Five Questions: Joe Albaugh

Joe Albaugh is the chief security officer at Vivint, a job he has held for 10 months. He is responsible for the “convergence of security practices,” he says, including the operational security of products, cybersecurity and personal and physical security.

Where do you live?

I've been doing an extended commute. My home is in Western Maryland, an hour and a half northeast of D.C. We have a horse farm there, and we wanted to get through the winter before we sold the house and found a place out here [in Utah.]

What kind of horses do you have?

We have three Quarter Horses. Mine is a Quarter Horse Warmblood Mix. He's a big guy, and he's a lot of fun to ride, but he's not for the faint of heart. You have to be an experienced rider to ride him. We're hoping to bring the three horses out with us when we make the final move. There's so much you can learn about yourself and how to communicate effectively by being around horses.

What are your other hobbies?

I love flying, but I haven't had a chance to do much of that lately. I play on a Major Senior League Baseball team in Maryland. I like experiencing new things. Being out here in Utah, on weekends I'm here, I've learned to ski, I tried the Olympic bobsled in Park City, I learned how to curl. I'm also fascinated now with archery. There are so many different things out here to do.

Tell me about your family.

I have a wife, a son and daughter-in-law and a grandson. I'm still learning what it's like to be 'Poppy.' But I've got [the 3-year-old grandson] already mucking out stalls, and I'm teaching him cybersecurity, so we're getting him raised right.

What's the last book you've read that you enjoyed?

The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business, by Charles Duhigg. It's about understanding cognitive behavior, how people form habits both personally and in business. I loved the use cases. It's for both personal enhancement and productivity in the workforce.