School Safety and Security Advisor

Shawn Abelson is the former Head of risk management and red teaming at Meta, encompassing Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram. With a Master's of Science in Security Technologies (MSST) from the University of Minnesota, he holds esteemed credentials, including the Certified Protection Professional (CPP) from ASIS and the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

His expansive career includes serving as a special investigator for one of America's top financial institutions, delving deep into serious organized crime. Shawn further honed his skills at the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office as a non-sworn Homeland Security and Cybercrimes Investigator. His consulting tenure at Rozin Security involved rigorous vulnerability assessments and aiding organizations with emergency preparedness and physical penetration testing.

Beginning his career responding to global emergencies, such as terrorist attacks in Israel and earthquakes in Haiti, Shawn has transitioned to proactively preventing them. Over a decade, he has held varied roles, from EMT and penetration tester to criminal investigator, security director, COO, and consultant. Shawn consistently advocates for the scientific method, research, and data-driven decision-making, emphasizing their pivotal role in crafting a safer and healthier world.

He currently serves as Graduate Faculty at the Technological Leadership Institute, University of Minnesota, instructing on the principles of red teaming.