Veterans Already Learned the Most Challenging Cyber Skills

Veterans are often seen as having a natural segue into physical security. While not entirely untrue, this doesn't mean veterans are limited to this area in the industry. Many veterans say their experiences in the armed forces directly translate to essential cybersecurity skills, which could make them excellent cybersecurity hires.  

Below, veterans share their perspectives on how their military careers shaped them into skilled cybersecurity professionals. 

Why Veterans Are Ideal for Cybersecurity

Chris Hughes, VP of Security Strategy at Noma Security: 

I moved from system administration, networking and help desk into cybersecurity during four years in the U.S. Air Force as an IT communications specialist, a role closely tied to cybersecurity. From there I supported federal agencies and defense contractors, co-founded a veteran-owned digital services firm and served as a CISA Cyber Innovation Fellow. Today I focus on securing AI and agentic AI at Noma Security. Cybersecurity was a natural continuation of the mission I served in uniform. Veterans already understand adversaries, operating under pressure, working within a chain of command and thinking about risk in terms of mission impact, and those instincts are exactly what security teams need.

My advice is to translate the skills you built in the service into the language employers use, because incident response, operations planning and managing classified systems map directly to security roles even when the titles differ. Take advantage of the GI Bill and programs like DoD SkillBridge while they’re available to you, pair them with home labs, capture-the-flag events and certifications, and find veterans who have already made the jump, since the community is generous with mentorship and introductions. Look closely at AI security and agentic AI security, because it’s the next wave, and become early adopters and everyday users of the technology so you understand how it works. That is how we help make our society more resilient as it depends more and more on digital systems.

Heath Renfrow, Co-founder and CISO at Fenix24:

I served nine years in the United States Navy as an Operations Specialist, where I developed a foundation in operational awareness, threat assessment, mission readiness, and decision-making under pressure. In the Navy, you learn very quickly that the mission does not stop because conditions become difficult. You have to assess the situation, adapt, and execute. After nearly 28 years in cybersecurity, including serving as senior security leadership roles, and now as Co-Founder and CISO of Fenix24, I can say that my military service shaped how I approach this field more than any certification or technical training ever could.

The skills transfer directly. During a major ransomware attack, an organization may lose access to critical systems, communications become fragmented, and leadership comes under enormous pressure. That environment closely resembles the operational challenges military personnel train to manage. Veterans have already learned how to maintain composure, establish priorities, and lead when things go wrong. The same mindset underpins our philosophy at Fenix24: resilience matters more than the illusion of perfect protection. In the military, you never assume the enemy will not get through your defenses. You prepare for the possibility that they will, and you build the capabilities to continue the mission. To every transitioning service member, I offer a simple message: you do not have to leave your sense of mission behind. Cybersecurity gives you an opportunity to carry it forward.

Joshua Miller, Director of Threat Intelligence at BeyondTrust:

I began my career as a Marine Intelligence Specialist, where I learned to look beyond an attack and understand the adversary behind it: their motivations, capabilities, tradecraft, behaviors, and what they were likely to do next. I bring that same mindset to cybersecurity today, because defending an organization requires more than understanding technology; it requires understanding how adversaries use that technology to achieve their objectives. Whether we are confronting nation-state operators, cybercriminals, or AI-enabled threats, the lesson remains the same: understanding intent and behavior helps us anticipate what comes next and gives defenders an opportunity to act before an adversary succeeds

Veterans entering cybersecurity often already have skills that are difficult to teach: critical thinking, operating with incomplete information, recognizing patterns, understanding an adversary, and making decisions under pressure. My advice is to build the technical skills, but don't underestimate the value of the experience you already bring. Cybersecurity is ultimately about understanding risk, making decisions, and staying ahead of an adversary.