Paul Keener

Marine Corps

There is a real need for cybersecurity professionals. Here is what Paul suggests as you consider a cyber career.

Paul, tell us about your primary role in the Marine Corps?

I was a communications officer, so my last job before I retired was at the Marine Corp Tactical Systems Support Activity. I was specifically attached to the development test arm which was a cyber test and evaluation group assuring against computer attacks targeting command and control systems. I also ran the Marine Corp red team which is the computer attack team looking and finding the vulnerabilities in a network.

What is your job at Viasat?

I lead the Viasat red team, the cyber threat hunt function and the SOC (security operations center). My team is monitoring across commercial, residential, and government networks.

What are the skills you brought to your current role from the military?

I feel very fortunate to have had the education and experience that directly related to the role and needs that Viasat had for my skillset. I ran similar teams in the Marines so the match up allowed me to bring my leadership experience and technical expertise and apply it at Viasat.

What advice would you give to someone interested in Cyber Security as they transition out of the military?

From a tactical standpoint you need one of two things - demonstrable experience or a technical (cyber related) degree and having both is ideal. If you’re coming out of a cyber role with the NSA – well, we’d value that experience but there are also good certification programs out there that will give you a good foundation. As a hiring manager, what I’d want to see is how you’re using that knowledge. Have you set up your own secure network? Are you curious? Are you passionate? I’d like to see that you are practicing and expanding on what you’ve been taught.

During the job search process, it was important for me to understand the security culture. In other words, I wanted to ensure that Viasat’s security culture enabled users to work in the way they want, inside or outside the corporate network. I also wanted to understand how Cyber Security was viewed by the various businesses. I wanted to understand the business need and how Cyber Security partnered with the business.

Lastly, I recommend you take advantage of existing resources around Career Transition events hosted by industry (Viasat hosts theirs twice a year) or training by organizations that give you real tools. I recommend you start early and take the time to determine the direction you want to head, and even more importantly understand the type of company you want to work for. You should understand a company’s mission, culture, and be sure to ask questions that are meaningful to your values. If you find a good organizational match knowing the exact role you should take can come second. My advice is to find the right company – the job will be there for you.

What has been important to you in terms of feeling connected at Viasat?

It’s important to me to work in a team environment with really smart and ethical, solid people. There is a large population of Vets at Viasat. They provide instant understanding of what you’ve been through and what your family has been through. They help mitigate missteps and provide insight so you can transition successfully to the corporate environment.