There’s likely a place in paradise for people who tried hard, but what really matters is succeeding. If that requires you to change, that’s your mission”. This is a favorite quote of mine from the esteemed GEN (ret) Stanley McChrystal in his smashingly popular “Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for A Complex World” book. It's also a key mantra that cyber leaders should adopt, as the theory is embedded in the fight to defend networks. 

Succeeding in cybersecurity is perilous due to threats' rapidly evolving nature and adversaries' persistence. They take advantage of our human-ness. The increasing number of connected devices, remote work, and cloud adoption further exacerbate the problem, creating new avenues for attack- all of it changing daily. 

Where can we find the workforce comprised of people who live the “Adapt or Die” mentality? Organizations struggle to organically create the network defense apparatus needed to protect their business and need a surefire way to answer the threat. 

Who can operate in this chaos? Who can predict adversary maneuvers and intent? Who has real-world experience overcoming decentralized, agile threats in a complex environment where planning did not survive the first contact? 

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– Enter the military veteran. 

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The burden of network security and creating a force that can tackle the challenge is being met with courageous military veterans who are the leaders, builders, analysts, and defenders in digital battlefields. And I am going to help a few of them tell their stories. 

On April 30th at RSAC 2025, I’m honored to facilitate a powerful panel and reception hosted by Beyond Identity, highlighting the unique and essential value military veterans bring to the cybersecurity community. This isn’t just a networking event—it’s a celebration of service, leadership, and the cyber missions we continue fighting long after we hang up the uniform.

Why Veterans and Cybersecurity Go Hand-in-Hand 

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Veterans are wired for cybersecurity. We’ve operated in high-pressure, high-stakes environments where the mission can’t fail and the threat is always evolving. That experience makes us adaptable, disciplined, and unshakably focused on defense. 

We have experience and special know-how in dealing with risk mitigation, organizational complexity, and the demand to act decisively. In modern times, many veterans in cybersecurity have balanced those situations in life-threatening combat environments. 

It goes without saying that veterans bring technical and tactical warfighting knowledge to our cybersecurity industry, along with a deep sense of connectedness to the “Mission.” After leaving uniformed service, a continuation into cybersecurity often represents the ongoing commitment to selfless service, loyalty, and duty that make an extraordinary difference for any team. 

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A Panel of Purpose-Driven Leaders 

That’s why I’m thrilled to lead this conversation with decorated veterans who have been highly adaptable and continue to shape the future of cybersecurity in the private sector:

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Sarah Cleveland — A retired Air Force Colonel with 26 years of service, Sarah brings unmatched experience in cyber operations, including combat zones across the Middle East. She now serves as the Senior Director of Federal Strategy at ExtraHop, applying her strategic leadership to defend government networks at scale.

‍Matt Harless — With 30+ years in national security and cybersecurity, Matt’s journey began as a U.S. Army Intelligence Officer with nine years at the NSA. He’s since led cyber programs at major enterprises like Carrier and Simpson Strong-Tie, translating military precision into corporate resilience. 

Chad Raduege — A retired Air Force General and now CEO of The Raduege Group, Chad’s career includes service in nine commands, including the White House Communications Agency. He served as CIO for U.S. European Command and continues influencing the future of cyber policy and strategy across multiple organizations. 

Sean Singleton – Serves as managing principal of Oglethorpe Capital LLC, U.S. Venture Partner for Beaten Zone Ventures (AUS), and an independent director of WaFd Bank (NASDAQ: WAFD). An Air Force Academy Graduate, Sean assisted with the creation of the Defense Cyber Crime Center (DC3).

Each of these leaders represents the highest ideals of military and cybersecurity service. Their stories prove how veterans bring not just experience—but a lifelong commitment to defending what matters. 

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Why This Event Matters 

This event is more than a panel. It’s a Rally Point for veterans, allies, and advocates across the cybersecurity industry. It’s a chance to reflect on the values that unite us: selfless service, integrity, and a mission-first mindset. Too often, veterans struggle to transition from military to civilian careers—especially in technical fields. But cybersecurity is tailor-made for us. The gap isn’t ability; it’s opportunity. Events like this help close the opportunity gap by showing the incredible impact veterans are making in cybersecurity.

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My Personal Mission 

In a humble effort to live the framework provided by GEN McChrystal in “Team of Teams,” I want to dedicate time and energy to building robust and adaptable teams. To me, that starts with building and strengthening the most foundational blocks of the team- its people.

Having made the military to commercial journey myself, I know it can be daunting, and there’s no perfect playbook for falling in on a new career. Everything from resume writing to negotiating compensation to leading performance reviews seems peculiar. I’m passionate about creating spaces like this event—where veterans can see what’s possible and organizations can recognize the people's potential contributions in the same room. 

In particular, this event calls new joiners to cyber and seasoned leaders to exchange stories, ideas, and future opportunities to protect our networks. It's low-threat, inspired by service, and a great spot to take an RSA-break with an open community. 

If you served in our defense forces, this is a perfect event for you to meet others who wore the cloth and have made extraordinary contributions to the security community in unique ways. If you want to grow into the next or a new phase of your cybersecurity journey- this just might be an event that can help get you there."

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