Meet the Team
People are the heart of every successful business.
Michael Mallon, GSE #396, CISSP
CEO and Principal Consultant
Michael Mallon is the CEO and Principal Consultant of Rule 56 LLC. His 16+ years Cybersecurity experience include many technical and leadership positions in the private sector and with the U.S. Army. He began his career at the IT Help Desk at his alma mater Boston University, where he gained a deep understanding of IT processes and end user activity, which prepared him well for his future Cybersecurity positions. In his 8+ years with RSA, he worked as both a cybersecurity consultant and pre-sales engineer focused on mitigating cybersecurity threats with the right mix of product and services. Prior to starting Rule 56, he served as CISO for Sphinx, a cyber counterintelligence services firm. He holds an undergraduate degree in Computer Systems Engineering and a masters degree in Information Systems with a focus in Security, both from Boston University. He actively serves in the Army National Guard as a Cyber Warfare officer and is currently assigned as the Senior Cyber Advisor for the Georgia Army National Guard. His past assignments over his 20+ years of military service include commanding a Cyber Protection Team, two mobilizations supporting USCYBERCOM, and one deployment to Afghanistan as a Cavalry Squadron Communications Officer.
Jon McLaughlin, CISSP, CCP
Director of Operations
Jon McLaughlin is the Director of Operations at Rule 56 LLC. His 15+ years of Information Technology and Cybersecurity experience include many technical and leadership positions in the U.S. Army and the Defense Industrial Base. He began his career as an Information Technology Specialist and Cisco Certified Networking Academy instructor in the U.S. Army, where he built a strong foundation in networking and IT operations that prepared him well for his future Cybersecurity roles. He started his private sector career with Lockheed Martin, where he served as a Cybersecurity Manager and Information System Security Manager (ISSM) focused on securing critical programs within the Defense Industrial Base. He holds an undergraduate degree from Liberty University and graduate certificates from Penn State and the University of North Georgia, all in cybersecurity and compliance-related disciplines. He actively serves in the Army National Guard and is currently assigned as the Command Sergeant Major for an Intelligence and Electronic Warfare battalion. His past assignments over his 21+ years of military service include serving as the Information Technology Sergeant Major for a General Officer staff directorate, one deployment to Iraq as an Infantryman within a Long Range Surveillance unit, and one mobilization supporting USCYBERCOM.
Michael Gibbs, GSE #365, OSCP
Senior Consultant
Michael Gibbs is a Senior Cybersecurity Consultant at Rule 56 LLC. His 13+ years of Information Technology experience, including 10+ years in Cybersecurity, span technical roles focused on incident response, offensive security, and penetration testing. Throughout his career, he has developed deep expertise in identifying, investigating, and testing cybersecurity threats across complex enterprise environments. His private sector experience includes cybersecurity roles with Microsoft, CrowdStrike, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Bank of America. His work has included supporting incident response operations, conducting offensive security and penetration testing activities, and helping organizations identify and address security weaknesses. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer and Information Systems and Support Services from Johnson C. Smith University and currently holds more than 20 professional certifications, including GIAC Security Expert (GSE #365) and Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP). He was also a member of the winning team in the 2025 SANS Core NetWars Tournament of Champions. He actively serves in the North Carolina Army National Guard and is currently assigned as a Cyber Operations Technician (170A). Over his 10 years of military service, he has supported cybersecurity and information technology missions while developing technical expertise that complements his private sector cybersecurity experience.
Desmond Henderson, CISSP, GCIH
Senior Consultant
Desmond Henderson is a cybersecurity leader with experience spanning defense, finance, and commercial sectors. He specializes in AI-driven security automation, cloud infrastructure, and vulnerability remediation, while also serving in a military cyber leadership role. His background includes penetration testing, incident response, and advising organizations on NIST framework alignment. He has a B.S. in Cybersecurity from the University of North Georgia and holds multiple industry certifications, including CISSP and GCIH, and is an advocate for Type 1 diabetes awareness.