Images provided by Steve Abell.
The day starts early, long before the first dive, and sometimes runs 16 hours long. Gear is packed, boats are loaded and plans are made, knowing that once they reach the site, there will be only about 45 minutes to search for what lies beneath the surface.
For Steve Abell, those moments underwater are where history comes to life.
By day, he is the Yum! Brands global IT security director of governance, risk and compliance. But outside of work, Abell is an underwater archaeologist, exploring shipwrecks and uncovering stories hidden for centuries.
“When I was a kid, I wanted to be an archaeologist just like Indiana Jones,” Abell said.
While that vision of adventure stayed with him, his path there was not always linear. He began college at the University of Louisville studying engineering before quickly realizing it was not the right fit. Thinking back to his childhood dream, he made a change, pursuing degrees in history and anthropology.
That decision led him to his first field archaeology experience, an excavation at a site known as Lewis Pottery in downtown Louisville, Kentucky. Today, the site sits beneath a nondescript parking lot, but it played a significant role in early American craftsmanship, producing some of the country’s first whiteware ceramics after the Revolutionary War.
“That excavation was the moment where I felt like I had found a calling,” Abell said, as the work shifted from the classroom into something tangible.
Still, he wanted to go deeper, literally.
What started on land sparked a new goal: to explore the underwater side of archaeology, where shipwrecks and submerged sites hold stories that have remained untouched for centuries.
After becoming scuba certified, Abell signed up for an underwater archaeology field school with the Anglo Danish Maritime Archaeology Team in the Dominican Republic. That first experience working on shipwreck sites marked a turning point.
“I had always wanted to do scuba diving and explore shipwrecks, because who doesn’t?” Abell said. “It’s the kind of stuff you see on TV and think, ‘I want to do that.’ I was totally hooked.”
More than artifacts
For Abell, the work is about more than what is found. “Archaeology is not just about the objects,” he said. “It is about the story those objects help tell.”
He describes the field as a form of forensic investigation, where context is everything. A single artifact means little on its own, but when combined with its surroundings, it can reveal insight into how people lived, what they valued and how history unfolded.
That mindset carries into his work in cybersecurity at Yum!. “Never assume,” he said. “You have to gather as much information as possible and understand the full picture.”
It is an approach that mirrors his work as an archaeologist and one that does not go unnoticed by his colleagues.
“Steve brings a level of discipline and critical thinking to his work and it’s clear that his passion for archaeology plays a role in that,” said Ethan Stieger, Yum!’s chief information security officer. “He’s constantly digging deeper, asking questions and looking for context, which is exactly what you want in cybersecurity. We’re proud to support him in pursuing something that fuels that mindset.”
For Abell, the value of archaeology is not financial; it’s personal.
“I want to be one of the people who can say I got to do what I wanted to do when I was a kid,” Abell said. “One of the reasons I work is to follow that passion.”
Supported to pursue his passions
His role at Yum! helps make that possible. He credits thoughtful planning and support from his team so he can participate in diving trips that require extensive planning and time in the field.
“You cannot just go for a few days and do archaeology,” Abell said. “These are expedition style trips that take months of planning and coordination, so having that support is huge.”
Beyond the logistics, he says the support shows up in more personal ways.
“One of the really cool things is how many people at Yum! have taken an interest in it,” he said. “It’s helped build connections and get to know people on a personal level.”
That connection is something others at Yum! have noticed as well.
“Steve’s passion for archaeology mirrors the way he approaches cybersecurity. Both require patience, curiosity and the ability to piece together details others might miss,” said Lanetta Williams, Yum! communications associate manager. “It’s fascinating to hear him talk about underwater archaeology, but it also makes perfect sense once you see how thoughtfully he approaches his work every day.”
Outside of diving, Abell channels that same curiosity into another hands-on pursuit: woodworking. A hobby he picked up during the COVID-19 pandemic, it allows him to build furniture, experiment with epoxy and create pieces he often gives away to others.
For Abell, whether he is uncovering history or creating something new, the goal is the same: to tell a story.
“I love making stuff,” Abell said. “When you’re on a computer all day, you need sunshine and fresh air. It’s a way to create something that actually lasts.”
Looking ahead, Abell has a growing list of places he hopes to explore, from a sunken temple in Guatemala to historic sites in Jamaica and Egypt. But no matter where he goes next, he is still chasing the same dream he had as a kid.
Only now, it’s real.
