Veteran to Cyber Defender: A Journey with IBM X-Force

At a glance

• Transition Success: Former military personnel are building careers in cybersecurity at IBM X-Force.
• Key Player: Jake, a U.S. Air Force veteran, is now Global Deputy Head of IBM X-Force.
• Training and fit: Military training in security, investigations and crisis management carries over well to cyber roles.
• Emerging Trends: Rising attacks keep demand for skilled defenders high in both the private and public sectors.

From Battlefields to the Cyber Frontlines

Military veterans bring discipline and real-world experience to cybersecurity. Many make the switch. IBM’s careers blog profiled one of them: Jake, who started his career in the U.S. Air Force and now serves as Global Deputy Head of IBM X-Force, the company’s team of hackers, incident responders, intelligence analysts and researchers.

The Role of IBM X-Force

X-Force works much like a special forces unit for IBM’s clients. It has four parts: X-Force Red for offensive testing, an incident response team with a 24/7 hotline, threat intelligence researchers and a cyber range that trains client teams and boards in crisis response. Veterans fit naturally into that structure, bringing attention to detail and calm under pressure.

Jake’s path from the Air Force

Jake attended the U.S. Air Force Academy and trained as a security officer. His Air Force training covered physical security, investigations, antiterrorism, crisis management, cybersecurity and auditing, and he led more than 600 Airmen, civilians and families. He left the Air Force in 2015, became a business risk consultant and has built his IBM career through five international moves as a military spouse. As deputy head, he now sets X-Force strategy and oversees delivery of all its services.

Training for Tomorrow’s Threats

X-Force also trains clients. Its cyber range runs realistic crisis simulations, and its teams test defenses the way attackers would. For veterans moving into the field, Jake points to feeder roles such as SOC analyst, forensics examiner and system administrator, and to certifications like CISSP, CISM and GIAC.

The Urgent Call for Cyber Defenders

Demand for skilled defenders is high because attacks keep getting more sophisticated. Employers are looking at military-trained candidates. Veterans often bring a careful eye and a habit of planning for the worst, along with experience making decisions under pressure.

Advice for veterans moving into cyber

Veterans’ skills are valuable as threats evolve. Teams like IBM X-Force show that a military career can lead to senior security roles, and that the skills carry over. For veterans considering the switch, the starting point is to match their training to a feeder role, add a certification and keep learning.

Frank Jones, CISSP

Frank Jones has loved computers from the age of 13. Frank got his hacking career started when he downloaded a war dialing program that he used to detect dial up modems in his hometown of Chicago. Frank Jones now works as a JAVA coder and cyber security researcher.