My Journey From the Air Force to Cybersecurity

COMMENTARY
Once I stepped foot onto Mountain Dwelling Air Pressure Base in 2003, I had no method of understanding how a lot my technical and management expertise would flourish over the course of my profession within the US Air Pressure — however I did know I had discovered a bunch of disciplined, mission-driven people who have been all working towards a standard purpose. And that was particular. 

When it got here time to transition out of the navy final yr, I used to be confronted with not solely leaving the department of service I had devoted my whole skilled life to but in addition having to seek out who I used to be and what profession path I needed to pursue for myself. That is no straightforward job if you’ve been entrenched in a team-oriented surroundings for years at a time — in my case, 20. I used to be afraid I would by no means discover that sense of group once more … till I discovered the cybersecurity discipline.  

The place It All Started

I attended group school for a few yr earlier than I enlisted within the Air Pressure and commenced working as an information upkeep technician. I ultimately built-in with the Air Pressure’s community group, the place I acquired my toes moist in IT. Over the following 10 years, I labored on small clandestine networks as much as enterprise-level, earlier than the navy shifted its focus to securing networks.  

The additional I ventured into securing domains, the stronger my ardour grew for that space. Throughout my time stationed at MacDill Air Pressure Base, I labored for the Joint Communications Assist Ingredient (JCSE), and one among my supervisors approached me concerning the Licensed Data Methods Safety Skilled (CISSP) certification from ISC2. He noticed that I had what it took to sit down for the examination, and I started the method. 

5 Letters and 600 Podcast Episodes Later

The CISSP certification was not solely a testomony to the arduous work that I had put in all through my profession, however it additionally served as a key to my development within the discipline. It modified my place within the recreation and my accessibility to alternatives. When having a dialog with these extra senior than me, I felt assured and extremely revered with the load of that CISSP by my title. 

I imagine to this present day that the CISSP is what led me to with the ability to safe my first job within the company world, and acted as a launching pad for my podcast, “The Different Aspect of the Firewall.” That podcast has grown my community monumentally, and having that validation by my title makes it straightforward to have conversations with everybody from entry-level professionals to CEOs of main firms. We’re now greater than 600 episodes into the podcast and counting. Nevertheless, the journey to get to the place I’m right this moment hasn’t all been rainbows and butterflies. 

The Highs and Lows

One of many simpler elements of constructing the military-to-corporate transition was the networking facet. Throughout my time within the navy, I had labored with phenomenal purchasers who supported me even after I swapped lace-up boots for a swimsuit. Even if I used to be on the lookout for a job at a traditionally unhealthy time for the tech business (the early 2023 layoff wave), my connections landed me a job at an information privateness and safety firm in Georgia.  

My boss at this firm was a US Marine veteran, who was capable of lead me via what ended up being the toughest a part of my change to company life: the lingo. I needed to study to elucidate how the technical expertise I gained within the navy translated to be relevant to the purchasers I used to be working for within the non-public sector. Having somebody to information me via that transition from the navy to the company world who knew break me out of my navy jargon consolation zone was life altering. 

Why Cyber?

I extremely encourage anybody transitioning out of the navy and on the lookout for a mission-driven line of labor to discover the cybersecurity discipline. With the speed that rising applied sciences and the risk panorama are evolving, the demand for cybersecurity professionals is at an all-time excessive. It is a mission-driven, significant line of labor that coincides together with your service branches’ objectives to guard, defend, and create a safer world.  

Discover entry-level certifications akin to those via ISC2, trainings and bootcamps that may aid you get a foot within the door, and do not hand over if the transition to the company world is not seamless. Cybersecurity is a discipline that gives continued alternatives to extend your expertise, study from these round you, and make adjustments which have a direct impression on securing our more and more digital world. As veterans transition into civilian life and look to seek out secure, fulfilling careers, I encourage them to offer cybersecurity a shot. It is the place I’ve discovered my tribe once more, and I am ceaselessly grateful for the individuals and applications that helped me alongside the best way.