There are nights that remind you why community matters in this field, and June 5th was one of them.
While I wasn't able to attend in person this time, the fantastic Google Developer Group DFW gathering turned out to be a real celebration. Even from a distance, it was a great reminder of why these events matter: gatherings like this extend knowledge and cooperation across the greater community, bringing practitioners, builders, and curious minds together to trade ideas and lift each other up. That ripple effect — knowledge shared, connections made — reaches far beyond the room itself.
Five copies, five new readers
The highlight of the afternoon? Five people walked away with copies of Cybersecurity Architect's Handbook, Second Edition — An architect's guide to designing, building, and defending the modern enterprise, with a foreword by Corey J. Ball, author of Hacking APIs.
A huge thank-you to Packt for sponsoring the books and making the giveaway possible.
To the five winners: congratulations, and thank you for taking a copy home. I genuinely hope you enjoy the book and, more importantly, find real value in it. It was written to be a working reference, not a trophy for the shelf — something you can return to as you design, build, and defend the systems you're responsible for. If it helps you make even one better decision in your architecture, it's done its job. I'd love to hear what resonates with you once you've had a chance to dig in.
Thank you to the people who make it happen
Events like this don't run on their own. A big shout out to Yujun Liang to providing the information about the get together. A sincere thank-you to Bennett F. Johnston from Chainguard for sponsoring, and to Eric Smalling, Patrick Tavares, and Jenny Hinz for being part of a great gathering. This is what a healthy technical community looks like.
Didn't win a copy? You can still grab one
If you missed out on the giveaway but the book caught your eye, you don't have to wait for the next raffle. You can pick up your own copy here:
👉 Cybersecurity Architect's Handbook, Second Edition — on Amazon
Let's do it again — see you June 18th
The good news is you won't have to wait long for the next chance to connect. Join the community in two weeks:
🚀 GDG DFW Social Club #28 📅 Thursday, June 18, 2026 🕓 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM (CDT) 📍 Flying Saucer Cypress Waters — 3111 Olympus Blvd, Coppell, TX 75019 🔗 Register here
Thanks to Cloud Latitude and Gravitee for sponsoring the next one.
Whether you're deep into security architecture or just starting to explore the field, come say hello. The best part of this work has never been the technology alone — it's the people you get to build alongside.
