Rob Fannon on LinkedIn: #veterans #bofa #bankofamerica #veterans #usnavy #ntt #cybersecurity | 83 comments (2024)

There has been a lot of talk about AI in the last year, but I’m curious…what specific types of security-related tasks or functions are you or your company trying to automate now or within the next 12 months by employing AI tools or technologies?And…how has or how do you anticipate this will allow your workforce to adapt, evolve, and/or be more effective?#AI #cyber #cybersecurity #informationsecurity

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Not too long ago I had the opportunity and privilege to visit the American Military Cemetery in Luxembourg. This was an impactful day for me as I walked up and down the aisles of cross-shaped tombstones, reading the names, ages, and hometowns of so many who gave everything. Many of these brave men survived D-Day and many other battles after to then finally fall near here in the Ardennes Offensive, what has become known as the Battle of the Bulge. This was the final major German offensive on the western front, and the largest and bloodiest battle for the US during WWII. This particular cemetery has significant meaning for me because my grandfather was in this battle and most of his unit was killed in action. I remember as I was growing up how he would tell me some of the stories of these men, but he never told me about the battle itself. It was too painful for him. Many of his fellow soldiers are laid to rest here, forever “on patrol” on foreign soil.

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This article talks about the decline in jobs requiring computer science as a college degree, due in no small part to advances in technologies like AI. I think the article is on target with some arguments, but also way off target with others. Here’s why…First, Computer Science (as a discipline) is about solving problems with computing technologies. Most people that I talk to outside of the computer science disciplines (and even some inside) seem to think that computer science is all about coding, and that is absolutely wrong - it misses the purpose of computer science completely. It’s like saying that automotive engineering is about socket wrenches and screw drivers. There are certifications for diagnosing and fixing cars, and you want your mechanic to have those certifications, but they don’t need a degree in mechanical, electrical, or materials engineering to be able to do that. Why would you need someone to have a Computer Science degree so you can write scripts or automation? Employers, YOU DON’T!Second, there probably ARE too many computer science majors graduating today, because there are too many computer science graduates doing non-computer science work. There are also universities that are offering computer science majors that are really just coding schools (all computer science degrees are not equal). Not all schools teach their students about the problem spaces within computer science, their relative difficulty and complexity, how to tell the difference, or how one might go about solving problems within them. What does it mean to have a P, NP, NP-Complete, or NP-Hard problem to solve? AI is the hot topic right now, but where does it fall, and what problems can it help solve? I know that is getting a little bit abstract, but that is the “science” of it. It’s the difference between a car mechanic and a car engineer, we need both, but only one is going to design and build your car while the other is going to fix and maintain your car. Prospective computer science students - choose your school carefully if you want to invest your time and money into a worthwhile computer science program. If you just want to code, you are probably better off picking a different educational path that will more effectively and efficiently give you those skills.Third, there are still HUGE opportunities in computer science. If you look at AI as a new tool in the toolbox instead of a replacement (and displacement) for legitimate computer science work, then this is a really exciting time. There are many new and interesting problems to solve. For starters, with respect to AI and from a true computer science standpoint, how do we know if what it is telling us is true and accurate?Let’s face it - AI is really cool! Like anything, it can be used for both great good and great evil.Thoughts?#computerscience #compsci #compsciopportunities

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I’m happy to share that I’ve obtained a new certification: Defensible Security Architecture and Engineering - Implementing Zero Trust from GIAC Certifications!

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So I have now switched on my green #OpenToWork banner. As members of my professional network, I want to let you all know that I am currently seeking new career opportunities in the Charlotte Metro Area or remote. If you have any leads, connections, or advice that you would be willing to share, please don't hesitate to reach out to me via LinkedIn or email.Thank you in advance friends and colleagues for your support!

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I’ve seen this article posted by several people so I know it is making the rounds…as it should. This article highlights a critical gap in our field. Resumes don’t convey any of these soft skills, yet a resume includes 90% of the information used to hire someone. I have observed for some time (6+ years since transitioning from the military) how flawed the nearly universally hom*ogeneous hiring process is (centered around the resume) with respect to assessing soft skills. “The top soft skills identified as crucial for security professionals include communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, and attention to detail.”The resume is fundamentally inadequate in conveying any of these soft skills, yet these skills are so critical to the success in the field, as this article correctly points out. We need something better than just resumes. Those that make it to an interview can begin to convey some of these soft skills, as well as those that network successfully, but those are a small subset of the candidates who otherwise have all of these soft skills and are excellent leaders. And how effectively can soft skills be measured in a one-hour interview answering pre-selected questions or in a 20-minute networking call? The answer is…not very effectively.Of note, veterans possess these soft skills in ample quantities (communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, and attention to detail) and most senior veterans possess very high emotional intelligence and empathy. These skills are deliberately and systematically grown and matured in them from day one, something that doesn’t happen except in rare instances in the private sector.

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This is what veterans bring to the table…your table. If you’re not a veteran, you want them at your table. If you are a veteran, then you don’t need to be reminded. Seek out veterans to round out and balance your corporate teams - you will never be sorry you did.In addition to all of the leadership traits that Misty talks about, veterans understand risk management, they live it every second of every day - they are experts at it. If you are afraid they won’t understand how to manage corporate risk, spend some time teaching them the nuances and they will master it quickly. Managing revenue and reputational risk is a lot easier than managing risk associated with human-life, mission-critical operations, and national security - all of which they have spent years doing and perfecting. They will amaze you with their multi-dimensional thinking and problem-solving skills.

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