Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background before joining VetSec?
My name is Chris Haller, I did 11 years in the Navy (8 active and 3 reserves) and my rate was IT. I spent some time with NCDOC which was my first exposure to cyber instead of sysadmin work. I got off active duty in 2019 and did some CTI for a few years, now I’ve been doing offsec for about 3.5 years. I spend a lot of time doing CTFs, I am a coach for the US Cyber Team as well.
How did you first learn about VetSec, and what motivated you to get involved?
I joined VetSec in 2022 iirc, this was at Brian Davidson’s referrals about how fun the group was. We were competing in the NCL on one of the SANS teams together and he spoke very highly of the group. I’m glad I joined, it’s been fun to be able to network with others and provide more mentorship to other vets.
What were some of the biggest challenges or obstacles you faced in transitioning to a cybersecurity career before joining VetSec?
I was already working in Cyber, but the VetSec group has been able to provide some excellent resources and discussions on additional things to focus on. These helped develop myself or find new areas to continue development and investment into my career which I am grateful for.
Can you describe your experience with VetSec’s training and mentorship programs? What specific resources or support did you find most valuable?
I’ve volunteered as a mentor and it is extremely rewarding to help guide others on the path they want to go. I love seeing the messages pop up from new mentorship requests because I am invested in how our members view and develop their own career path.
How has the VetSec community impacted you personally and professionally?
This community gives me a place where I can discuss technical challenges, approaches, and mentorship with others without any type of judgement. I’m not afraid to say I don’t know something, but it’s refreshing when others want to help solve problems instead of griefing. The memes are absolutely top notch and spicy as hell.
Can you share a specific moment or achievement during your time with VetSec that you are particularly proud of?
Recently I was able to compete in the NCL with a team of other VetSec members, that was a ton of fun! Other than that, it’s the smaller conversations with other members and mentors that are worthwhile.
Where are you currently in your cybersecurity career, and how did VetSec contribute to your success?
I’m in a mature place in my cyber career, and I do feel that the conversations I’ve had with other members has helped contribute to that success. Notably, helping to answer questions about business items to guide large career decisions was extremely useful. Separately, the opportunity to help provide more mentorship to juniors or members getting starting on their cyber journey is always rewarding as well.
Reflecting on your journey, how do you think your career and personal growth would have been different without VetSec? What are your future aspirations in the field of cybersecurity?
I think that I would be in similar positions, but would be missing a lot of the technical discussions and threat intel sharing that we achieve together. I really enjoy the ability to work on deeply technical items and collaborate with others, I will continue to do this through the end of my career. Maybe one day be a CISO, but that is definitely far off.
What advice would you give to other veterans considering a career in cybersecurity and thinking about joining VetSec?
Absolutely join VetSec and get involved in discussions, the networking between members opens up a HUGE amount of opportunities. Beyond this, getting started in cyber can be daunting and hard, but I (and many other members) really enjoy answering genuine questions from people learning this stuff.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your experience with VetSec or a message to the community?
I’m really glad I have a chance to participate in this community and help others. Also the memes rock!