IamSpotted: Adventures in Cybersecurity

Hello everyone! So you want to know a little bit more about me? Then you have come to the right place. Growing up I moved around a bit, but neither of my parents were in the military. I ended up going to 3 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools. It didn’t really bother me and I got to meet a lot of people in the process and I’m still in contact with some of those friends to this day.

After high school, I joined the military almost exactly a year after 9/11. I started out as a 68W (medic) and did that for 7 years. Then I reclassed to a 91B (Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic) and did that for 10 years. While I was a mechanic I got my H8 identifier and really had a lot of fun during the course. After that, I reclassed again, this time to be a 19D Cavalry Scout Instructor. So far I have 22 years and counting in the military with 12 years active and the rest in the Reserves.

Since moving to the reserves, I have moved back to what I consider home and went to school. I got my associates degree in design/drafting. While getting the degree, I earned the Certified Solidworks Associate certification. Once I graduated, I worked for a company that does cell tower site desing. I would draw blueprints, travel to do site audits and site surveys, and modify existing blueprints based on direction given by engineers and my project manager.

Then cybersecurity really got my attention. My brother-in-law told me about a program called the “Cybersecurity Workforce Certification Training” program (CWCT). If you are new to the field or looking to get in, I highly recommend it. They have a few different tracks and the one I chose was the system admin track. After completing the courses, I ended up with two certifications: CompTIA A+ and the EC-Council CEH. I also attempted the Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) exam but didn’t do well enough to pass unfortunately. After I completed that program, a friend from a Discord server told me about the SANS Vet Success Academy. I looked into it and decided to apply. I was a bit surprised that they accepted my application and really enjoyed the Academy. A few people I know told me SANS courses can be a bit like drinking from a firehose. They weren’t wrong! Through the academy, I earned my GSEC and GCIH certifications and narrowly missed getting the GWAPT certification.

Currently, I’m working on a help desk that is giving me a wide range of experience. Everything from basic AD management to troubleshooting printers (i know, everyone’s favorite!), to running cable, to doing some security work, and everything in between.