Forging a Practical Future in Cybersecurity

I work at the intersection of cybersecurity, AI risk, and education, with more than two decades of experience spanning military service, enterprise security engineering, leadership, and instruction. My work focuses on helping organizations and individuals navigate complex security challenges and build durable, real-world capability.

I began my career in the United States Air Force, where I developed a strong foundation across offensive and defensive cybersecurity disciplines, including security operations, threat intelligence, threat hunting, red teaming, penetration testing, and leadership at scale. That experience shaped how I approach security today, pragmatic and grounded in real threats rather than theory.

After leaving the military, I expanded into security engineering, consulting, virtual CISO services, cloud security, and higher education. I have led teams, advised executives, taught thousands of students, and worked across public and private sector environments, translating complex technical risk into actionable strategy.

As a queer and neurodivergent professional, I am a strong advocate for inclusive and accessible approaches to cybersecurity education and leadership. Diverse perspectives are not a nice-to-have; they are essential to understanding adversaries, reducing blind spots, and building resilient systems.

I am also known in the cybersecurity community as The Cyber Hammer, a persona that emerged from my public writing, teaching, and advocacy work. That identity reflects a direct, practical approach to security education and leadership, focused on cutting through noise and helping people build real competence.

In addition to my professional work, I create educational content and write about cybersecurity, AI risk, and career development. Through teaching, mentoring, and public writing, I have helped many people clarify learning paths, earn certifications, and move forward with confidence in their careers.

This site serves as a central point for understanding my work, including executive advisory services through Merritt Collective and training initiatives through MyByte.