Penfist was born in 1971 in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. He spent his formative years in diverse places including Haiti, Bangladesh, Canada and the United States. Before Pen became an author, he spent time working as a dishwasher, data entry operator, marketing manager, public affairs chief, information technology administrator, IT director and systems architect.
He holds a Master of Science in Management of Information Systems with a focus on security. He has served tours of duty in the United States Marine Corps and the United States Army, and has spent time in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
If you recognize him in a bookstore, coffee shop, or dive bar please say hello.