About Paul

I am a member of Pilmoor Memorial UMC in Currituck North Carolina, where I am a Certified Lay Speaker, UMM Chaplain and a Sunday School teacher. I have spoken at state and national events on the subjects of cyberministry and cybersafety.  I am the author of Reflections on a Beach: A Spiritual Parable and Cybersafety for Families.

I joined the US Navy after high school where I trained as a Reactor Operator on nuclear submarines.  I was an ET1/SS when I received my discharge.  I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management from The New School For Social Research while I was in the Navy.  I received my Master’s degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from The George Washington University.  I received my Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Adult Education from North Carolina State University.  I earned my Certified Educational Chief Technology Officer certificate from the UNC School of Government.  I am currently employed by Currituck County Schools as the Chief Information Officer.

Email: paul @ obriant.net  You can also find me on Facebook.

I am available to present at workshops and conferences on topics of the Internet Landscape, Internet Safety, and CyberMinistry.

Selected Events

March 2012 – Speaker, Internet Safety and Cyberbullying presentation at Freedom Baptist Ministries in Elizabeth City NC

March 2012 – Speaker, Crossing Middle School Youth Retreat for the Dakotas Conference of the United Methodist Church.

February 2012 – Presenter, Children’s Ministry Forum, Nashville Tn.  Presented sessions on Online Resources for Ministry, Using the Internet Safely in Ministry, and Online Trends and Implications for Ministry

November 2011 – Presenter, Cyberbullying, Moyock Middle School

November 2011 – Presenter, WNCC Day Apart, Tending 21st Century Sheep

January 2011 – Presenter, Do No Harm – A United Methodist Sexual Ethics Summit

August 2010 – Co-presenter, PACT webinar on “Cybersafety for Families”
April 2010 – Presenter, Internet safety “Kitchen Table” discussion for Currituck County Schools
April 2010 – Presenter, Cyberministry, Moyock United Methodist Church
March 2010 – Presenter, Internet Safety, Brain Extravaganza, Currituck County Schools
February 2010 – Presenter, Internet Safety for Families at the national conference “Fill My Cup” of the UMC
April 09 – Presenter, cyber-Safe Sanctuaries, Edenton UMC, Edenton NC
January 09 – Presenter, Cybersafety and Cyberministry, First UMC in Graham NC
November 08 – Presenter, Cybersafety and Cyberministry, Edenton UMC, Edenton NC
October 08 – Presenter, Communications Safety, Year of the Child Conference, Currituck NC
October 08 – Presenter, CyberSafety in Ministry Event sponsored by the Alabama-West Florida Conference of the UMC, Montgomery Alabama
October 08 – Presenter, CyberSafety, St. James UMC, Raleigh NC
September 08 – Presenter, CyberMinistry, Wesley Memorial UMC, Wilmington NC
September 08 – Presenter, CyberMinistry, White Plains UMC, Cary NC
August 08 – Speaker, Men’s Retreat, Hertford NC
March 08 – Presenter, CyberSafety, Knoxville TN
October 07 – Presenter, CyberSafety, Nashville TN