This is not an official podcast affiliated with any organization. Guest: Justus Marks

What happens when you trade mastery for the challenge of starting over? Chief Warrant Officer Justus Marks did exactly that in 2015, leaving behind fifteen years of IT expertise to enter the Coast Guard's newly formed cyber field. Starting as a fireman in 2001 (thanks to a neighbor's recommendation), Marks climbed through telecommunications and IT roles before facing his biggest professional challenge: becoming a student again in cybersecurity. Listen now to hear how adaptability and continuous learning shaped one officer's remarkable career path.

The transition wasn't about technical difficulty—it was about mindset. After a quarter-century in service, Marks found himself surrounded by colleagues with strong cyber knowledge, his own technical and leadership skills once again put to the test. He embraced the learning opportunities. He discovered that red team work demands constant evolution, as patches and updates continuously remediate vulnerabilities and nullify exploits. The demanding nature of staying current requires balancing professional development with personal life to avoid burnout.

Justus shares insights on:

• Does mastery need to be surrendered for advancement

• Warrant officers as strategic translators, not just technical experts

• Career pivots demand humility and external validation

Resources Mentioned

• ⁠2024 CTIME report⁠

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠U.S. Coast Guard Cyber Command⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠yoke(dot)report@gmail(dot)com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This is not an official podcast affiliated with any organization.

This is not an official podcast affiliated with any organization. Guest: Nicholas Frederickson In this episode, we go behind the scenes with Lieutenant Commander Nick Frederickson, Commanding Officer of one of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Cyber Protection Teams and co-author of the 2024 Cyber Trends and Insights in the Marine Environment (CTIME) report.

Nick walks us through his journey from Coast Guard officer to cyber leader, reflecting on the leadership challenges of commanding a CPT and the lessons learned building the Coast Guard’s flagship maritime cyber threat product. We also talk about DEFCON, ZPMC cranes, mentorship, and what the future holds for both the Coast Guard and the marine cyber landscape.

Nick shares insights on:

• Why CTIME matters and how it’s built

• What it’s like speaking on the DEFCON main stage

• The operational side of cyber leadership

• The future of the CPTs and talent development in maritime cyber

Resources Mentioned

• 2024 CTIME report

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠U.S. Coast Guard Cyber Command⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠yoke(dot)report@gmail(dot)com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This is not an official podcast affiliated with any organization.

This is not an official podcast affiliated with any organization. Guest: Kaitlyn Devalk-HammondToday’s episode is about service, skill, and cyber excellence. We’re thrilled to introduce the first Executive Officer of the West Coast Cyber Protection Team, a graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, former member of the cadet Cyber Team, ShmooCon presenter, and this year’s AFCEA Copernicus Award recipient. We’ll trace her path from cadet competitions to leading cyber defense on the operational edge, to show how cyber leadership is forged while also spotlighting what the Copernicus Award really says about emerging talent in the maritime cyber domain.

Kaitlyn shares crucial insights on:

- The decision to serve in the Coast Guard

- How teamwork and camaraderie are features of cyber work in the Coast Guard

- Which experiences make someone well prepared for the challenge of being a unit Executive Officer

- Bringing technical knowledge to an operational team leadership role

- How to get involved in presenting at conferences

Resources Mentioned

• • ⁠⁠⁠⁠U.S. Coast Guard Cyber Command⁠⁠⁠⁠

  • ShmooCon

• • US Coast Guard Academy CyBears Cyber Team

  • AFCEA Copernicus Award

  • Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠yoke(dot)report@gmail(dot)com⁠⁠⁠⁠

  This is not an official podcast affiliated with any organization.