David Utzke

Dr. David Utzke serves as a graduate adjunct professor at the University of Advancing Technology (UAT), bringing extensive real-world expertise from his role as a forensic specialist in the U.S. Treasury's IRS Criminal Investigations Cyber Crimes Unit, where he focuses on Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) and digital currency investigations.

His educational credentials include:

• Bachelor’s in Agri Business with minor in Computer Science
• Bachelor’s in Pre-veterinary Medicine
• Master’s in Forensic Accounting and International Finance (minor in Computer Science)
• Doctorate in Financial Economics (minor in Computer Science)
• Post-doctoral work in Cryptoeconomics at MIT
• MSc in Blockchain Engineering and Digital Currency

Dr. Utzke's research centers on the rapidly evolving blockchain ecosystem, where he examines how Decentralized Finance (DeFi) and Decentralized Communications (DeComm) are transforming traditional financial systems, supply chains, and communication infrastructures. His 30+ years of experience in digital currency forensics directly informs his approach to data science applications in cybercrime investigation, particularly for analyzing massive datasets from darknet markets and complex financial fraud cases.

His law enforcement contributions have earned prestigious recognition:

• Two awards from the Dept. of Justice
• IRS Commissioner’s Award (past three years)

As an educator, Dr. Utzke leverages his military Special Operations background and hands-on cybercrime investigation experience to deliver practical, industry-relevant instruction. His commitment to knowledge sharing extends beyond academia through 25 years of fostering 11 teenagers and supporting vulnerable children, reflecting his philosophy of pursuing missions that make meaningful societal impact.