John Sammons is an Assistant Professor at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. John teaches digital forensics, electronic discovery, information security and technology in the Department of Integrated Science and Technology. In addition, John also works closely with the Marshall University Forensic Science Center as an adjunct faculty member teaching firearms to graduate forensic science students.

He is also the founder and former President of the Appalachian Institute of Digital Evidence. He currently chairs the digital forensics working group of AIDE. AIDE is a non-profit organization that provides research and training for digital evidence professionals including attorneys, judges, law enforcement and information security practitioners in the private sector.

John has taught several courses covering digital forensics, electronic discovery and foundational technology including Introduction to Digital Evidence, Forensic Uses of Digital Images, Data Recovery and Analysis and Digital Investigations. John is currently a part-time Investigator with the Cabell County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. There he focuses on computer crime. He is a member of the FBI's West Virginia Cyber Crime Task Force.

John began his career in law enforcement with the Huntington Police Department in 1989. As a detective, John spent most of his career investigating drug trafficking in and around the city of Huntington. He also spent time investigating white collar crimes such as forgery, fraud and embezzlement. John’s cases were successfully prosecuted in both state and federal courts.

While at the HPD, John served as one of the department's firearms instructors. As a firearms instructor completed numerous firearms, armorers, and tactical courses including those from the FBI, IRS, Gunsite, Heckler & Koch, Glock, and SigArms among others. John also taught patrol tactics at the West Virginia State Police Academy. He was a member of the West Virginia Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors Advisory Board. He was also a staff instructor at the Huntington Regional Police Academy, teaching firearms, tactics, and search and seizure. .

During John's law enforcement career, he worked closely with several federal agencies including the FBI, DEA, IRS, NCIS and the United States Attorney's Office.John was recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice for his work investigating interstate drug trafficking in and around the Huntington area.

John has had the privilege of presenting to several groups of legal professionals on subjects of digital forensics and electronic discovery. These groups include the West Virginia Judicial Conference, the Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia, the West Virginia Defense Panel Forum and the Cabell County Bar among others. He has also taught several Continuing Legal Education courses on electronic discovery and digital forensics for attorneys in West Virginia.

John holds the following certifications: AccessData Certified Examiner, AccessData Certified Instructor, Kroll OnTrack Electronic Discovery Certification, SARC Steganography Examiner, CacheBack Certified Examiner

He is an Associate Member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, the Applachian Institute of Digital Evidence, the High Technology Crime Investigation Association, the SANS EDU Advisory Board, and Infragard.

Although born in Ohio, has strong ties to the Huntington community having lived here most of his life. He currently makes his home in the Huntington area with his wife and two daughters. When not at work or with his family, John can be found inventorying trout streams
in West Virginia and Montana.