching DEF CON China in Beijing.

Black Hat Briefings

In 1997, Moss founded a second, commercially oriented conference, Black Hat Briefings, first held in Las Vegas immediately before that year's DEF CON. Where DEF CON retained its underground character, Black Hat was pitched at security professionals and corporate/government attendees. Moss sold Black Hat to CMP Media in 2005 for a reported $13.9 million, while continuing to found and helm DEF CON independently.

Transition into Institutional and Policy Roles

Moss's career took a notable turn from organizing hacker gatherings toward formal government and industry institutions. In 2009 he was sworn into the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Advisory Council. On April 28, 2011, he was appointed Vice President and Chief Security Officer of ICANN, the nonprofit responsible for coordinating the internet's Domain Name System. He announced his departure from that ICANN position in October 2013.

Moss went on to accumulate further advisory and governance positions: Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council's Cyber Statecraft Initiative, Commissioner on the Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace, and in December 2021 was named to CISA's Cybersecurity Advisory Committee.

Legacy

Moss's career arc — from a teenager throwing an impromptu hacker party in Las Vegas to a corporate board member, ICANN security chief, and government advisory council member — is frequently cited as emblematic of the broader legitimization of the hacker community within mainstream cybersecurity and internet-governance institutions, even as he has continued personally organizing DEF CON.

Timeline

• 1975-01-01Born in California.
• 1993Founded DEF CON hacker convention in Las Vegas.
• 1997-07Founded the Black Hat Briefings security conference.
• 2005Sold Black Hat Briefings to CMP Media for a reported $13.9 million.
• 2009Sworn into the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Advisory Council.
• 2011-04-28Appointed Vice President and Chief Security Officer of ICANN.
• 2013-10Announced his departure from ICANN.
• 2018Launched DEF CON China in Beijing.
• 2021-12Appointed to CISA's Cybersecurity Advisory Committee.