Experienced Threat Research Lead from Bangor, Northern Ireland, with over a decade of experience in cybersecurity. Currently leading CQ‑Prime at Cequence Security since 2021, driving global efforts to detect and disrupt automated and API-driven threats. Active Subject Matter Expert in Web Application Security, serving on the board of the EC‑Council since 2019, where I contribute to the development of advanced security standards. Recognised for long-standing contributions to threat research, detection strategy, and security innovation.
CQPrime - Threat Research Lead
Achievements:
DAST Lead Engineer
Web Application Security Researcher
Skills: Research, Linux, Python & Bash, Web App Security, Process Planning
Security Engineer
Skills: Windows & Linux Admin, Python & Bash, Network Security
Web Application Security Researcher
Northumbria University (2011–2015)
BSc Ethical Hacking for Computer Security – 2nd Class Honors
SERC Bangor (2009–2011)
Level 3 Diploma in Computer Science – Triple Distinction
Anthony Bettini – CEO, Vulncheck:
"Dean was asked to work on a new DAST feature at Tenable, from scratch. The feature itself was basically a product. Dean completely over-delivered, and if his work had been done by a team of 5 people, it would still have been impressive. But it was just Dean—quite an accomplishment."
Zachary Jones – Sr. Director Detection Research, Whitehat DAST:
"Dean has top-notch skills as both a software engineer and a security researcher. While on the team, he over delivered on his personal assignments, worked to improve our team processes and shared his skills and knowledge with junior team members helping to up-level and upskill them on new technologies."
William Garrity – Product Design Guru, Medical Informatics:
"Working with Dean has been one of those rare professional experiences where you quickly realize you're collaborating with someone operating at a different level. Dean brings a calm confidence and quiet intensity to his work that consistently elevates everything and everyone around him.
Dean has a deep intuition for threat research and an uncanny ability to spot patterns and behaviors others might miss. Whether he's investigating large-scale bot campaigns or digging into obscure edge cases, he brings clarity and rigor to every project. He has a sharp eye for technical detail, but also the broader perspective to understand how those details affect real-world security.
What I appreciate most about Dean is that he's not only a strong individual contributor, but also a team-first kind of guy. He takes the time to share what he knows, helps others level up without ego, and genuinely makes the team better by being part of it.
If you're looking for someone who will raise the bar in meaningful, lasting ways, Dean is that person."
Nishith Lakhnatra - Manager - Threat Research, Cequence Security
"I had the absolute pleasure of working alongside Dean at Cequence Security, and I can say without hesitation that he’s one of the most technically brilliant and resourceful people I’ve met. He has a rare mix of deep technical expertise, creativity, and fearless problem-solving, the kind of person who will take on any challenge head-on and find an elegant, effective solution.
From building smart, automated systems to catch bad actors based on domain reputation to designing mitigation policies by clustering the highest-performing detection rules, Dean consistently delivered work that made a lasting impact. One of my favourite moments was collaborating with him on the company-wide hackathon, which we won; the idea we developed together went on to become a part of the company’s flagship offerings.
Beyond his technical skills, Dean is a joy to work with - funny, positive, down-to-earth, and the easiest person to collaborate with. His punctuality, work ethic, and ability to bring out the best in his teammates make him a huge asset to any company lucky enough to have him."
Jamie Rodway – Design Antagonist, Cequence Security
"Dean consistently exceeded expectations during my time working with him, demonstrating exceptional technical expertise and innovation. He managed client relationships with outstanding professionalism, whether remotely or in person. He took client problems from concept and design through to full production implementation.
His combination of technical excellence, client management, and ability to deliver on complex projects makes him an invaluable asset to any organisation.