In today’s episode of (CS)²AI Podcast, Derek Harp is joined by Professor Harry Wingo, a full-time faculty member at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C., U.S., where he serves as Chair of the Cyber Studies Department within NDU’s College of Information and Cyberspace. He has more than 25 years of government and corporate leadership experience, including 15 years focused on information and communications technology law and policy. 

Harry has served as President and CEO of the D.C. Chamber of Commerce, Senior Policy Counsel at Google, Counsel to the Senate Committee on Science, Commerce & Transportation, Special Counsel to the General Counsel of the Federal Communications Commission and an Associate with the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. Before his career in law and technology, he served for more than six years as a Navy SEAL officer. 

Harry will share the incredible journey of how he got into cybersecurity and his insights and views regarding the talent shortage in the industry, the importance of diversity and inclusion for the future workforce, national cybersecurity defense in an ever-changing environment, and the overall challenges the industry continually faces. If you’re really interested in cybersecurity like Derek and Harry are, this is one episode you won’t wanna miss.

Show Highlights:

• Starting out as a Navy SEAL and transitioning into law and technology which led him towards specializing in cybersecurity (01:20)
• Growing up as a nerd with an interest in some of the earliest computers that were there (05:10)
• The boxing coach who facilitated his exposure to the SEALS as a possible career route (08:30)
• How being in the SEALS enabled him to pursue his consistent interest in information and communications (11:00)
• Working for the Federal Communications Commission as a special counsel to the general counsel, and being involved in the development of policy and legal frameworks around spyware and other cybersecurity issues (16:22)
• Why and how the cognitive side of cybersecurity came crashing into the forefront (22:04)
• Diving into how to protect networks, make sure they’re defended and how to conduct cyber warfare in consistency with international law (28:00)
• The importance of finding champions/mentors who take an interest in us and never letting go (32:42)
• Getting guidance on what your life purpose is through the Ikigai concept (35:05)
• Automation and AI: Up-to-date advice for anyone who’s looking to get into cybersecurity as a career (42:47)

Links and Resources:

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Artificial Intelligence: A Guide for Thinking Humans By Melanie Mitchell

This podcast is brought to you by: Waterfall Security Solutions, Fortinet, Network Perceptions, Industrial Defender, Tripwire and Q-Net Security.