Meet the Author

From a dusty California town to the halls of Harvard, Joel Rakow's life is a journey of resilience and purpose. Raised by a roofer and an elementary school teacher, his father’s lessons in truth and honor shaped a career defined by integrity. Joel carried these values from dirt baseball fields to the forefront of cybersecurity, where he became a trusted voice.

A Lifelong Pursuit of Security and Trust

Joel blazed a path at the intersection of risk and resilience, advising agencies like the FBI InfraGard, U.S. Secret Service, and the Los Angeles Electronic Crimes Task Force.

Over decades, he led more than 300 major security deployments and helped shape industry best practices with contributions to ASIS security standards. His work earned teams he led accolades such as Microsoft Partner of the Year and PC World Product of the Year.

“Security is less about firewalls and passwords—than progress, trust, accountability, and the patterns we can’t afford to ignore.”

Beyond Firewalls: A Story That Warns and Resists

Joel Rakow, Ed.D., is not only a security strategist—he is a storyteller. His novel, LIFE IN WOKE AMERICA, is a modern-day parable based on true events and decades of experience. Like Orwell and Ishiguro, Joel uses fiction to reveal urgent truths about the timeless concerns of human agency and social integrity.

The Road That Shaped Him

Joel’s journey was never linear. From delivering millions of boxes of educational software across 22 countries to testifying as a Court Advocate for vulnerable children, every chapter added weight and purpose to his voice.

Today, Joel, a socially liberal yet fiscally grounded champion of the middle class, shares his life with his wife, four adult children, and six grandchildren, splitting his time between a historic Texas ranch and the beaches of Southern California.