Bayron Lopez joins Derek Harp today for another podcast episode in the Security Leader series. Bayron is the Manager of Operational Technology at Kilroy Realty Corporation, a real estate investment trust company specializing in developing, acquiring, and managing real estate assets, primarily in Seattle, San Francisco, LA, and San Diego. Those four strategic areas encompass about fourteen million Class A commercial real estates. Bayron is responsible for the operational technology and security of those estates. 

Bayron was born in El Salvador and grew up in South Central Los Angeles. While in high school, he had an excellent teacher and mentors who were designing aircraft and large buildings. They exposed him to multiple areas of engineering, including electrical, mechanical, civil, and aerospace. Bayron was very lucky to have that exposure because it was unusual for kids from the South Central Los Angeles neighborhood to get introduced to the world of engineering.

Bayron likes to see an objective outlined and then get things done. He has a degree in engineering and is a keen technologist. He is also a soccer fan and dreamer who likes to look ahead at what is coming up just beyond the horizon. In this episode of the (CS)²AI Podcast, he talks about his background and discusses his educational journey. He explains why he chose to work for a real estate company after graduating and talks about his current position at Kilroy. He also shares some valuable nuggets for people starting in cyber security or those who would like to get involved in the space.

Cyber security is going to become a cornerstone for buildings in the future. If you are thinking about getting into the field, you will gain a lot from this episode! Stay tuned for more!

Show highlights:

• When he was in high school, Bayron decided to become an engineer and find something in that space that worked for him. He talks about the study program he chose. (3:58)
• Bayron explains why he went to work for a real estate company after he graduated. (6:41)
• How the idea of having an Operational Technology Manager came in at Kilroy. (8:45)
• Bayron talks about the challenges he has faced since becoming Kilroy’s Operational Technology Manager. (10:28)
• A strategy for creating a valuable security solution. (13:04)
• Bayron discusses the day-to-day operations in his current position at Kilroy. (15:50)
• The luxury of new builds versus retrofitting onto existing buildings. (19:44)
• Some advice from Bayron for his younger self. (21:23)
• A way in and some words of wisdom for individuals wanting to get into the security of building control systems. ( 22:38)
• There are currently many different opportunities for specializing in the cyber security industry as it pertains to building systems. (26:38)