James G.

Background

About James G.

My journey started in Juneau, Alaska, as a live-in firefighter through a scholarship program. When I found out that funding might not continue, I pivoted and joined the Alaska Army National Guard. After completing basic and AIT, I deployed almost immediately. That time shaped me—it’s when I decided to pursue higher education and enrolled at the University of Alaska Fairbanks to study Homeland Security and Emergency Management. At 20, I became a full-time college student. As a first-generation graduate, I made it count—transferring military credits, diving into student leadership through Student Veterans of America and Alpha Phi Omega, and completing my degree in under three years. In 2017, I was selected as a Newman’s Own Foundation Fellow and placed at the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University. That experience helped me explore how emergency management, digital strategy, and cybersecurity intersect—and how my diverse experiences could be translated into impact. I later transitioned to the Alaska Air National Guard, where I’ve served in Cyber Defense Operations since 2019. I started in Cyber Surety (Yes - Cyber Surety) and was later moved to Communications Focal Point (IT helpdesk). In 2022, I joined Doyon Utilities to gain hands-on experience supporting critical infrastructure as a cybersecurity analyst. Alongside all of this, I’ve developed a passion for helping other veterans and transitioning service members find their niche. I know how disorienting that shift can feel, and I believe in building practical, individualized paths forward—because one-size-fits-all doesn’t work when you’re starting over.