See It To Be It Spotlight

I got into cyber…by embracing stretch assignments and leveraging upskilling opportunities. My academic foundation includes a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering and a Master’s in Systems Engineering, with a focus on technology management.

My cyber journey began in Enterprise IT Management at a large civilian federal agency, where I led digital transformation initiatives; introducing novel tools, optimizing implementations, and driving secure technology adoption. Seeking to expand my team’s impact, I proactively engaged in Information Assurance projects, allowing me to develop deeper cybersecurity expertise.

To further strengthen my technical foundation, I pursued industry-recognized certifications, including CompTIA Security+ and CISSP, through my company’s upskilling program. Over time, I realized that my background in engineering, digital modernization, and cybersecurity was the ideal combination for designing and implementing defensible security architectures.

For me, a positive cyber mindset is…A positive cyber mindset isn’t just about technical skills. It’s also about mentality, strategy, and purpose. Cyber defenders must think like SUPERHEROS, combining innovation, resilience, and teamwork to protect the mission. They must remain vigilant, anticipate attacks, analyze enemy tactics, and outmaneuver threats. A mindset that is essential for cyber threat intelligence and proactive defense to safeguard our national security.

Like superheroes, cyber professionals understand that we have to get it right 100% of the time, while adversaries only need to succeed once. This relentless commitment to defense is what sets apart the strongest cyber warriors. “With great power comes great responsibility”, our mission is to protect, defend, and stay ahead.

The life experience that helped me transition to a career in cyber is…the times I took rotational assignments and the hard stretch assignments helped me transition to a career in cyber by providing unique opportunities to expand my skills, build cross-functional expertise, develop leadership capabilities, and grow my cyber professional network.  I want to emphasize that your network is very important in cybersecurity. Collaboration across organizations, with customers, and global vendor partners is crucial to defending against cyber threats.

My top tip to those interested in transitioning to a career in cybersecurity is…Join  us — we need you! The cybersecurity industry faces a critical shortage of talent, with more than 3 million open positions worldwide.

To thrive in this field, you must be curious, adaptable, and eager to learn as fast as new technologies emerge. Focus on developing foundational knowledge and cybersecurity concepts. I leveraged industry certifications to build that knowledge.

Seek opportunities that leverage both your technical and power skills to advance cyber capabilities. Cybersecurity doesn’t exist in isolation — the lines between Cyber, AI/ML, Software, Business, and Policy are increasingly blurred. When transitioning into cyber, find ways to apply your unique expertise and diverse background to strengthen cyber defenses.

The quote I live by is…I have two quotes.

• “Do the Work.” – By proactively doing the work you will be prepared for the failures and the successes.
• “The Details Matter.”-  Consistently paying attention to the small details will increase your ability to accomplish big things.

Something few people know about me is…I enjoy gardening, specifically reviving distressed plants. I find satisfaction in nurturing struggling plants back to health, often buying them on clearance or at discount and restoring them to the point where they can thrive and reproduce.

What I most want to be remembered for is…being inspiring, empowering, and opening doors for the next generation of innovators, ensuring they have the opportunities and support to be excellent. I am deeply committed to building a legacy of service and leadership for future generations. Each year, I actively participate in STEM initiatives, mentoring and encouraging students — especially those at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) — to pursue successful careers and leadership roles in their communities.