LEESBURG, VA, October 14, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Steven K. Fisher has been recognized for achievement in self-defense instruction services and information technology services.

Mr. Fisher's professional journey reflects a dynamic blend of expertise in information technology and self-defense instruction, marked by a commitment to innovation and community engagement. Since 2023, he has served as the owner and head instructor of Kore Self Defense, operating under Kore Defense Industries, LLP, assuming leadership after Dr. Tammy McCracken transitioned to her nonprofit, 500 Rising. In this capacity, Mr. Fisher has continued to advance self-defense education, drawing on his extensive background in Krav Maga and general self-defense instruction for adults, women and children. His involvement with organizations such as Krav Maga Global and 500 Rising underscores his dedication to empowering individuals through practical training and advocacy for violence prevention.

In addition to his work at Kore Defense Industries, LLP, Mr. Fisher served as a Krav Maga instructor at Personal Defense Industries in 2023, further broadening his reach within the self-defense community. His technical acumen is equally distinguished. Since 2021, he has been a Senior Principal AI Software Engineer at Nokia Federal Solutions Inc., where he manages the AI laboratory. In this role, he oversees hardware setup and model training, focusing on developing domain-specific agents tailored to organizational needs. He is responsible for creating tools that enable engineers to leverage artificial intelligence effectively in their daily work, particularly in web development and full-stack environments.

Mr. Fisher's entrepreneurial spirit is evident in his ventures within the cryptocurrency sector. Since 2021, he has operated as a stake pool operator (4WARD) within the Cardano Community and founded Swift Crypto LLC, initially mining Ethereum before transitioning to Cardano following changes in the network's protocol. He also manages an Iagon storage node and Blockfrost API node on the Cardano network, and he operates an Algorand node for blockchain support. His technical infrastructure now supports both his gym's administrative needs and content generation through artificial intelligence applications.

From 2022 to 2024, Mr. Fisher was the Chief Technology Officer at Mehen Finance, where he co-founded and deployed the first United States dollar-backed stablecoin on the Cardano blockchain. During this same era, he made significant contributions to post-quantum cryptography, publishing the first Java and TypeScript implementations of the Kyber IND-CCA2-secure key encapsulation mechanism (KEM) in 2021 and 2022—work that was officially recognized and referenced by the algorithm's authors on the CRYSTALS-Kyber homepage. His earlier experience includes serving as Senior Principal Software Engineer at Praemittias Systems LLC from 2016 to 2021, and Architect and Senior Principal Software Engineer at BIT Systems from 2012 to 2016. At ITT Exelis from 2004 to 2012, he served as a Principal Application Software Development Engineer and received recognition for his performance, earning several awards.

His career began with foundational roles at Lockheed Martin as a Software Engineer from 1999 to 2001, followed by positions at Veridian from 2001 to 2003 and at General Dynamics from 2003 to 2004. He also held multiple software engineering roles as Chief Executive Officer in the United States between 2002 and 2008.

Mr. Fisher's academic achievements have played a significant role in shaping his multifaceted career. He earned a master's degree in Information Systems from George Mason University in Fairfax in 2002 after completing a bachelor's degree in Computer Science at Pennsylvania State University in University Park in 1999 and an associate's degree in Computer Science from Pennsylvania State University in York in 1996. These credentials provided him with a robust foundation for both his technological pursuits and instructional endeavors.

His commitment to professional development is reflected in numerous certifications: Certified Krav Maga Global (KMG) Instructor (2025), Certified KMG Kids' Instructor (2026), introduction to generative AI from Google Cloud (2025), Self-Defense and Krav Maga Instructor from Personal Defense Industries (2023), Licensed Instructor in Instructional Foundations in Women's Self-Defense from 500 Rising (2022), Oracle certified associate Java SE 8 programmer from Oracle (2016) and CompTIA Security Plus certification from CompTIA (2015). These qualifications have enabled Mr. Fisher to maintain high standards of instruction while integrating advanced technology into his teaching methods.

Throughout his life, Mr. Fisher has drawn inspiration from family influences marked by resilience and adaptability. The values instilled by his grandparents — shaped by military service during World War II and the Korean War as well as experiences during the Nazi occupation of Belgium — fostered stability and a strong work ethic that continue to guide him today. His mother's dedication as a nurse working night shifts further reinforced these principles.

A pivotal moment occurred when Mr. Fisher suffered a severe arm injury at age sixteen. Despite predictions that he would never regain full use of his arm, he approached rehabilitation with determination and ultimately achieved full recovery. This formative experience cemented his belief that perseverance can overcome adversity — a philosophy that underpins both his professional success and personal growth.

Mr. Fisher's initial interest in technology was sparked by early experiences with computer games such as Wolfenstein 3D and Doom, which led him to explore programming by creating custom game levels on family computers. This curiosity evolved into a lifelong passion for software development. His entry into self-defense instruction was motivated by a desire to support one of his twin daughters with social anxiety by introducing her to martial arts under Dr. McCracken's guidance. This decision not only benefited his daughter but also reignited Mr. Fisher's own interest in martial arts training.

Beyond his primary career achievements, Mr. Fisher has contributed significantly through civic engagement and volunteerism. He has served as a volunteer coach for children's sports teams across elementary and middle schools — including football coaching roles with Loudoun Legends Travel Flag Team, Fairfax teams and travel squads — as well as tee-ball head coach for Dulles Little League in 2016. He participated as an assistant football coach for Loudoun NFL Flag from 2021 to 2023 and chaperoned Broad Run High School students during the London New Year's Day Parade for the academic year spanning 2023 to 2024.

His commitment extends further through educational outreach initiatives such as teaching Scratch programming at Dominion Trail Elementary School's Science Expo in 2016 and building courses for Spartan Race events since 2015. As a donor, he supports the Third Option Foundation and 500 Rising through his Cardano Stake Pool, ADA for Warriors (4WARD).

Recognition of Mr. Fisher's professional excellence includes several industry awards: BIT Systems SPOT Award (2013), multiple BIT Systems Spot Awards (2012), Quarterly Peer Award Winner at ITT (2006) with additional nominations (2009), Lightning Awards at ITT across several years (two times in 2007, three times in 2008, once each in 2009 and 2010), Peer Award at Veridian (2001) and Wingspread Award at Lockheed Martin (2000). In addition, he was featured alongside his wife in The Washington Post after their unique wedding ceremony at a Spartan race.

On a personal level, Mr. Fisher finds fulfillment through outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking, boating, and jet skiing, and by participating in more than 60 obstacle course races, including Spartan Race, Tough Mudder and Bonefrog events. He enjoys going to the gym regularly and lifting weights.

Family remains central to Mr. Fisher's sense of accomplishment; he takes great pride in how his children have grown into capable young adults who are pursuing their own passions — with one daughter instructing women's classes alongside him while engaging with organizations like 500 Rising, another exploring interests spanning medicine, technology and athletics, including club basketball participation at college, while his son excels academically as a high school sophomore playing varsity football and basketball.

Looking ahead, Mr. Fisher aims to leverage artificial intelligence tools, informed by his expertise, to streamline administrative tasks in both his professional responsibilities and personal pursuits — seeking greater efficiency so that more time can be devoted to meaningful endeavors across all facets of life.

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