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.
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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
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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
