A native of Los Angeles, Ian began his career in fencing in 1987, studying foil under the instruction of Olympic gold medalist Ion Drîmbă. Later, he studied saber, épée, SCA rapier fencing, and kenjutsu before joining the Academy of Arms.

In 2011, Ian became an Instructor at the Academy of Arms. In addition to teaching Novice classes and continuing his own studies, he has performed with the Academy of Arms foot combat demonstration team at the Tournament of the Phoenix.

Outside the AoA, Ian is a professional web developer, specializing in social networking and mobile applications. When not fencing, he plays tennis and ultimate frisbee and competes in obstacle course runs and urban scavenger hunts. He has been a frequent blood donor and works as a political action volunteer. He holds a B.A. in political science from UCLA.