zachtopley.org

Citizenship

United States of America USA
United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland GBR

Language

English · Native Fluency (L1) · write / read / speak ISO 639: ENG

Licenses & Certifications

Cybersecurity

2026-09-26 CompTIA Security+ Certification — valid thru 2029-09-26 · Verify via Credly. Exam SY0-701 · DoD 8140.03

United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

General Radiotelephone Operator License with Ship Radar Endorsement — Granted 2026-07 · Validity: Lifetime. 47 CFR § 13.7(b) & § 13.201 · Elements 1, 3, 8
Amateur Radio Service [47 CFR § 97] — Technician Class License · Callsign KO6DBK · Valid thru 2034 · Verify via FCC Universal Licensing System (ULS).
General Mobile Radio Service [47 CFR § 95.1701] — Callsign WRYW883 · Valid thru 2033 · Verify via FCC ULS.

2024-06-11 Certified Phlebotomy Technician I (CPT-I) CA BPC § 1246 · License #02413383: Issuing Authority: State of California Department of Public Health (CDPH) — Laboratory Field Services · Validity: 2026-06-10.
2023-02-23 Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider AHA eCard 235413951111: Issuer & Training Center: American Heart Association · UCLA Center for Prehospital Care · Issued: 2023-02-23.; Trained Competencies: Perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR); Use Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
2022-09-17 Notary Public — State of California CA Gov. Code § 8200 · Commission 2416361: Appointed by the Secretary of State of California.

2021-05-19 Driver License Class C: State of California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). California Vehicle Code § 12500 & § 12804.9
2026-05-29 California Boater Card: State of California. California Harbors & Navigation Code § 678.11
2025-02-05 Recreational Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Safety Test: United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Certificate. 49 U.S.C. § 44809(a)(7)

Aptitude

2020-10-03 Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) USMEPCOM Reg 611-1 · DA PAM 611-21

Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) Percentile: 98 (Category I) · General Technical (GT) Composite: 139

ASVAB Aptitude Area Composite Line Scores & Subtest Standard Scores

Aptitude Area Composite Line Scores · Mean: 100, SD: 20

GT · General Technical: 139
CL · Clerical: 133
ST · Skilled Technical: 132
SC · Surveillance & Communications: 130
EL · Electronics Repair: 129
CO · Combat Operational: 127
FA · Field Artillery: 127
GM · General Maintenance: 127
OF · Operators & Food: 127
MM · Mechanical Maintenance: 120

Subtest Standard Scores (T-Score Scale · Mean: 50, SD: 10)

WK · Word Knowledge: 74
VE · Verbal Expression: 71
GS · General Science: 70
AR · Arithmetic Reasoning: 65
AO · Assembling Objects: 64
PC · Paragraph Comprehension: 64
EI · Electronics Information: 61
MK · Mathematics Knowledge: 60
MC · Mechanical Comprehension: 57
AS · Auto & Shop Information: 51

Miscellaneous Courses

2024-03-19 University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) — National Weather Service SKYWARN® Spotter Training Courses 15 U.S.C. § 313
- Lesson 816 · SKYWARN® Spotter Convective Basics
- Lesson 817 · Role of the SKYWARN® Spotter
2023-05-04 Byrna Academy: Power to Arrest and Use of Force; Weapons of Mass Destruction & Terrorism Awareness; Chemical Agent Handling. California Penal Code § 22835 · CA BPC § 7583.6 & § 7583.7
2022-01-09 United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) — Office of Prescription Drug Promotion: Bad Ad Program Webinar Certificate. 21 CFR § 202.1
2021-11-07 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency Management Institute (EMI) Courses HSPD-5
- IS-100.C: Introduction to Incident Command System (ICS-100)
- IS-700.B: An Introduction to the National Incident Management System
2013-10-05 CollegeBoard SAT Score: 1970 / 2400

Public Policy & Statewide Ballot Initiative Campaigns

2019-08–2021-08 Outreach Director — Decriminalize California CA Const. Art. II § 8

Endorsements, Partnerships & Campaign Activities

Secured the public endorsement of Mind Medicine Australia (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia). AU ABN: 62630150873
Brokered a partnership with The Beckley Foundation (Oxford, United Kingdom). UK OSCR: SC033546
International travel to meetings with Beckley Foundation Executive Director Amanda Feilding and Robin Carhart-Harris at Imperial College, London, United Kingdom; represented the initiative at public events. ORCID: 0000-0002-6062-7150
Producer (interview, camera, sound, editing): Beckley Foundation Executive Director Amanda Feilding Announces Partnership w/ Decriminalize California (YouTube).
Author: Frequently Asked Questions (California Psilocybin Initiative 2020) document for volunteers and voters.

Press & Media Publicity (Quoted / Mentioned by Name)

2019-11-19 Decriminalize California, Beckley Foundation Partner In Effort To Legalize Magic Mushrooms In The Golden State — Javier Hasse, Yahoo Finance.
2019-11-22 California Bid to Decriminalize Psilocybin Mushrooms in 2020 Gets a Boost — Alexander Lekhtman, Filter Magazine.

COVID-19 Signature Gathering Suspension & Coalition Strategy (2020-03)

2020-03-18 Author & Strategy Coordinator: Correspondence to Governor Gavin Newsom, jointly signed by a coalition of proponents of statewide ballot initiatives:
- Cannabis Hemp Heritage Act (19-0011)
- California Initiative, Referendum and Recall Reform Act (19-0009)
- Jury Trials in Child-Custody and Dependent-Child Determinations Initiative Statute (19-0033)
2020-03-19 Governor Gavin Newsom issues Executive Order N-33-20, which, despite being unconstitutional (see 2011 authority), nonetheless effectively ended all in-person signature collection efforts statewide.
2020-03-23 Coronavirus halts California ballot measure signature-gathering in its tracks — John Wildermuth, San Francisco Chronicle.

Drafted Ballot Initiatives & Instruments

California Psilocybin Mushroom Decriminalization Initiative (2020 General Election) Petition 19-0027 · SoS AP19:092: Roles: Co-Author, Proofreader, Copywriter, and Designer of Circulated Petition.; Instruments (ISO 32000 PDF): Initiative Text · Title and Summary · Fiscal Impact Estimate Report · Secretary of State Press Release AP19:092.; Circulated Petition Specification: Designed and formatted in accordance with California Elections Code regulations and ASME Y14.1 2020 ANSI-B standard; mastered in Adobe InDesign.; Note: No involvement with earlier draft submitted and received as Initiative Petition 19-0016.
California Psilocybin Legalization Initiative (2021 / 2022 Ballot) Petition 21-0005 · SoS SW21:050: Roles: Co-Author of Initiative Text & Designer of Circulated Petition.; Instruments (ISO 32000 PDF): Initiative Text · Title and Summary · Fiscal Impact Estimate Report · 2021-09-16 Secretary of State Press Release SW21:050.; Circulated Petition Specification: ASME Y14.1 2020 ANSI-B standard; mastered in Adobe InDesign.

Writing

Consultations, Regulatory Proposals & Articles

2019-07-23 Separating Nutrition Facts from Nutrition Fiction Published in Chatbots Life

Bringing together official nutrition and public health recommendations as a voice app and chatbot.
2019-07-16 Improving the Safety of Cannabis Products in the United States Submitted to Docket FDA-2019-N-1482

FDA-2019-N-1482-4158 - Response to the United States Food and Drug Administration Notice on Scientific Data and Information About Products Containing Cannabis or Cannabis-Derived Compounds.
2019-05-03 The Industry Line: The Missing Link in the Los Angeles Metro Rail System Submitted to LACMTA OEI

UP-2019-51 - Unsolicited Proposal to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority for a North-South Light Rail or Bus Rapid Transit Line Connecting the San Gabriel Valley and Gateway Cities.
2019-01-28 Proposing a Regulatory Framework for Non-Dairy Alternatives Submitted to Docket FDA-2018-N-3522

FDA-2018-N-3522-11876 - Response to the US Food and Drug Administration Notice on the Use of the Names of Dairy Foods in the Labeling of Plant-Based Products.
2018-11-21 Prohibiting the Sale of Energy Drinks to Children: Proposing Alternative & Complementary Measures Submitted to DHSC

ANON-D87Q-QYTM-F - Response to the UK Department of Health and Social Care consultation on the Proposal to End the Sale of Energy Drinks to Children.

Education

2014-09–2018-06-15 University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) IPEDS: `110662` · OPE: `00131500`

College of Letters and Sciences · Los Angeles, California, United States

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science with a Concentration in International Relations · Verify via National Student Clearinghouse. ISCED Level 645

UCLA Courses of Study

Lower-Division Courses

Anthropology: 7: Human Evolution — Manson, J.H.; 98T: Literacy, Technology, and Globalization — Flamenbaum, R.N. & Ochs, E.
Classics: 10: Discovering Greeks — Morris, S.P.
Comparative Literature: 19 [Fiat Lux]: Women Warriors: Amazons and Others — King, K.C.
Design / Media Arts: 8: Media Histories — Lunenfeld, P.B., Darke, A., Parsons, K.A., Prabhakar, S., Rickett, A.J., Schwarz, D.B., & Triantafyllidis, T.; 10: Design Culture — Huhtamo, E.I., Lin, H.Y., Doyle, M.J., Ertel, D.A., Jung, A.H., Tusman, L., & O'Hara, D.
Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences: 3: Astrobiology — Margot, J. & Treude, T.I.; 15: Blue Planet: Introduction to Oceanography — Jewitt, D.C.
Ethnomusicology: 50A: Jazz in American Culture: Late 19th Century through 1940s — Harrison, C.A.
General Education Cluster: 60A · 60B · 60CW: America in the Sixties: Politics, Society, and Culture, 1954 to 1974 — Decker, J.L., Fink, R.W., Vavreck, L., Aberbach, J.D. (60A–B), & Derrico, M.A. (60CW)
History: 19 [Fiat Lux]: Political Documentaries and American Society — Lal, V.; 19 [Fiat Lux]: Honor and Shame in Clash of World Cultures and Religions — Bartchy, S.S.
Latin: 1 · 2 · 3: Elementary Latin — Haynes, J.A. (1–3), Lundquist, J. (1), Fraleigh, D.M. (2–3), & Parker, D.C. (2–3)
Life Sciences: 15: Life: Concepts and Issues — Phelan, J.P.
Philosophy: 8: Introduction to Philosophy of Science — Smith, S.R.
Psychology: 15: Introductory Psychobiology — Krasne, F., Wong, J., & Rapp, A.M.
Scandinavian: 40: Heroic Journey in Northern Myth, Legend, and Epic — Ball, K.A.
Sociology: 19 [Fiat Lux]: Sociology of Gourmet Food Trucks — Walker, E.T.

Upper-Division Courses & Pre-Requisites

Political Science — Lower Division: 6: Introduction to Data Analysis — Hartman, E.K.; 10: Introduction to Political Theory — Walker, B.D.; 20: World Politics — Wilkinson, D.O.; 40: Introduction to American Politics — Tausanovitch, C.N.; 50: Introduction to Comparative Politics — Thies, M.F.
Political Science — Upper Division: 111B: Early Modern Political Theory — Barringer, E.B.; 114A: American Political Thought I, 1620 to 1865 — Bilakovics, S.P.; 118: Laws of War and Peace from Conquest of America to Declaration of Human Rights (1948) — Pagden, A.R. & Eason, M.H.; 124A: International Political Economy — Rogowski, R.L.; 124C: Politics of Latin American Economic Development — Kellogg, C. (A.R.) & Ross, M.L.; 132A · M132B: International Relations of Middle East — Spiegel, S.L.; 138B: International Politics, 1914 to the Present — Berenji, S.; 139: Special Studies in International Relations — Kellogg, C. (A.R.); 141A: Electoral Politics: Political Psychology — Sears, D.O. & Goldstein, L.M.; 142A: Political Parties and Interest Groups: Political Parties — Zaller, J.R.; 149: Special Topics in American Government and Politics: California Politics — Grindlife, S.; 150: Political Violence — Tong, J.; 154A: Government and Politics in Latin America: States of Middle America — Acevedo, J.; 156A: Government and Politics of Post-Communist States: Russia — Treisman, D.S.

Memberships & Organizations

2014–2015 Delta Lambda Phi (ΔΛΦ · DLP) National Social Fraternity — Brother, Alumnus (Chapter: Γ Gamma · Pledge Class: τ Tau-Camera). US IRC EIN: 52-1559804
2014 Bruin Libertarians — Represented the Libertarian Party in a public team debate against Bruin Democrats and Bruin Republicans.

2014 Wellington College URN: `110125` · DfE: `867/6001`

Crowthorne, Berkshire, United Kingdom

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) ISCED Levels 244 / 344

Subjects

Higher Level: English 112733
Williamson, E.J.; World Politics 100615
Finn, M.T.; Economics 100164
Mogford, A.P.

Standard Level: French 100214
Price, J.L.; Mathematical Studies 100385
Sproat, A.J.F.; Environmental Systems & Societies 100673
Kinniburgh, J.C.

Core: Creativity, Action, Service (CAS)
Extracurricular Requirement; Extended Essay
Murphy, R.A.B.; Theory of Knowledge
Williams, G.J.

Extra-Curricular

Wellington Television (WTV): Co-Founder & Executive Producer
- Entirely student led and impressively slick — Good Schools Guide
- The innovative use of new media, as demonstrated by WTV, enriches parental communication, providing a detailed insight into the life of the pupils at the school — Independent Schools Inspectorate
Beresford House: Deputy Head Prefect
Class of 2014 Yearbook: Co-Editor
Noble Rot Wine Society: Member

Projects, Freelance Experience & Media Production

2020–2022 Foxwood Clinic Limited — Public Relations. Companies House 06798867 · PGA 2006 § 1066
2020 London Business School — Grading Assistant (Seasonal), Private Equity Course.

Independent Media & Video Production (YouTube @zachtopley, active since 2008)

2026-05-02 Matthew Steeples Interview with Geoffrey Wansell
2026-03-29 Finding Ghislaine: Matthew Steeples tours Ghislaine Maxwell's London (Walking Tour)
2015 Vos Beauty Salon Limited — Promotional Film Companies House 08747669
2014-08 National Health Service (NHS) — Future Focused Finance Initiative Promotional Film

Published Articles & Broadcast Media

2013-12-10 A Thunderclap for Jimmy Higham — Zach Topley, The Steeple Times.
2012-12-01 Teacher tops charts with posthumous single — Zach Topley, The Steeple Times.

Travels

Geographic Extremes Envelope (World Geodetic System 1984 [WGS84])

y-axis (Latitude): Northernmost Latitude: 56.34° N (GB-SCT, St Andrews); Southernmost Latitude: 33.93° S (AU-NSW, Sydney)
x-axis (Longitude): Easternmost Longitude: 151.19° E (AU-NSW, Sydney); Westernmost Longitude: 122.71° W (US-OR, Portland)
z-axis (Elevation / Depth): Highest Altitude: 2,778 m above sea level (34.19° N, 116.71° W); Lowest Depth: 115 m below sea level (-115 m) (51.01° N, 1.00° E)

Reading Record

Disclaimer: Inclusion does not necessarily constitute a personal endorsement or recommendation of any of the following publications.

Publications (ISBN-13 · Title · Author)

9780241351635 · 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos · Jordan B. Peterson
9781398719248 · Alan Partridge: Big Beacon · Alan Partridge
9781409156703 · Alan Partridge: Nomad · Alan Partridge
9781905736270 · Albion Dreaming: A Popular History Of LSD In Britain · Andy Roberts
9780192804778 · Anarchism: A Very Short Introduction · Colin Ward
9780451526342 · Animal Farm · George Orwell
9780452281257 · Anthem · Ayn Rand
9780199586455 · Astrobiology: A Very Short Introduction · David C. Catling
9798309511723 · Becoming Brigitte · Xavier Poussard
9780241256992 · Blitzed: Drugs in Nazi Germany · Norman Ohler
9780440228653 · Chinese Cinderella: The True Story of an Unwanted Daughter · Adeline Yen Mah
9781529394726 · Drink?: The New Science of Alcohol and Your Health · David J. Nutt
9781906860165 · Drugs Without the Hot Air: Minimizing the Harms of Legal and Illegal Drugs · David J. Nutt
9780008775452 · Entitled · Andrew Lownie
9780330519540 · Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West · Blaine Harden
9780465096855 · Europe's Last Chance: Why the European States Must Form a More Perfect Union · Guy Verhofstadt
9798643343707 · Extreme Privacy: What It Takes to Disappear · Michael Bazzell
9780553371307 · Food of the Gods: The Search for the Original Tree of Knowledge · Terence McKenna
9781839164507 · Forensic Chemistry of Substance Misuse: A Guide to Drug Control · Leslie A. King
9780061234002 · Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything · Steven D. Levitt
9780955642869 · How to Regulate Stimulants: A Practical Guide · Steve Rolles
9780571295029 · I Can Make You Hate · Charlie Brooker
9780007449170 · I, Partridge: We Need to Talk About Alan · Alan Partridge
9780330351690 · Into the Wild · Jon Krakauer
9781592406524 · Just My Type · Simon Garfield
9781903436592 · King Lear · William Shakespeare
9780140283334 · Lord of the Flies · William Golding
9781616951450 · Moab Is My Washpot · Stephen Fry
9780140009729 · Nineteen Eighty-Four · George Orwell
9780124158160 · Novel Psychoactive Substances: Classification, Pharmacology and Toxicology · Paul Dargan
9780142437179 · The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn · Mark Twain
9780062506139 · The Archaic Revival · Terence McKenna
9781603582865 · The Art of Fermentation: An in-Depth Exploration of Essential Concepts and Processes from Around the World · Sandor Ellix Katz
9780812967128 · The Day of the Triffids · John Wyndham
9780099458203 · The Doors of Perception & Heaven and Hell · Aldous Huxley
9780718154837 · The Fry Chronicles · Stephen Fry
9780954977504 · The Government and Law of Guernsey · Darryl Ogier
9780743273565 · The Great Gatsby · F. Scott Fitzgerald
9780571229574 · The Hell of It All · Charlie Brooker
9780062506351 · The Invisible Landscape: Mind, Hallucinogens & the I Ching · Terence McKenna
9780142000694 · The Pearl · John Steinbeck
9781594485756 · The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry · Jon Ronson
9780226320618 · The Road to Serfdom · Friedrich A. Hayek
9780262015479 · The Secret War Between Downloading and Uploading: Tales of the Computer as Culture Machine · Peter Lunenfeld
9780060935467 · To Kill a Mockingbird · Harper Lee
9786079699628 · Ubiquitous Trash - Hong Kong Edition · Ilana Boltvinik & Rodrigo Viñas

Origin: London, United Kingdom (1995)
OpenPGP Key Fingerprint (/pubkey.asc · CLI Verification): 05A2 0E82 69B4 90B3 8AE2 863A 6C1E 2DF3 95B2 A59F
Apple iMessage Contact Key Verification (CKV): APKTIDrntbechJIqdC1BZryNaSD19Qak7o1OFdzac2RGPWJ6dU3g
Monero (XMR) Address: 44LontNweWgFXwVCWpMi6jGZWSzETk3ETPFm4ktpo59F8Ko44oVo7P548UuPsk3uxcUzf1smZy9pTQHzD7PXQAq8T7tKH9d