Hawk & Hack: Finding Your Personal Brand and Cyber Tribe

Army veteran John Stoner shares his resilient path from signals intelligence analyst to cybersecurity leader in this episode of Exit Buddy: Veteran Stories to Guide You. With a decade of Army service—spanning time in Afghanistan, Bagram, Ottawa, and NSA headquarters—John was primed for a return to intelligence work after separating. Instead, repeated inconclusive results on the NSA Full Scope Polygraph exam challenged those plans and sparked a career pivot. He opens up about embracing authenticity through his iconic Mohawk, navigating a volatile cybersecurity job market, and leveraging military-honed skills like briefing under pressure to bring calm to cyber chaos. John also offers candid advice on building support networks, prioritizing mental health, and discovering purpose outside the familiar anchor of a security clearance during the transition to civilian life.Chapters01:16 Stories from John's Army SIGINT Career02:48 The Polygraph Process and Career Pivot04:56 Advice for Veterans Tied to Military Identity07:04 Embracing the Mohawk and Authentic Self09:54 The Evolution of John's Personal Brand12:06 Discovering Passion in Community15:11 Finding Your Tribe and Support Networks19:15 Turning Military Skills into Cyber Strategy23:25 Mentorship and Career PathwaysKey TakeawaysEmbrace Being Flexible: Tough job market? Channel "Semper Gumby"—stay open to small companies and commercial gigs. Your identity's bigger than your MOS or security clearance.Authenticity > Conformity: Rock your vibe (Mohawk or otherwise). Find a workplace or community that supports your authentic self.Prioritize Mental Health: Therapy isn't a last resort—and your spouse and family are not your therapist. Lean on pros to unpack the load.Find Your People: Swap Reddit rabbit holes for one-on-one mentors and community. Join cyber tribes like VetSec, BSides, or the Diana Initiative to build support mechanisms outside of your job.Fulfillment Hack: True passion can be found in the side quests—not just your 9-to-5.Follow us for more veteran stories to guide your transition journey, and text this episode to a fellow service member who’s navigating their exit. Until next time, stay flexible and keep forging ahead!Send us Fan MailVisit us at https://exitbuddy.buzzsprout.com to learn more about the show.Have feedback or questions for us? Email us at [email protected].