In 2008 Mike Alvarez joined the Comal County (Texas) Sheriff’s Office as a jailer and later to a patrol deputy. He began his career as a Criminal Investigator with the Texas Attorney General’s Office CID in 2011 and was assigned to the Austin Fugitive Apprehension Unit. Mike continued his growth in Law Enforcement by moving to the Texas Attorney’s General’s Office Digital Forensics Unit. Mike was a member the ICAC Task Force Texas investigating Child Exploitation cases. In 2018, Mike attended IACIS (International Association of Computer Investigation Specialist) and received the CFCE (Certified Forensic Computer Examiner) certification.
In 2019, he was assigned to the US Secret Service Electronic Crimes Task Force (now called Cyber Fraud Task Force) Houston Field Office and worked as a Digital Forensics Examiner investigating electronic crimes and performing forensic examinations on computers, electronic devices, and mobile devices. Mike was also a Texas Attorney General’s Office representative for the State Operations Command during local, State and Federal Emergencies involving the State of Texas.
In 2022, Mike Alvarez was hired by the US Secret Service as a Network Intrusion Forensic Analyst to utilize technological expertise to perform complex network intrusion investigations, computer/digital media forensic examinations, as well as criminal case preparation and subsequent prosecution associated with the attempted criminal exploitation of the nation’s critical infrastructure. As a Network Intrusion Forensics Analyst (NIFA), Mike is responsible for providing expert guidance in network and digital forensics, including, but not limited to network intrusion investigations; computer forensics analysis, including imaging and processing digital media; locating and identifying evidence of network intrusions; validating testing of computer forensics hardware and software; and participating in setting up virtualized computer system environments on stand-alone workstations. Mike is recognized as a subject matter expert and principal advisor/analyst to senior-level stakeholders and other applicable stakeholders on matters involving the implementation and compliance of the Network Intrusion Forensics Analyst (NIFA) Program to ensure that work efforts and activities meet the overall mission and guidance of the agency; defines, interprets, and implements policy as it relates to investigative methods, evidence recovery, and forensics analysis. Instructor for the International Law Enforcement Academies (ILEA).
EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS
-Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from St. Edwards University in 2008.
-Master’s Degree in Homeland Security from Angelo State in 2018.
-Certified Computer Forensics Examiner (CFCE).
– Cryptocurrency
– Windows Artifacts.
– Basic Mobile Device Examiner.
– Advanced Mobile Device Examiner.
– SANS FOR585 Smartphone Forensics Analysis In-Depth.
– SQLite Complete Forensics Course
– Business Email Compromise Investigations
– Network Intrusion Responder Program (NITRO).
– Point of Sale Investigations
– Certified Detecting and Responding to Cyber Attacks.
-Certified by the American Council on Teaching of Foreign Languages as a Spanish translator.
– Marine Corps veteran.