Breaking into Cybersecurity with Eric Stride: From Air Force to Private Sector

In this episode of Breaking into Cybersecurity, host Christoph interviews Eric Stride from Huntress Security. Eric shares his journey from being a Communications Computer Systems Officer in the Air Force to becoming the Chief Security Officer at Huntress. He discusses his extensive experience in cybersecurity, including roles at the NSA and in the private sector. Eric emphasizes the importance of continual learning, certifications, and deliberate career growth. He also touches on the implications of AI in cybersecurity and provides insights into developing and recruiting the next generation of cybersecurity talent.

00:00 Introduction to the Episode

00:49 Eric Stride's Journey into Cybersecurity

01:11 Military Experience and Transition to Cybersecurity

06:08 Continuous Learning and Staying Updated

09:41 Certifications and Career Growth

11:49 Leadership and Management Principles

15:23 AI in Cybersecurity

22:02 Recruiting and Developing Cybersecurity Talent

https://www.huntress.com/company/careers 

26:22 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericstride/

Eric Stride is the Chief Security Officer at Huntress, where he oversees the company’s 24/7 Global Security Operations Center, Detection Engineering, Adversary Tactics, IT Operations, and Internal Security. A 20+ year cybersecurity leader, Eric has held senior roles spanning the U.S. Air Force, NSA, and private sector.

During his 12 years on active duty, Eric helped architect the Air Force’s first cyber combat mission team, co-authored its first offensive cyber operations manual, and rose to Deputy Chief for Cyber Operations at NSA Georgia. He continues to serve as a Colonel in the Air Force Reserve, where he established its first cyber range squadron.

In the private sector, Eric co-founded Atlas Cybersecurity, advised defense and enterprise clients as an independent consultant, led Deloitte’s Advanced Cyber Training portfolio, and led the generation of $135M+ in new cyber business. He holds an M.S. in Information Technology Management, a B.S. in Computer Science, and multiple cybersecurity certifications (CISSP, GCIH, CEH).

Develop Your Cybersecurity Career Path: How to Break into Cybersecurity at Any Level: https://amzn.to/3443AUI

Hack the Cybersecurity Interview: A complete interview preparation guide for jumpstarting your cybersecurity career https://www.amazon.com/dp/1801816638/