See It To Be It Spotlight

How did you get into cyber…I stumbled into cyber partway through my Coast Guard career. Although my degrees are in Electrical Engineering, and I spent much of my career on ships, I moved through a few jobs in IT to a position where I was responsible for the Coast Guard’s IT infrastructure. The cybersecurity challenges I faced in that role inspired me to apply for my next job, which was Deputy Commander of Coast Guard Cyber Command.

I would tell my younger self…spend more time trying different things. Life is too short to miss experiencing something that could turn out to be your passion.

The quote I live by is…”In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.” – Theodore Roosevelt

My recommended read is…anything by Neal Stephenson, but Cryptonomicon is a good start if you are interested in the history of cryptography. Snow Crash is a shorter read that is full-on cyberpunk.

What I thought I wanted to be when I grew up was…Forest Ranger, Helicopter Pilot, Navy SEAL…I clearly missed all of those but still ended up doing work that I thoroughly enjoy!

A favorite place of mine is…anywhere with mountains, rocks, and trees. A river or creek nearby is a bonus! If there aren’t any trails nearby, then it’s even better. I love beautiful places that most people don’t know about because they’re hard to get to.

Something few people know about me is…I’m happiest when there isn’t a tech gadget in sight. I enjoy orienteering and adventure racing – anything that includes navigating with a paper map and magnetic compass!

What I most want to be remembered for is…adding value in whatever work I do.