What does it look like to grow up in a snow-covered Buffalo neighborhood, raised by a single mother and grandmother, and go on to lead joint communications missions across the globe? In this Veteran Museum interview, Ryan Williams Sr. shares the story of my 20-year journey in the U.S. Air Force—from humble beginnings to building a career in cybersecurity. You'll hear how Ryan went from programming VCRs for his family to becoming the go-to tech guy in his military unit. Ryan talks candidly about early struggles with college, the financial pressures that led him to enlist, and how basic training at Lackland AFB taught him discipline Ryan didn’t know he had. We’ll go deep into Ryan's technical training at Keesler AFB, deployment to Iraq with a tactical air control squadron, and what it was like building networks in the middle of a warzone. Ryan reflects on family life while stationed in places like Idaho, Alaska, Virginia, and Florida—and how he and his wife navigated raising three kids while constantly relocating. One of the most pivotal chapters of Ryan's career came when he joined the Joint Communication Support Element (JCSE). As part of a highly elite, tech-forward joint unit, Ryan supported missions in Germany, Sicily, Morocco, and Israel. It was the global, hands-on experience Ryan had dreamed of when he first enlisted. Today, Ryan is a cybersecurity and resiliency risk leader, but his mission hasn’t stopped. Through podcasting and mentorship, Ryan is helping others break into cybersecurity and find their path—especially fellow veterans and career changers. Because Ryan truly believes cybersecurity is national security. If you're navigating a transition—into tech, out of uniform, or into leadership—this story is for you. 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on military life, leadership, cybersecurity, and career growth: @VetsMuseum Buy Ryan's book: https://www.theothersideofthefirewall.com/ Please LISTEN 🎧 LIKE 👍🏿 and SHARE ❤️ Thanks! Socials: Website - www.ramcyber.io Heroes Media Group: https://www.heroesmediagroup.com/shows/the-other-side-of-the-firewall/ Audio - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-other-side-of-the-firewall/id1542479181 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@theothersideofthefirewall7511 ReppedFLIX - https://lnkd.in/eVis2CbS WDJY 99.1 FM: https://www.wdjyfm.com/ TuneIn: https://lnkd.in/e2crcZU8 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556539026086 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theothersideofthefw X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/Ask_a_CISSP TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@ryanwilliams683 Medium - https://medium.com/@ryanwilliamssenior Subscribe to LinkedIn Newsletter - https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7172626552545865728 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-other-side-of-the-firewall/ Ryan's Linktree: https://dot.cards/ryanwilliamssr Chris on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisabacon/ Daniel on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-acevedo-3a8b641b/ Chapters 00:00 Growing Up in Buffalo 02:54 Early Interests and Education 05:35 The Decision to Join the Military 08:58 Basic Training Experience 11:58 Technical Training at Keesler AFB 14:43 Deployment to Iraq 17:39 Life in Alaska and Family Growth 55:52 Family Reflections on Alaska 58:47 Career Progression and Re-enlistment 01:01:28 Life at Langley Air Force Base 01:04:24 Transition to Joint Communication Support Element 01:08:43 Inter-Service Dynamics and Teamwork 01:10:36 Settling in Tampa 01:13:28 Deployment Experiences and Challenges 01:16:27 Mentorship and Leadership in the Military 01:20:22 Retirement and Transitioning to Civilian Life 01:23:59 Starting a Podcast and Business Ventures 01:27:52 Navigating Life in Turkey 01:30:57 Final Thoughts on Military Service and Future Plans #Cybersecurity #VeteranStories #BlackInCyber
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