CINA Distinguished Speaker Series: “Exploring Evidence-based Cybercrime Research with Dr. David Maimon”

In-Person Location: George Mason University, Fairfax Campus, Fenwick Library, Room 2001, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030.

Virtual Location: MS Teams Webinar (link to join sent upon registration)

Join us on Wednesday, March 26 for the upcoming hybrid CINA Distinguished Speaker Series event as The Sycamore Institute Podcast Host Ethan Burk interviews Dr. David Maimon of Georgia State University about the past, present, and future of cybercrime research and what current students can do to prepare for careers in cybercrime investigations. As part of the Distinguished Speaker Series, CINA has collaborated with The Sycamore Institute Podcast and Sentilink to create a special in-person event at George Mason University. Faculty, students, industry, and government attendees are welcome.

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Abstract

Drawing from extensive experience in FBI investigations, counterterrorism operations, and research with the High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group (HIG), this presentation explores the critical role of interviewer mindset in conducting effective interviews. While traditional interrogation methods often rely on rigid procedures and control, modern evidence-based approaches emphasize the importance of three key components: self-awareness, confidence, and genuine curiosity. Through real-world examples ranging from domestic criminal cases to international terrorism investigations, the talk demonstrates how developing the right mindset—one that combines thorough preparation with adaptability and emphasizes understanding over confrontation—leads to more successful outcomes in even the most challenging interviews. The presentation argues that effective interviewing is not just about mastering techniques, but about developing an ethos that allows interviewers to creatively apply research-based methodologies while maintaining focus on gathering accurate information rather than simply seeking confessions. This approach not only yields better intelligence and evidence but also proves more effective in building cooperation and eliciting truthful information across all types of interviews.

Speaker Biographies:

David Maimon, a professor and Next Generation Scholar in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies’ Department of Criminal Justice & Criminology, directs the Evidence-based Cybersecurity Research Group at Georgia State University. He is also a research associate with the HUJI Cyber-Security Research Center at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. His research interests include theories of human behaviors, cyber-enabled and cyber-dependent crimes, and experimental research methods. His current research focuses on computer hacking and the progression of system trespassing events, computer networks vulnerabilities to cyberattacks, and the decision-making process in cyber space. He is also researching intellectual property and cyber fraud. Maimon’s research has been funded by research grants from both governmental and private agencies from both the U.S. and abroad. He received the Young Scholar Award from the White-Collar Crime Research Consortium of the National White-Collar Crime Center for his cybercrime research in 2015, the Philip Merrill Presidential Scholars Faculty Mentor Award from the University of Maryland, and the Best Publication Award in Mental Health from the American Sociological Association. Maimon received his Ph.D. in Sociology from the Ohio State University in 2009.

Ethan Burk is an Undergraduate Student at George Mason University (GMU) majoring in Business with a minor in Intelligence Studies and serves as the National Podcast Director for The Sycamore Institute as well as a project manager for the student organization Tech 4 Good. Known for his articles on modern cybercrime as a Sycamore Institute Writing Fellow and as a specialist writer for George Mason University’s newspaper, Fourth Estate, Ethan has worked as a research assistant at William and Mary’s Behavioral Research Lab and as a criminal analyst intern at Homeland Security Investigation’s Cyber Crime Center. Ethan hopes to use both his business/management insights, and his experiences in federal law enforcement to create new tactics, policies, and strategies for combatting transnational organized crime on the dark web.