Walter O’Brien, a United States-based Irish businessman and information technologist, is the founder and CEO of Scorpion Computer Services, Inc. He started the company at the age of 13, offering IT tutoring services. Known for his high IQ and alleged hacking abilities, Walter has faced skepticism from IT professionals and computer enthusiasts due to contradictions and exaggerations in the television show and media articles based on his exploits. Despite his claims, he has not taken the Mensa IQ test and often avoids providing further details about his accomplishments.
Quick Facts
- Age: 48 Years
- Family: Father – Maurice O’Brien, Mother – Anne O’Brien
- Born Country: Ireland
- Occupation: IT & Software Entrepreneur
- Nationality: American
- Height: 6’2″ (188 cm)
- Notable Alumni: University Of Sussex
- Education: University of Sussex, St Kieran’s College
Childhood & Early Life
Walter O’Brien was born on February 24, 1975, in Clonroche, County Wexford, Ireland. He was the second of five children of Maurice and Anne O’Brien and was raised on a farm. He attended St. Patrick’s National School in Clonroche until the age of 13 when his family moved to Rosshaven. He then went to St. Mary’s Christian Brothers School in Enniscorthy.
Interest in Computers
O’Brien became interested in computers after his primary school started offering a computer course. He bought his first computer, an Amstrad personal computer, in 1984 with money he had saved from doing chores on the farm. There are conflicting reports about whether his parents bought him his first computer when he was 12 years old.
Early Hacking Experience
At the age of 13, O’Brien claims to have hacked into NASA servers under the pseudonym “Scorpion.” He says that the NSA, through Interpol, appeared at his doorsteps, but he managed to avoid trouble by showing them vulnerabilities in their network.
Education and Achievements
O’Brien completed his Leaving Certificate from St Kieran’s College in Kilkenny before studying computer science and artificial intelligence at the University of Sussex in 1993. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree from there in 1996. He was part of the Irish team that participated in the 1993 International Olympiad in Informatics computer coding competition.
In 2003, O’Brien obtained certifications in Trading Strategies in the Global Markets and Advanced Winrunner 7.5 QA Automation. He further obtained certifications in Advanced Execution Services Algorithmic Trading Strategies in 2004 and in Trade Analytics for Plexus Best Execution Analysis in 2005.
Career
O’Brien claims to have founded his company, Scorpion Computer Services, Inc., at the age of 13 in 1987. It started as an IT tutoring service and later expanded into security and risk management. He has held various positions in different companies, including Software Engineer for ZERGO and ISOCOR, Internal Tools Developer for ORACLE, and Product Manager at UNISCAPE.
He joined Capital Group as a Technology Executive in 2002 and stayed there for seven years before joining the Board of Directors of American Environmental Energy, Inc. in 2009. He also founded Scorpion Studios in 2015, which provides technical advice and research on subjects like cyber security and hacking to Hollywood productions.
Television Show and Criticisms
O’Brien contacted entertainment executive Scooter Braun to make a television show to promote his software company, which resulted in the CBS drama series Scorpion in 2014. He served as executive producer for the series but faced criticisms for factual inaccuracies and exaggeration.
Philanthropy and Personal Life
O’Brien has been involved in various philanthropic initiatives and received the unite4:humanity’s “Humanitarian Lifetime Achievement Award” in 2017. He settled in Los Angeles, California, after being issued an EB-1 visa in 2001. He has also been recognized for his contribution to the Irish community in Los Angeles and his support for a suicide prevention program called Kilkenny Taxi Watch.
Trivia
O’Brien has mentioned that despite his high IQ, he has a low EQ and often blurts out things out of place. He agreed to a television show on his life because he enjoyed shows like MacGyver as a child and wanted to inspire others to choose “unpopular” science degrees.