Dr. Tafoya is the instructor for this section of CCJ 6637. Dr. Tafoya began teaching the graduate course in Spring 2026 for the University of South Florida Department of Criminology on the Tampa campus. He joined USF in 2021, teaching in the Department of Criminology at the Sarasota-Manatee campus, where he developed and taught undergraduate courses in Digital Forensics and Cybercrime Investigation, as well as Research Methods.

Prior to joining USF, Dr. Tafoya retired in 2019 as Professor Emeritus from the University of New Haven, where he served in the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice's Department of National Security and Department of Criminal Justice. During his 20 years at the university, he developed and taught courses in undergraduate, master's, and Ph.D. programs. He also served as Director of the National Security program and Director of the Cyber Crime Investigation program.

Before entering academia full time, Dr. Tafoya completed a distinguished 20-year career as an FBI Special Agent. Among his accomplishments, several experiences stand out. In 1993, he became the first known law enforcement officer to make investigative use of the Internet and World Wide Web, shortly after the release of Mosaic, one of the earliest widely used web browsers.

Dr. Tafoya's early use of the Internet supported the FBI's Unabomber investigation, which ultimately led to the 1996 arrest of Theodore John Kaczynski. At the time, the FBI did not have the server infrastructure necessary to host a website and email account for the investigation. NASA's Moffett Field provided a server dedicated to supporting the Unabomber investigation and later the Oklahoma City bombing investigation. This collaboration was facilitated by NASA IT Security Director Randy Robinson.

Dr. Tafoya's experience with computing began decades earlier. In 1964, he worked with an IBM 360 mainframe computer. During his service in the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam, he used related computing technology while collecting intelligence data. His later professional work included gathering foreign counterintelligence information and computer-crime-related evidence.

From 1989 to 1990, Dr. Tafoya served as a Congressional Research Fellow for the 101st United States Congress, conducting research and presenting briefings for both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. He concluded his FBI career in 1995.

Between his FBI and academic careers, Dr. Tafoya worked for two years in the Intelligence Division of Computer Sciences Corporation in Falls Church, Virginia, and remained on retainer with the organization for an additional four years.

Dr. Tafoya's teaching career in computer crime investigation began in 1980, giving him more than four decades of experience educating students in cybercrime, digital forensics, computer crime investigation, and related fields.

His approach to CCJ 6637 emphasizes the Socratic Method and critical thinking rather than memorization. Dr. Tafoya challenges students to locate and analyze obscure and complex online information sources, developing skills directly applicable to cybercrime investigation, digital forensics, and information security. The course is designed to strengthen analytical reasoning and prepare students to apply these skills in professional settings.

Dr. Tafoya earned his Ph.D. in Criminology from the University of Maryland in 1986. His dissertation, A Delphi Forecast of the Future of Law Enforcement, examined the future direction of law enforcement.



Dr. Tafoya's recent scholarly work includes three chapters in Digital Crime and Digital Terrorism: "Anarchy & Hate on the World Wide Web," "The Investigation of Computer-Related Crime," and "Digital Crime & Terrorism." His work appears in both the fourth edition (2019) and fifth edition (2025).

Healthy Aging at Any Age 

By Cary Hopkins Hall, MA, CAP 

September is Healthy Aging Month. Whether you are 19 and aren’t thinking about long-term health, or are older and working to ensure positive quality of life in your older years, aging is happening every day. The good news is that at every age you can make choices to be healthy, energetic, and prevent many age-related issues.  

Unfortunately, a lot of bad habits start in college years when people feel increased stress, sleep less, and have poor nutrition. This is not necessary or helpful for your studies or future health.  

Taking care of yourself is not a trick; you likely know a lot of what is recommended for good health and longevity. Let’s focus on body and mind (although there are other key components as well)! 

Some tips for the body 

Avoiding inflammation is key; inflammation damages cells. Your immune system becomes activated when your body recognizes anything that is foreign-such as an invading microbe, plant pollen, or chemical. Stress fuels inflammation. Many chronic diseases such as heart disease, depression, and arthritis have been linked to inflammation. 

To decrease inflammation in the body, avoid hyper-processed foods. Include foods such as tomatoes, olive oil, green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, kale, and collards, nuts like almonds and walnuts, fatty fish, like salmon, mackerel, tuna, and sardines, and fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and oranges. Treats that are a good part of an anti-inflammatory diet can include dark chocolate, coffee, tea, and pumpkin seeds. For more tips on healthy food that reduces inflammation, check out this article by Harvard Medical School -Anti-inflammatory diet: Foods that help reduce chronic inflammation. 

Some tips for the mind 

In school, and after, it is crucial to keep the brain sharp. Managing stress through mindfulness, meditation, or relaxation techniques also supports mental health and reduces the risk of depression. People who stay physically active also stay mentally sharper.  

A healthy diet is good for brain health. Minimizing drinking decreases negative impacts on the brain health. A good night's sleep helps improve brain function and memory, keeps you alert, and makes it easier to do daily tasks. Rest also eases stress and depression. Being social helps ward off depression and stress. 

Keeping the brain active through reading, puzzles, learning new skills, or engaging in creative activities can help maintain cognitive function. Just as physical activity keeps your body in shape, activities that engage your mind can keep your brain in shape. And those activities may help improve brain function and memory. Do crossword puzzles. Read. Play games. Learn to play a musical instrument. Try a new hobby. Volunteer at a local school or with a community group.  

Perfect is the enemy of the good 

We won’t always make perfect choices for our body or mind but making good choices helps! Healthy aging can be achieved with small acts. Add a salad to your lunch, order that matcha, and take a walk with a friend. You can be happier now and impact your health in the future.  

 “Old age is not so bad when you consider the alternative.” —Maurice Chevalier