Responsibility and Culture

Shoganai believes in upholding a vision of strategy & responsibility. Our actions have impact on a global scale, thus we pride ourselves in meaningful rhetoric and analysis. It's important to be accountable at all times—and Shoganai employees are no exception. We do not fail, and our culture is "mission-first" centric.

John Jackson

Founder / Technical Exploitation Officer

Ben Stevens

Director of Data Strategy / Cyber Threat Intelligence Analyst

Jason Jay Smart

Principal Political Consultant / National Security Advisor

Alex Kondratiuk

Linguist / Software Engineer

Jackson is a United States Marine Corps veteran, author, and the founder of the former white-hat hacking collective Sakura Samurai. With a career deeply embedded in the shadows of cybersecurity, he has excelled in domains such as Endpoint Detection and Response, Application Security, and adversarial emulation through Red Team operations. Currently, he serves as a Principal Red Team Operator for Trustwave SpiderLabs, while also undertaking select engagements for mission-centric projects.

Jackson's expertise has been instrumental in fortifying critical government infrastructure across the United States, India, the United Kingdom, Japan, the Netherlands, and Ukraine. His work includes the identification and exploitation of previously unknown vulnerabilities, many of which have reshaped security at both national and international levels. Jackson's security discoveries & research has observable impact across hundreds of industries.

His research has garnered widespread recognition, featured across thousands of prominent outlets in mainstream and independent media. From digital platforms and print publications to televised broadcasts, his work has consistently captured the attention of global audiences and industry leaders.

In 2024, several of his contributions were formally recognized with the "Medal for Service and Valor, 3rd Degree" awarded by the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and a "Certificate of Appreciation, Information Warfare" awarded by Ukraine’s Centre for Strategic Communication and Information Security. These honors distinguish his role in providing critical support whilst operating at crucial times.

Among other accolades, Jackson as obtained a trophy from the Dutch Tax Administration (Belastingdienst) for his security research, as well as a Letter of Appreciation and a Challenge Coin from the Texas State Guard for his operational leadership as an Offensive Security Instructor during Operation Cyber Sword.

See his full portfolio here.

Kondratiuk is a software engineer with a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science and a minor in Business from New York University. Passionate about leveraging artificial intelligence to tackle challenging problems, he brings expertise in AI-driven solutions, software engineering, and cybersecurity research.

A skilled linguist proficient in both Ukrainian and Russian, Kondratiuk combines technical expertise with linguistic capabilities to develop advanced technologies that enhance processing efficiency to meet a wide variety of client needs.

Kondratiuk has worked on numerous government contracting projects, supporting mission-critical operations & handling time-sensitive geopolitical tasks in an efficient manner. He has combined technical and language skills to diplomatically handle relations and quickly provide analysis pertaining to sensitive information.

Dr. Jason Jay Smart is an American national security and political advisor with extensive global experience. He specializes in post-Soviet geopolitics, leveraging advanced data analysis to develop strategic frameworks for national security and political operations.

Holding a Bachelor’s in Russian Studies and International Politics from George Mason University, a Master’s in Political Science and Security Studies from Virginia Tech, and a Ph.D. from Universitatea de Stat din Moldova, Dr. Smart has advised presidents, parliamentary bodies, and played a key role in drafting national constitutions. His expertise extends to defensive and offensive strategies critical to securing national interests.

As Country Director for the International Republican Institute (IRI), Dr. Smart worked closely with Russian opposition leaders and political parties, earning a lifetime ban from the Russian Federation in 2010 for supporting democratic movements. His strategic advice also spans the defense, banking, and international trade sectors.

A recognized authority in geopolitical analysis, Dr. Smart regularly shares insights on national security through international media, having given over 500 televised interviews in the past few years and having published over 400 articles.

Benjamin Stevens is an advanced web, digital, and marketing data scientist with a focus on applied AI for marketing and digital omni-channel analytics. Having worked with large organizations like MGM Resorts, AARP, Verizon, Blackboard, and American Political Services, Benjamin Stevens brings a wealth of experience. Prior to specializing in marketing data science, Benjamin focused on IT, data engineering, and cybersecurity.

As the owner of Ameridigital Research and the lead Data Strategy and Cyber Threat Intelligence consultant, Benjamin leverages a unique perspective on advanced digital marketing to study and consult on influence operations. His experience in advanced marketing technology provides an intimate awareness of the strategies and technologies used in influence operations, as all influence operations employ the same strategies as advanced digital marketing. Influence operations are essentially the dark side of digital marketing, utilizing similar techniques and tools.

Benjamin is an Adobe Analytics master and Google Analytics expert, specializing in advanced applications such as hyper personalization and real-time clickstream analysis to drive sophisticated personalization efforts.

Elena Mazurek

Geopolitical Analyst

Mazurek is a seasoned educator and researcher with extensive expertise in analysis, communication, and cultural studies. Over her career, she has honed her methodologies while mentoring students to excel in synthesizing complex information and presenting it with clarity and precision. Her role as a National History Day advisor has allowed her to guide the development of her students by facilitating the creation of projects grounded in rigorous investigation and strategic insights.

In recent years, Mazurek has broadened her scope beyond academia, engaging in global travel and cross-cultural exchanges to deepen her understanding of international systems and develop her skills as a Geopolitical Analyst. This work has involved the study of cultural dynamics, societal impacts, and the intricate interplay of historical and contemporary forces shaping global relations. Mazurek leverages her linguistic skills to analyze diverse perspectives. Fluent in both English and German, she is currently pursing a third language.

Mazurek's unique analytical expertise, cultural fluency, and passion, reflects her commitment to providing actionable insights. Beyond geopolitical expertise, she has begun to fuse her skills in writing and cultural analysis to pursue opportunities documenting critical technical evaluations of modern-day global events.

Chris Mack

Senior Enterprise Systems Architect

Chris is a jack of all trades, and a master of a few. He is an expert in networking, Windows and Linux systems administration. Mack is also well-versed in Microsoft’s Entra ID environment (formerly Azure AD). He is a competent red and blue teamer with proficiency in offensive and defensive architecture. He has implemented numerous Linux and Windows based networks, and operates his own autonomous system. He takes pride in a job well done.

Outside of his professional life, he enjoys music, hiking, bicycling, and tinkering with electronics communication equipment. He is a voracious learner.