Dr. Kim Young-McLear
I got into cyber… through my desire to create equitable futures. In our societies and world, there are so many opportunities where technology can help us live more just and meaningful lives. However, tech has vulnerabilities, may exasperate inequities, and can foster human over-dependency. Cyber is a great career that connects people and tech in […]
Jamil Evans
I got into cyber… when I took an assignment leading the modernization of the enterprise background investigation case management system that an Intelligence Community customer used as a part of its duties to vet individuals for US government clearances. As the lead software architect on the project, I met the challenge to bake defense-in-depth cybersecurity […]
Michael Daniel
I got into cyber… I fell into cybersecurity essentially by chance; I certainly wasn’t seeking to move into the field. In the mid-2000s, I served as the Intelligence Branch Chief at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), where I led the team overseeing the US Intelligence Community’s budget and spending. At the time, US […]
Dr. Diane M. Janosek
I got into cyber… by practicing privacy law and privacy policy, managing information security and network security programs, and then with the evolution of technology, cyber was a natural fit. My top tip to those interested in transitioning to a career in cybersecurity is… to read, listen to podcasts, participate in conferences, and then ask […]
Joyce Hunter
I got into cyber… I inherited cybersecurity when I was the Deputy CIO for Policy and Planning at the Department of Agriculture. Not only did I not have a background in agriculture (I was born and raised in West Philadelphia), but I had not worked directly with any cyber activities to that date in my […]
Kim Gajewski
I got into cyber… through auditing night courses at the National Intelligence University. I would tell my younger… that it is never too late to change careers, and to seize every chance to take on projects that intimidate you – those are the ones that result in the best experiences. The biggest influencers in my career… have […]
Kassandra Pierre
I got interested in cyber when… a family member’s bank account was hacked. I volunteered with the AARP Fraud Fighters program. After, I joined this group to help educate seniors on the dangers lurking on the web. I realized I had a keen interest in the industry and wanted to learn more. I was hooked […]
LaLisha Hurt
I got into cyber by… being in the right place at the right time with the right sponsorship. With a system engineering degree from the University of Virginia (Wahoowa!) and a governance, risk, and compliance background, I had no intentions of pursuing a cyber career path until one day I was asked to lead a […]
Edith Santos
I got into cyber… through my time as a law enforcement officer. As a Detective, I worked on many types of investigations, and criminals began to hide their evidence in computers, servers, and cell phones. This is where my curiosity for digital forensics began. I was then nominated by my local US Secret Service office […]
Michael Dent
I got into cyber… through my military career first working in the Presidential Escort Unit 3rd U. S. Infantry at Fort Myer which dovetailed into me switching my career from Infantry to Communications. My first CISO role came in the Department of Corrections for Virginia back in the 90’s. I have been the CISO here in […]