The transition from the military to the business world is neither easy nor happens magically. Kevin B. Wooton, former Brigadier General of the US Air Force, had to arm himself with patience, willingness to have an open mind and a deep understanding of the different markets. 

Kevin B. Wooton is the Principal at Wooton Consulting Group, LLC. He has extensive experience in cybersecurity, cyber intelligence, and information technology arenas. During his time in the military, General Wooton, as Principal Deputy Director, participated in space lift and range operations, nuclear event detection, airfield operations, offensive, and defensive cyber operations, to name a few. General Wooton also served as the Director, Communications and Information Directorate, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.

In this episode, we talk about General Wooton’s transition from the military to the private business world, what made him choose that path, and the challenges he found in its way. We also spoke about the evolution of military working in civilian cybersecurity and the military strategies applicable to business cybersecurity. General Wooton talked about how military mindset, force capability, and mission-oriented work ethics can be applied and used in the corporate world, specifically in cybersecurity. 

Resources mentioned:

Book: Richard A. Clarke – Cyber War – https://www.amazon.com/Cyber-War-Threat-National-Security/dp/0061962244/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=cyber+war&qid=1628774761&sr=8-1

You can connect with General Wooton on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-wooton-67041815/#

or you can send him an email at: kevin@kevinwooton.com

Full Episode Breakdown:

1:26 – General Wooton talks about his military career and how he joined the US Air Force.

3:15 – General Wooton speaks about his first steps into cybersecurity.

5:49 – Nigel and General Wooton talk about the differences in the lexicon between military cybersecurity and the private sector.

9:02 – General Wooton shares the thinking process behind his decision to start his own business.

12:55 – General Wooton talks about the balance of usability and security, the most critical part of cybersecurity in his opinion.

17:28 – Nigel and General Wooton talk about the friction between civilians and military working on cybersecurity, the tension between them, and the evolution of the military in cybersecurity.

21:50 – General Wooton describes the other traits military can offer to cybersecurity apart from risk assessment.

25:14 – General Wooton explains the military strategies apply to the private sector’s cybersecurity.

29:31 – General Wooton explains how he brings military total force capability, mindset, and mission-oriented work ethics into the private sector. He also comments on how federal agencies and startups collaborate.

34:22 – Networking and niching down. General Wooton shares some advice for entrepreneurs interested in joining the cybersecurity space.

40:23 – Nigel and General Wooton talk about the dozens of companies that haven’t faced problems with cybersecurity vulnerability and how that can be an opportunity for folks coming into the market.

42:52 – General Wooton talks about the kind of services he provides and why he decided to niche into that kind of assistance.