I Married a Fed at DefCon

No, I didn't, but someone else did.

This year's Spot-the-Fed game at DefCon got an unusual twist when two Feds, one of them a long-time DefCon attendee, decided to get hitched at the hacker conference.

Andrew Fried, a special agent with the Department of Treasury, and Laura Askey, also with Treasury, got married in a short ceremony before more than 4,000 hackers and Feds at the close of the awards ceremony on the last day of the conference. The marriage ceremony was performed by Rev. William Petersen.

Before the wedding took place, DefCon founder Jeff Moss read a statement that Fried wrote explaining what was going to take place.

Spot the Fed had been a longstanding tradition here at DefCon, and those attending DefCon over the years will attest to the fact that one of the most coveted pieces of swag at DefCon are the "I spotted the Fed" T-shirts.

Despite reports to the contrary, the relationship between DefCon and the law enforcement community is one of mutual respect. Every year, members of the federal law enforcement community attend DefCon and participate in Meet the Fed sessions, which provides a unique opportunity to meet face to face with federal agents and discuss issues and concerns.

This year we hope to begin a new tradition here at DefCon -- Marry a Fed! Regardless of the position or circumstance love is always with us, and even Feds have a "softer side."

Fried and Askey met three years ago while investigating a Treasury Department computer intrusion case. Both are tech geeks (yes, Askey is Laura's real name, though she ought to think about changing that spelling). The witnesses were IRS Computer Security Specialist John Dunnivan, who worked with Fried and Askey on the intrusion case, and
Katherine Rilley, the girlfriend of fellow Fed Jim Christy, the recently retired head of the Defense Department's Cyber Crime Institute, who also has been attending DefCon for years.

In the traditional Spot the Fed contest, conference attendees single out other attendees whom they think might be undercover federal agents. The spottee is asked a series of questions to determine if he is a Fed. If it turns out he is, the spotter gets a shirt reading "I spotted a Fed at DefCon," and the Fed gets a t-shirt reading "I was spotted at DefCon" -- an item that, agents tell us, is the envy of all their colleagues come Monday morning when they return to their jobs from the conference. In keeping with that tradition, Fried and Askey got t-shirts that read "I married a Fed at DefCon."

I've known Andy for several years, after interviewing him with a group of Feds at DefCon in 2000. He's a straight shooter who abhors the typical government obfuscation, and he has great respect for the hacking community's skills.

All the best to you, Laura and Andy.

Photos: Dave Bullock