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Home ― News ― DPS secretary Trevor Jones to join MadLabs DigForCE

DPS secretary Trevor Jones to join MadLabs DigForCE

October 10, 2018

Trevor JonesTrevor Jones, the South Dakota Cabinet Secretary for the Department of Public Safety (DPS), will be joining Dakota State University as part of the Madison Cyber Labs digital forensics, or DigForCE, lab.

The new approaches to identify and investigate cybercrime which are being developed in the DigForCE lab are critical to protect government agencies, businesses, and citizens, said José-Marie Griffiths, president of Dakota State University.

“Trevor Jones’ 28 years of experience in government, public safety, and law enforcement will be of great benefit to the efforts of our faculty, staff and students working on these vital digital security issues,” she said.

Jones will be the Director of Digital Forensic Services with DigForCE, with Dr. Ashley Podhradsky continuing as the key technical leader. The lab’s mission is to research cybercrime, including developing investigation techniques and training protocols. These methods will be used to educate law enforcement about digital forensics, and to create mechanisms for citizens to report possible crimes, he said.

“Cybercrime is broad and ever-changing. To properly address these issues will take a concerted effort of academia, citizens, and law enforcement at all levels – local, state and federal,” Jones said. “We all need to combat these problems that have and will continue to significantly impact our daily lives.”

Jones added that “DSU’s renowned focus on cybersecurity, its students, faculty and partnerships with the NSA, DOD and others is already helping to keep our country safe on a national and global level. The next step is to try and bring that focus and talent to a more regional, state and local level. I’m privileged that I’ll be a part of that step.”

Jones is a native of Aberdeen, S.D., and has a criminal justice degree from USD. He has worked as a deputy for the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s office, and for 20 years with the state attorney general’s office before joining the DPS in 2010.

“We are very excited that Trevor Jones is joining the DSU team to help lead our DigForCE lab,” said David Link, program director for the Madison Cyber Labs.

“For the past eight years Trevor has served as Cabinet Secretary for the South Dakota Department of Public Safety with responsibility for the eleven agencies and over 400 employees within the department. Trevor’s leadership ability and law enforcement knowledge will be critical as we build the DigForCE lab,” Link stated.

Jones’ first day on the job will be October 10.