Michael Doornbos

Founder | Executive | Builder

LinkedIn | Portfolio

About

I’ve spent almost thirty years building security for things that don’t get to crash — power grids, solar farms, industrial control systems. The kind of environments where “reboot it” isn’t an answer.

I started writing code as a kid, and it shows up in everything I do. When I’m debugging a serial protocol issue at a solar facility or designing a security architecture, I’m thinking at the same level I was when I first learned how a computer actually works. That never went away.

Most of my career has been in OT/IT security, which is the part of security most teams don’t want to touch. I built an industrial security practice from scratch at ADi, scaled it to dozens of facilities, and fixed problems other people couldn’t because I was willing to go back to fundamentals.

I know SCADA, Modbus, enterprise security, embedded software, Linux, and full-stack development. But the stuff I’m proudest of isn’t code. It’s the things I built with it. A product. A company. A media brand that became a recognized voice in commercial spaceflight. Three writing brands with completely different audiences.

I’ve given keynotes at SXSW, international space conferences, and industry summits. I can talk to engineers, executives, investors, or a general audience and make the same ideas land.

I’m building OffGlobe LLC now — a service-disabled veteran-owned company focused on security, accessibility, and independent technology. I’m also open to the right early-stage opportunity as technical co-founder or first CTO, especially if the problems are real, the market is underserved, and the team needs someone who can build the product and explain it to the board.

Built

OffGlobe LLC — My company. Service-disabled veteran-owned, building products in security, accessibility, and independent technology. Current projects include assistive tech for blind and visually impaired users, and LoreKeeper, a platform for capturing family stories.

Sunscreen — OT security platform for renewable energy that I developed inside ADi. Deployed across dozens of solar facilities, now being productized for the broader market.

Evadot — I built a media brand covering commercial spaceflight and the Google Lunar X PRIZE from nothing. 100+ podcast episodes, 280+ articles, keynotes at SXSW and the International Space Development Conference. Ran it for 11 years.

Zenith 750 Cruzer — Kit-built experimental aircraft I constructed by hand from raw aluminum. You learn a lot about systems, tolerances, and finishing what you start.

HP-16C Calculator (iOS) — I rebuilt the HP-16C programmer’s calculator for iPhone. RPN, base conversions, bit manipulation, full 32-bit binary display. 200+ unit tests. Free on the App Store.

Three novels — Completed 2024-2026.

eAttache — Technology startup I co-founded as CTO, building embedded applications for handheld devices. Managed full product lifecycle from prototype to delivery.

SimplyHome Sensor Network — IoT platform I designed so people with disabilities could control their home environment independently. Built the hardware (Raspberry Pi, Beacon technology, 3D-printed enclosures), rebuilt the MQTT messaging layer, and shipped a mobile app solo in three weeks.

imapenguin.com / milkcrunch.com / evadot.com — Three content brands I run with completely different audiences: retro computing and programming fundamentals, modern software engineering, and commercial spaceflight.

Experience

CTO

Assurance Data, Inc. | Asheville, NC | Jan 2018 – Present

I came back to ADi in 2018 with a different job. I saw that nobody was doing OT/IT security for renewable energy and built a practice from scratch to fill that gap. Grew it to dozens of facility deployments across the Southeast.

• Built and led the industrial security team — hired, directed, and developed engineers and field technicians
• Designed SCADA security and OT/IT convergence for distributed solar sites
• Built zero-trust secure access for 24/7 industrial environments where you can’t take things offline
• Deployed enterprise SIEM that tied IT monitoring into OT operations
• Fixed a multi-year industrial communication failure by going back to the serial protocol and reading the actual signals
• Productizing field-proven work into Sunscreen — a turnkey OT security product for renewable energy

Technologies: SIEM, zero-trust architecture, SCADA, Modbus, RS-485, DNP3, Linux, Ruby on Rails, Python

Product Designer & Chief Technologist

SimplyHome | Asheville, NC | 2012 – 2018

I led product and engineering for an in-home sensor network for people with special needs. Full IoT platform. The people depending on it couldn’t afford for it to not work.

• Redesigned the MQTT messaging architecture — made the whole IoT layer faster and more reliable
• Built a voice assistant on Amazon Echo and AWS so disabled veterans could control their own homes again
• Designed and built the sensor network hardware: Raspberry Pi, Beacon technology, 3D-printed enclosures
• Shipped a mobile app solo in three weeks for a product launch

Founder / Editor / Podcast Host

Evadot.com | Fredericksburg, VA | 2009 – 2020

I built a media brand from nothing in commercial spaceflight — a field most people couldn’t follow yet. By the time they could, Evadot was already there.

• 100+ podcast episodes with CEOs, astronauts, engineers, and founders
• 280+ articles; data visualizations picked up by Wired and Ars Technica
• Recognized expert on the Google Lunar X PRIZE
• Keynotes at SpaceUp, SXSW, Google Lunar XPRIZE summits, and the International Space Development Conference

Software Engineer & Security Consultant

Independent Contractor | Fredericksburg, VA | 2003 – 2012

Enterprise software and security for government and commercial clients in critical infrastructure.

• Designed security systems for cellular networks (DC Government, DHS, Nextel)
• Built database web apps in Ruby on Rails, Java, and Django
• Saved clients $80K+ in licensing fees with custom cluster and database architecture
• Designed and tested RF and AAA systems for citywide wireless

Chief Technologist

Assurance Data, Inc. | Alexandria, VA | 2004 – 2011

Technical strategy and sales engineering across the enterprise security portfolio.

• Grew revenue 300% in FY2009, 1000% in 2010
• Closed multi-million dollar deals with Fortune 100 companies
• Designed and deployed hundreds of security systems across 60+ product lines
• Managed vendor partnerships: Websense, HP/TippingPoint, LogLogic, Microsoft, Compellent, EMC

Co-Founder / CTO

eAttache, Inc. | Fredericksburg, VA | Mar 2002 – Jun 2003

Co-founded a startup building embedded software for handheld devices and call center platforms.

• Built embedded Linux applications with the QT Toolkit
• Managed the full product lifecycle from prototype to delivery
• Used Extreme Programming to move faster and shorten the sales cycle

Director of Network Operations

Groupserve, Inc. | Arlington, VA | Jul 1999 – Jan 2002

Ran the data center for a hosted application platform, then helped the company pivot entirely.

• Cut data center operating costs by 400% in 12 months with zero downtime
• Designed and built infrastructure to support 10 million customers
• Led the pivot from wireless application provider to software platform company

Aviation Electronics Technician & IT Manager

US Navy | Andrews AFB | 1993 – 1999

Maintained avionics and managed IT operations. I learned to fix things under pressure with incomplete information, which turned out to be the most transferable skill I’ve ever picked up.

• Two Navy Achievement Medals for troubleshooting and cost savings
• Saved $175K+ by designing a mobile training program
• Increased unit readiness 40%
• Led work center to Work Center of the Year

Technical Skills

OT/Industrial Security: SCADA, Modbus, RS-485, DNP3, BACnet, industrial networking, OT/IT convergence

Security Architecture: SIEM deployment, zero-trust, secure remote access, network security, incident response

Development: Ruby on Rails, Python, Java, Linux/Unix, MySQL, PostgreSQL, AWS

Protocols & Communications: Serial communications, TCP/IP, RF systems, network design

Writing & Thought Leadership

I run three content brands, each for a different audience:

imapenguin.com — Retro computing and programming fundamentals. Assembly language, 6502 architecture, vintage hardware. For engineers who want to understand how things actually work.

milkcrunch.com — Modern software development and engineering culture. The Unix philosophy, Postgres, cloud repatriation, open source, and honest thinking about what AI actually changes for working engineers.

evadot.com — Commercial spaceflight and the new space movement. 280+ articles, 100+ podcast episodes from the Google Lunar X PRIZE era through today.

Recent: “First Principles: Why You Must Learn Before You Prompt” (2025), “The Unix Philosophy Still Wins” (2025), “Just Use Postgres” (2025), “How I’m going to explain LLMs to my parents” (2026)

Education & Certifications

Certifications: 30+ vendor certifications in security and networking over a 25-year career — enterprise security, virtualization, Linux, network infrastructure.

Aviation: Private Pilot, Multi-Engine and Instrument Ratings, Remote Pilot, Range Safety Officer

Technical Training: Naval Air Technical Training Center — 1,120 hours, electronics and flight systems (Top of Class); DOD InfoSec; Navy Instructor Certification

Community

Western North Carolina Pilots Association — President (2020–2021)
EAA Chapter 1016 — President (2016–2020)

Interests

Vintage computing (PDP-8 to Commodore 128), industrial troubleshooting, aerospace, astronomy, robotics, cooking, guitar, music production, outdoors.