RITSEC is a student club dedicated to teaching “Security Through Community.”
RITSEC History
Under the guidance of Dr. Samuel McQuade, RIT students Jared Campbell, Eric Linden, and Matt Hile founded the Security Practices and Research Student Association (SPARSA). SPARSA served as the professional backbone of RIT’s security community, focusing on academic research, corporate consulting, and security policy. It was here that ISTS started, as a competition to show off RIT’s cyber prowess. It was the bridge between the classroom and the workforce, helping students secure careers in an industry that was just beginning to define itself.
As the field grew, so did the need for hands-on, tactical experience. The RIT Competitive Cybersecurity Club (RC3) emerged to fill this gap, treating security as a sport. RC3 was the competition arm, focusing on making cybersecurity fun. Guided by core values of ethics and empowerment, it built a culture where students taught students, ensuring RIT remained a dominant force on the national leaderboard. This is why they started IRSEC, to get new members involved in attack/defense operations.
In 2018, the two organizations unified to form RITSEC. By combining SPARSA’s professional network and research focus with RC3’s technical rigor and competitive drive, the merger created a single, comprehensive home for security at RIT.
Current E-Board
The elected student leadership responsible for guiding the club’s vision and daily operations.
Legacy E-Board
The past leadership who laid the groundwork and defined our culture.
2024-2025
RITSEC
- President Kasey Kiggins
- Vice President Rachel Leone
- Public Relations Kip Rath
- Secretary Lukas Peters
- Head of Education Leah Kvares
- Head of Research Will D'Andrade
- ISTS Competition Architect Drew Young
- IRSeC Competition Architect Maxim Kochnev
- CTF Competition Architect Chase Killorin
- Treasurer David Girard
- Operations Lead John Arrandale
- Tech Lead Dan LaChance
2023-2024
RITSEC
- President Anthony Ioppolo
- Vice President Kenneth Anderson
- Public Relations Sophie Larson
- Secretary Raina Freeman
- Head of Education Kasey Kiggins
- Head of Research Chase Killorin
- ISTS Competition Architect Zach Price
- IRSeC Competition Architect Jack Audino
- CTF Competition Architect Rachel Leone
- Treasurer Albie Snyder
- Operations Lead Michael Scalzetti
- Tech Lead Alex Noble
2022-2023
RITSEC
- President Bradley Harker
- Vice President Max Fusco
- Public Relations Mohammad Eshan
- Secretary Sarah Dill
- Head of Education Kenneth Anderson
- Head of Research Anthony Ioppolo
- ISTS Competition Architect Michael Vaughan
- IRSeC Competition Architect Jacob Doll
- CTF Competition Architect Zach Price
- Treasurer Bailey Powers
- Operations Lead Abdulmalik Banaser
- Tech Lead Alex Beaver
2021-2022
RITSEC
- President Enzo DeStephano
- Head of Education Brayden Werner
- Head of Research Tenchi Mata
- ISTS Competition Architect Alison Nakai-Lackey
- IRSeC Competition Architect Jason Howe
- Treasurer Olivia Gallucci
- Secretary Jazmin Morales
- Director of Public Relations Bradley Harker
- Operations Lead Philomena Gray
- Tech Lead Max Fusco
2020-2021
RITSEC
- President Jonathan Bauer
- Head of Education Phillip Babey
- Head of Research Enzo DeStephano
- ISTS Competition Architect Daniel Szafran
- IRSeC Competition Architect Joshua Niemann
- Treasurer Spencer Roth
- Secretary Jason Howe
- Director of Public Relations Danielle Schloss
- Operations Lead Kyle Schleich
- Tech Lead Ayobami 'Emmanuel' Adewale
2019-2020
RITSEC
- President Shannon McHale
- Head of Education Owen Siebert
- Head of Research Ian Furr
- ISTS Competition Architect Jack McKenna
- IRSEC Competition Architect Quintin Walters
- Treasurer Amanda Brown
- Secretary Jon Bauer
- Director of Public Relations Adrianna Visca
- Operations Lead Evan Mikulski/Kyle Schleich
- Tech Lead Sunggwan Choi
2018-2019
RITSEC
- President Micah Martin
- Head of Education Russell Babarsky
- Head of Research Nick O'Brien
- Competition Architect Sean Newman
- Treasurer Shannon McHale
- Secretary Jack McKenna
- Director of Public Relations Alicen Dipiano
- Operations Lead Brandon Adler
- Tech Lead Scott Brink
2017-2018
RC3
- President Sean Sun
- Vice President Ohan Fillbach
- Competition Architect Kristen Tumacder
- Secretary Sean Newman
- Treasurer Michael Milkovich
- Treasurer Shannon McHale
- Web Admin Bryson McIver
- Operations Susan Lunn
- Faculty Advisors Megan Fritts
- Faculty Advisors Bill Stackpole
2017-2018
SPARSA
- President Micah Martin
- VP of Practices Kyle Carretto
- VP of Research Cameron Clark
- Treasurer Josh Stuts
- Secretary Russell Babarsky
- Faculty Advisor Bo Yuan
2016-2017
RC3
- President Ben Bornholm
- Vice President Nicholas Piazza
- Tech Lead Brad Campbell
- Competition Architect Sarah Jacobus
- Competition Architect Sean Sun
- Web Sean Sun
- Web Ohan Fillbach
- Treasurer Michael Milkovich
- Secretary Kristen Tumacder
2016-2017
SPARSA
- President Jesse Buonanno
- VP of Practices Cameron Clark
- VP of Research Dave Kukfa
- Treasurer Brandon Adler
- Secretary Jon Myers
- Faculty Advisor Bo Yuan
2015-2016
RC3
- President Scott Vincent
- Vice President Sean McConnell
- Tech Lead Ed Mead
- Competition Architect Luke Matarazzo
- Web Jaime Geiger
- Treasurer Ben Bornholm
- Secretary Pooja Sharma
2015-2016
SPARSA
- President Corrine Smith
- VP of Research Tyler Fornes
- Treasurer Jesse Buonanno
- Secretary Peter Muller
- Graduate Advisor Jared Stroud
- Graduate Advisor Bryan Harmat
- Faculty Advisor Bo Yuan
2014-2015
RC3
- President Jon Barber
- President Jaime Geiger
- Vice President Jaime Geiger
- Vice President Nicholas Piazza
- VP of Administration Scott Vincent
- VP of Technology Sean McConnell
- Treasurer Ben Bornholm
- Secretary Sean McConnell
- Secretary Luke Christian
2014-2015
SPARSA
- President Bryan Harmat
- VP of Practices Jared Stroud
- VP of Research Jon Barber
- VP of Research Stanley Chan
- Treasurer Mike O’Gorman
- Treasurer Peter Muller
- Secretary Corinne Smith
- Graduate Advisor Stanley Chan
- Faculty Advisor Bo Yuan
2013-2014
RC3
- Founder Brandon Maur
- Founder Thomas Desrosiers
- President Zuhdi Abdelkarim
- Vice President Daniyal Syed
- VP of Technology Jon Barber
2013-2014
SPARSA
- President Ben Kelley
- VP of Practices Bryan Harmat
- VP of Research Lucas Duffey
- VP of Research Stanley Chan
- Treasurer Claire McKenna
- Secretary Jared Stroud
- Graduate Advisor Ben Andrews
- Faculty Advisor Bo Yuan
2012-2013
SPARSA
- President Stanley Chan
- VP of Practices Ben Kelley
- VP of Research Brandon Myers
- Treasurer Lucas Duffey
- Secretary Kayla Green
- Graduate Advisor Chaim Sanders
- Faculty Advisors Gary Scarborough
- Faculty Advisors Bo Yuan
2011-2012
SPARSA
- President Ryan Peck
- VP of Practices Neil Zimmerman
- VP of Research Chaim Sanders
- Treasurer Lucas Duffey
- Secretary Stanley Chan
- Faculty Advisor Gary Scarborough
2010-2011
SPARSA
- President Jacob Ruppal
- VP of Practices Chaim Sanders
- Treasurer Ryan Peck
- Secretary Michael Tortora
- Faculty Advisor Gary Scarborough
2009-2010
SPARSA
- President Conner Finlay
- Vice President of Practices Jacob Ruppal
- Vice President of Research Josh Smith
- Treasurer Chaim Sanders
- Secretary Neil Zimmerman
2007-2008
SPARSA
- President Alex Getty
- Vice President of Practices Connor Finlay
- Vice President of Research Josh Smith
- Treasurer Adam Burke
- Secretary Jacob Ruppal
2006-2007
SPARSA
- President Jason Batchelor
- Vice President of Practices Alex Getty
- Vice President of Research Nick Carpenter
2005-2006
SPARSA
- Vice President of Practices Jason Batchelor
2004-2005
SPARSA
- President Jeff Volante
- Vice President of Practices Jim Farrelly
- Vice President of Research Sara Berg
- Treasurer Brian Luteran
- Secretary Jason Batchelor
2003-2004
SPARSA
- President Keith LeClaire
2002-2003
SPARSA
- President Steve Frank
- Vice President of Practices Jeff Volante
- Vice President of Research Keith LeClaire
- Treasurer Katie Hathaway
- Secretary Jim Farrelly
2001-2002
SPARSA
- President Jared Campbell
- Vice President of Practices Matt Hile
- Vice President of Research Gena Daley
- Treasurer Reina Smith
- Secretary Aksh Sehgal