As a full-time U.S. Army Captain and Defensive Cyber Operations Officer with the Texas Military Department, I lead the compliance and audit program for the state's cyber defense initiative. I manage a team of cybersecurity analysts responsible for safeguarding over 50 networks and 3,000 users operating across decentralized and austere locations throughout Texas. My primary role is to develop and implement a comprehensive cybersecurity compliance program aligned with the NIST Risk Management Framework (RMF), ensuring strict regulatory compliance and enhancing our overall defense posture. I set strategic priorities for my department, guide team leads in executing cyber defense operations, and collaborate on the creation of policies and procedures designed to mitigate risk to both our physical and cloud infrastructure. As a key leader in the cyber defense mission, I also provide guidance on risk management strategies to bolster network resilience and operational security.

Coordinated risk management operations to ensure strict adherence to governmental regulations, industry standards, and organizational policies. Developed, implemented, and maintained comprehensive compliance frameworks, ensuring that all policies and procedures were meticulously documented and aligned with regulatory requirements. Conducted in-depth internal audits and compliance reviews to identify potential risks and non-compliance issues, recommending corrective actions and spearheading remediation efforts when necessary. Designed and executed risk mitigation strategies that significantly reduced exposure to regulatory penalties and operational risks. Maintained expert knowledge of evolving compliance laws, serving as the primary liaison between compliance liaisons, managers, and external regulatory bodies. Played a key role in fostering a culture of compliance and risk awareness across the organization.