The global skills and competency framework for the digital world

SFIA Specialist

Dr Blake Curtis

Dr. Blake Curtis is an internationally recognized cybersecurity & GRC leader and award-winning research scientist and cyberpsychologist, known for influencing how organizations define and objectively measure technical competency by using SFIA. Specializing in quantitative correlational research, he evaluates the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that influence elite performance in IT, GRC and cybersecurity professionals, with a strong focus on the Science of Expertise, digital trust, and human performance.

Dr Blake Curtis

Blake Curtis is a specialist consultant practitioner based in United States

Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reginaldblakecurtis/

About Dr Blake Curtis

His pioneering study, “The Next Generation Cybersecurity Auditor,” leveraged SFIA and NIST's National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) frameworks to debunk the long-held 10,000-hour rule and the "years of experience" fallacy—proving that task-based experience is a more objective measure of capability than tenure. This research continues to influence how global organizations approach workforce development, certification design, and performance evaluation.

As a key thought leader within the Cyber and GRC industry, Dr. Curtis served as:

  • Subject Matter Expert for ISACA's Auditing AI (CISA + AI) Certification Program
  • Emerging Technology Advisory Board Member
  • Global Governance Topic Leader for COBIT and Other Frameworks
  • Technical Consultant for the Future of ISACA Certifications initiative

In these roles, he’s helped reimagine certification programs by advocating for hands-on assessments, deliberate practice learning, and micro-course pathways that distinguish between declarative (theoretical) and procedural (demonstrative) knowledge.

He is also a co-author and technical editor of ISACA’s Digital Trust Ecosystem Framework (DTEF), a model helping organizations establish integrity, transparency, and value across digital relationships.

Dr. Curtis completed his master’s degree in just 10 weeks and earned his doctorate in under two years—earning the Distinguished Alumni Award from Western Governors University (WGU) and induction into the National Society of Leadership and Success. His widely-read article, “How to Complete Your Master’s Degree in One Semester,” has helped over 150 students accelerate their academic success and obtain their masters degrees from WGU in record setting times.

Recognized as a Top 25 Cybersecurity Leader of 2024 and Top 50 Cybersecurity Mentors of 2025, Dr. Curtis has developed his professional reputation by buildiing global assurance programs across government, healthcare, and private sectors. However, from a scientific viewpoint, his passion lies in equipping the next generation of professionals through modern pedagogy, spaced repetition, and deliberate practice learning strategies that help optimize memory and elevate performance.

Base

Dallas, TX

Active Certifications & Licenses

Cybersecurity & Information Assurance

  1. Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
  2. Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
  3. NIST Cybersecurity Framework Professional – Foundation
  4. AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
  5. Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
  6. Certified Hacking Forensics Investigator (CHFI)
  7. Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP)
  8. CompTIA Security+

Governance, Risk, & Compliance (GRC)

  1. Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
  2. Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer (CDPSE)
  3. Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT)
  4. Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC)
  5. COBIT®: Implementing the NIST Cybersecurity Framework Using COBIT 2019
  6. COBIT®: Designing and Implementing a Governance Framework
  7. COBIT®: Foundation
  8. COSO Enterprise Risk Management Certification
  9. COSO Internal Controls Certification

Organizational & Business Consulting Psychology

  1. Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA) – Foundation Certification
  2. SFIA Accredited Practitioner
  3. SFIA Accredited Consultant

Technical Implementation & Operations

  1. Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE): Server Infrastructure
  2. MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure
  3. Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA): Server Infrastructure
  4. Certified SAFe® 5 Practitioner
  5. Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP)
  6. CompTIA A+
  7. Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL)

Scientific Research & Communication

  1. QuestionPro: Research Professional
  2. QuestionPro: Research Expert
  3. American Copy Editors Society: Certificate in Editing

Leadership & Management

  1. Cornell University: Psychology of Leadership
  2. NSLS: Foundations of Leadership I
  3. NSLS: Foundations of Leadership II
  4. NSLS: Advanced Leadership
  5. NSLS: Executive Leadership
  6. Harvard University: Exercising Leadership – Foundational Principles

Dr. Blake Curtis
CGEIT, CRISC, CISM, CISA, CISSP, CDPSE, COBIT
Cybersecurity Governance Adviser & Research Scientist

Dr. Blake Curtis, Sc.D | LinkedIn