WHAT SETS US APART
Our team’s foundation in the University of Delaware’s Cybersecurity Program gives us a unique blend of deep technical rigor and real-world application.
This is reinforced by military discipline and operational experience from a veteran United States Marine, bringing a mission-focused mindset, attention to detail, and execution under pressure. Beyond traditional security expertise, we bring strong application development skills that allow us to design and build our own attack surface management tools; purpose-built to uncover exposures that off-the-shelf platforms often miss.
This combination of academic research, military discipline, and custom tool development enables us to view attack surfaces the way real adversaries do and help organizations reduce risk with clarity and confidence.
OUR TEAM
Charles Adams
CEO and Co-Founder
Charles embarked on his professional journey in 2012 when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, specializing in system administration for tactical aviation systems, as well as deploying expeditionary computer and radio networks around the globe.
In 2020, he decided to shift gears and follow his academic dreams, enrolling in a Bachelor of Science program in Computer Science. It was during his studies that he discovered his unwavering passion for offensive cybersecurity, which he has since pursued with dedication: mastery of the art of web, network, and systems exploitation.
Charles graduated from the University of Delaware in 2024. During his last year he led as the President of the Blue Hens Capture the Flag Club to the 3rd ranked team in the United States (CTF Time). He is GFACT, GSEC, GCIH, GPEN and OSCP certified. Charles is also highly proficient in JavaScript and Python, applying both to real-world security and research problems.
Additionally, Charles is enrolled as a graduate student at the SANS Technology Institute as part of their Penetration Testing & Ethical Hacking program.
Kaoru Katayama
“Every new system brings with it a multitude of new problems, and there are no machines that can protect against all attacks. In the end, we’re bound by people, not by machines.”
Kaoru Katayama is a cybersecurity researcher, educator, and practitioner with nearly two decades of experience spanning penetration testing, threat intelligence, machine learning, and secure systems engineering. He is the Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Exploit Strike, where he leads advanced penetration testing engagements and designs secure infrastructure for offensive security research.
Kaoru is completing his Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Delaware, where he also earned a Master’s in Cybersecurity and a Bachelor’s in Computer Engineering. His research focuses on applying machine learning to cybersecurity problems, including large-scale analysis of Indicators of Compromise and malicious behavior detection.
Kaoru also created the University of Delaware’s first VIP Red Team, which led security assessments across the Mid-Atlantic region. He has held multiple research internships at Cisco Systems, contributing to advanced threat analytics, encrypted malware detection, and IoC aggregation systems used to reduce false positives in enterprise environments.
In addition to industry work, Kaoru has served for over a decade as a course instructor and teaching assistant at the University of Delaware, teaching and supervising courses in penetration testing, web application security, cryptography, system hardening, and senior design. He is a recipient of the 2024 ECE Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award and has contributed to funded research projects with Cisco.
CTO and Co-Founder
Sara Novocin
Chief Operating Officer
Sara Novocin has been part of Exploit Strike since its inception, bringing fresh perspective to the cybersecurity field while driving the company forward through strategic leadership and creative, results-oriented marketing. With an MBA from the University of Delaware, she excels at translating complex technical services into clear, compelling value for clients and partners, supporting sustainable growth and operational excellence. Sara is also proficient in HTML and CSS.
In addition to her professional responsibilities, she serves as Partnership Chair on the volunteer board of a 501(c)(7) organization, reflecting her commitment to collaboration and community building. Outside of work, she balances leadership and family life with her two daughters and two chiweenies; bringing energy, empathy, and perspective to everything she does.
David Philo
Director of Offensive Operations
David F. Philo has nearly 35 years of experience in information technology, with over 22 years dedicated to cybersecurity. He holds an undergraduate degree in Bio-Medical Engineering, a Master’s in Information Technology from the University of Phoenix, and also attended the University of Delaware to further expand his education. In 2010, David also founded a cybersecurity consulting company that supported small businesses across Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
He holds numerous industry certifications, including:
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
GIAC Penetration Tester (GPEN)
EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
CompTIA Security+ and Network+
Microsoft MCTS Certified
David is also highly proficient in PowerShell, C/C++, Bash, SQL, HTML, and Visual Basic, with working knowledge of Java, JavaScript, Python, and C#.
JD Wang
Senior Penetration Expert & Partner
JD Wang’s journey into cybersecurity began with a strong foundation in Computer Science, recently completing the University of Delaware’s Computer Science 4+1 program.
During his studies, he developed a deep interest in offensive security and reverse engineering, refining his skills through both academic pursuits and competitive experiences. JD was Co-President of the Blue Hens Capture the Flag Club during 2022-2023 and has been an active member contributing to its participation in national and international CTF competitions. In addition, JD’s expertise contributed to the team that recently won the 2025 U.S. Cyber Challenge National CyberBowl.
JD was also a teaching assistant for Penetration Testing and Reverse Engineering in the Fall of 2023 at the University of Delaware. His certifications include GIAC Foundational Cybersecurity Technologies (GFACT), GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC), GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH), GIAC Certified Intrusion Analyst (GCIA), and CompTIA PenTest+.
Jay Vanyi
Cybersecurity Engineer & Partner
Jay Vanyi started his career in financial analysis and trading, building automation and analytical tools to uncover patterns and guide informed decisions. He later pivoted into cybersecurity, where he focuses on identifying weaknesses in complex systems and helping organizations improve their security posture. Jay has also served as a Cybersecurity Engineering Intern at TikTok. He is currently enrolled in the University of Delaware, graduating Spring 2027. Certifications include PWPA and ICS2.
Outside of technology, Jay volunteered as a firefighter with the Jackson Mills Fire Department, gaining hands-on experience operating calmly and reliably in high-stress environments. Today, he collaborates closely with Exploit Strike on penetration testing, security research, and business development.
Dr. Andrew Novocin
Mentor & Investor
Professor Novocin teaches ethical hacking at the University of Delaware. He coaches their top-ranked Capture The Flag team (highly competitive hacking competitions). He is also the Director of the Cyber Security Scholars program, founder of the Vertically Integrated Projects program, and a well-loved teacher of cryptography, web application security, x86 exploitation, and threat hunting.
As an entrepreneur, he focuses on delivering high quality service through building scalable software for clients. His most rewarding work comes from zeroing in on daily pain points and creating solutions to resolve them. It's truly wealth creation to significantly improve a client’s bottom line and quality of life.
Todd Janssen
Chief Sales Officer
Todd Janssen is a results-driven Chief Sales Officer, known for driving revenue growth through strategic, relationship-focused leadership.
With a strong grasp of client needs and a people-first mindset, he builds and leads high-performing sales teams that foster trust, loyalty, and lasting partnerships. By combining data-driven strategy with a personal touch, Todd not only strengthens customer relationships but also helps organizations protect what matters most—their data.