I remember the day in my BASIC programming class in high school, way back in my senior year, 1982, at Coffee High School in Douglas, GA, when I discovered I wanted a career in technology. In Mrs. Nichols' class, I had just compiled my first program on an Apple II with no errors, and it wasn't that hard. In my next class, Mr. Hobbs taught computer electronics, where I had access to a Tandy TRS-80. Mr. Hobbs was a great teacher, but Mrs. Nichols was much better at teaching programming than he was at teaching electronics.

I have always loved writing. During my senior year, I also won the Ebony in Action scholarship for an essay that I wrote. I told my mother after winning first place in that contest that no matter what I did in life, I also wanted to write. I am forever grateful for what Mrs. Nichols and Mr. Hobbs taught me. Those lessons enabled me to become a Scientific Measurements Technician in the Air Force, which afforded me the opportunity to develop real-world computer applications while I was only 20 years old. I eventually earned a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and became an Air Force Computer and Information Systems Officer. I was blessed with the opportunity to not only write code for the Air Force but also to learn and apply leadership, which I enjoyed then and continue to enjoy after I retired from military service.

Fast forward to today, and I find myself working as a Cybersecurity Program Director for a multimillion-dollar Department of Homeland Security cybersecurity program, a position that gives me an opportunity to continue to exercise my management and leadership skills in the protection of our critical infrastructure systems, like the systems I worked on since I was a young man.

I've served in Director and Senior Director capacities at multiple organizations across the DC metro area. My academic credentials include a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science from Thomas Edison State University and a Master of Business Administration from Averett University. In pursuit of what I deem "terminal certifications"—those recognized by the industry as the pinnacle for a particular field or discipline—I've committed to ongoing education. This commitment not only satisfies the continuous education credits required to maintain these certifications but also fosters lifelong learning. Among the certifications I've achieved are the PMP, PgMP, CISSP, among others, placing me among the select few globally to hold both the PgMP and CISSP certifications. In 2024, I completed the University of Pennsylvania's AI for Business Specialization.

We have seen many transformations in technology, such as the introduction of the Internet, cloud computing, and mobile computing. AI is the next frontier. I find the layering and merging of technologies like AI, cybersecurity, and quantum computing fascinating. Where is all of this taking us? How do we adapt? Can we adapt? Who will excel as all of this evolves, and who will be left behind? Who will benefit and who will be hurt? These are the topics I write about on Medium. None of my articles on Medium, or anywhere else, are fully AI-generated. But all of them, including this profile, are AI-assisted. If you have read everything I have written in this profile so far, would you really expect anything different?