Today’s guest is Keith B. Alexander, Founder, and co-CEO at IronNet Cybersecurity. This company was founded in 2014 to revolutionize how enterprises, industries, and governments secure their networks.

General (Ret) Keith Alexander served as the Commander, U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) and Director, National Security Agency/Chief, Central Security Service (NSA/CSS), and Fort George G. Meade, MD. 

General Alexander was responsible for planning, coordinating, and conducting operations and defense of DoD computer networks. As the Director of NSA and Chief of CSS, he was responsible for a Department of Defense agency with national foreign intelligence, combat support, and U.S. national security information system protection responsibilities.

In this episode, we talk about General Alexander’s journey in the military, his transition into becoming a founder and co-CEO of his own company. He also shares his experiences working with both the Bush and Obama administrations explaining, articulating, and helping them develop processes to defend our country. General Alexander kindly shared his experiences as a keynote speaker at DEF CON.

You can visit IronNet Cybersecurity’s website: https://www.ironnet.com/

Get in touch with them via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ironnet/

or Twitter: https://twitter.com/IronNet

You can also connect with General Alexander on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kbaironnet/

Resources Mentioned:

Book: David Cottrell – Monday Morning Leadership: https://www.amazon.com/Monday-Morning-Leadership-Mentoring-Sessions/dp/0971942439/ref=sr_1_1?crid=20AEVR2YLWW9L&dchild=1&keywords=monday+morning+leadership&qid=1628867689&sprefix=monday+morning+%2Caps%2C331&sr=8-1

Book: LearnSmart – CISSP® Exam Manual: https://www.amazon.com/CISSP%C2%AE-Exam-Manual-LearnSmart-ebook/dp/B003O68FL8/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=cissp+manual&qid=1628867873&sr=8-1

Full Episode Breakdown:

1:30 – A bit of the Cyber Warrior Network Podcast and my background in the military.

3:30 – About why I decided to launch the Cyber Warrior Network.

5:56 – We introduce our today’s guest, General Keith Alexander. He also talks about his background and his experiences in the military. 

9:12 – What were the challenges channeled to General Alexander from the lower ranks while he was commanding.

11:02 – General Alexander talks about his experiences working with the Bush and Obama administration.

15:58 – General Alexander talks about his experience as a keynote speaker at DEF CON.

18:04 – Nigel and General Alexander talk about how the NSA Metadata program affected the General’s legacy and national security.

22:17 – General Alexander talks about the right way to take the truth to the American people and why he considers it wrong to call Edward Snowden a hero.

26:17 – General Alexander explains why being a highly decorated four-star general decided to launch his own business. 

32:19 – General Alexander reflects on how he believes cybersecurity should be approached from a national security standpoint. 

36:03 – General Alexander shares his wish for our country, a unity wish.