🛡️ U.S. Navy Veteran | Operations Leader → Cybersecurity Professional
🪣 Repos & ReadMes:
I'm a Navy veteran and former operations leader at Rivian Automotive executing a structured transition into cybersecurity and IT infrastructure. My background in high-stakes operational environments (United States Navy navigation operations, force protection, emergency medicine, and manufacturing operations) has built the foundation for security-focused technical work: incident response, systems thinking, risk assessment, and process-driven troubleshooting.
This GitHub documents hands-on labs, system builds, and troubleshooting workflows aligned to real-world IT and security operations. It's also where I share what my side-learning curiosities are.
🔎 Current Focus:
- Building an enterprise-grade home lab for hands-on cybersecurity training
- Pursuing aggressive certification timeline (CompTIA trifecta + CySA+ by April 2026)
- Formal IT education: MyComputerCareer (Jan 2026 start) + B.A.A.S. Cybersecurity (EIU, December 2026 completion)
- Targeting entry-level roles: SOC Analyst (Tier 1), IT Support, Help Desk, Security Operations
- ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) - 1/12/2026, expires 1/31/2029 Verification
- AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner - 12/31/2025, expires 12/31/2028 Verification
- Microsoft Certified: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals (SC-900) - 12/22/2025 Verification
- Google Project Management Professional Certificate - 2/2025
- CompTIA Network+ - Exam scheduled 3/6/2026
- CompTIA Security+ - Exam scheduled 3/20/2026
- CompTIA CySA+ (Cybersecurity Analyst) - Exam scheduled 4/10/2026
🖥️ Infrastructure:
- Primary System: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D (8-core, 16-thread), 64GB DDR5 RAM, RTX 4070 Ti SUPER GPU
- Network: 1Gbps fiber internet with enterprise-grade connectivity
- Multi-System Setup: 2x Windows 11 Pro workstations, 1x Zorin 18 Pro Linux system
- Mobile Security: Secondary phone running GrapheneOS for privacy/security testing
🛠️ Security & Analysis Tools:
- SIEM: Security Onion (network security monitoring, intrusion detection)
- Packet Analysis: Wireshark (deep packet inspection, protocol analysis)
- Network Scanning: Nmap (reconnaissance, vulnerability scanning)
- Penetration Testing: Kali Linux, Parrot Linux (offensive security toolkits)
- Virtualization: VMware Workstation Pro + Windows Hyper-V
- Privacy Suite: Proton Ultimate (VPN, encrypted email, secure storage)
💻 Active Virtual Machines:
- Windows Server (learning enterprise administration)
- Kali Linux (penetration testing & security assessments)
- Parrot Linux (forensics & security operations)
- Ubuntu Server (Linux administration & services)
🚩Current Lab Projects:
- Building simulated enterprise network for SIEM log analysis
- Practicing incident detection and response workflows
- Running CTF challenges and vulnerability assessments
- Documenting security tool configurations and use cases
- Repository: all-lab-drafts
- Active CTF participation and guided labs
- Focus areas: networking fundamentals, Linux, enumeration, basic detection
- Reinforces concepts applied in Security Onion and VM-based lab scenarios
- Led waste management operations for 160+ personnel, reducing costs by 65% ($5.2M annual savings)
- Managed cross-functional projects with finance, engineering, and supply chain teams
- Trained personnel as Rivian Certified Trainer, ensuring safety and process adherence
- Analyzed operational data to identify inefficiencies and implement process improvements
Transferable Skills for IT/Security:
- Incident response & escalation management
- Process documentation & SOP development
- Cross-team coordination under pressure
- Data-driven decision making
- Risk assessment & mitigation planning
- Senior ED Technician at Level 1 Trauma Center (Top 50 U.S. Hospital)
- Clinical preceptor training new staff on emergency protocols and patient care
- Managed high-stakes medical interventions where system reliability = patient safety
- Fluent in healthcare IT workflows (EMR systems, documentation requirements)
Transferable Skills for IT/Security:
- Understanding of healthcare IT systems and compliance (HIPAA)
- Clear communication under pressure
- Troubleshooting critical systems where downtime has severe consequences
- Training and knowledge transfer to users with varying technical literacy
- Navigation operations & visual communications in high-threat environments
- Force protection/anti-terrorism training team instructor
- Maritime interdiction operations (VBSS teams)
- Managed training for 60+ personnel in navigation and surface warfare qualifications
Transferable Skills for IT/Security:
- Security protocols & threat awareness
- Operational discipline in regulated environments
- Team leadership under high-stress conditions
- Incident response & tactical decision-making
- Windows 11 Pro, Windows Server (enterprise administration)
- Linux (Ubuntu, Kali, Parrot, Zorin, command-line proficiency)
- GrapheneOS (mobile security & privacy)
- Basic macOS familiarity
- Wireshark (packet capture & analysis)
- Nmap (network discovery & security auditing)
- Security Onion (IDS/IPS, network monitoring)
- Kali Linux (penetration testing tools)
- Proton VPN & encrypted communications
- Ticketing/Project Management: Jira, Atlassian, Asana
- ERP/Supply Chain: SAP, Workday, Smartsheet
- Cloud Platforms: AWS (Cloud Practitioner certified), learning Azure
- Microsoft 365: Office Suite, Teams, SharePoint, Active Directory basics
- SIEM log analysis and threat detection
- Python for security automation
- Network security fundamentals
- Cloud security architecture (AWS, Azure)
- Incident response methodologies
- Windows Server administration
Bachelor of Applied Arts & Sciences - Cybersecurity
Eastern Illinois University | Expected December 2026
IT Infrastructure & Cybersecurity Program
MyComputerCareer | January 2026 - April 2026
Associate of Arts
Heartland Community College | Completed December 2025
Emergency Medical Technician - Intermediate
Illinois Central College | 2013
Emergency Management Certificate
American Military University | 2010
- National Registry EMT-Basic
- Illinois EMT-Basic & EMT-Intermediate
- ITLS (International Trauma Life Support) - Advanced Provider
- American Heart Association BLS, ACLS
- Federal Emergency Management Agency: ICS 100, 200, 700, 808
- Navy Security Reaction Force - Advanced
- Close Range Subject Control
Building a virtualized enterprise network to practice SIEM log analysis, threat detection, and incident response workflows using Security Onion.
Documenting certification study notes, practice lab configurations, and key learnings in GitHub repositories.
Participating in capture-the-flag challenges and vulnerability assessment exercises to build practical offensive/defensive security skills.
- Email: jmcall3883@gmail.com
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jasonmcallahan
- Bluesky: jasonmcallahan.bsky.social
- Location: Normal, Illinois (Open to remote opportunities)
Immediate (Q1 - Q2 2026):
- Complete CompTIA A+, Net+, Sec+, CySA+ certifications
- Secure entry-level IT role (Help Desk, SOC Analyst, IT Support)
- Continue hands-on lab work and expand GitHub portfolio with documented projects
Medium-Term (Q3 2026 - Q4 2026):
- Graduate with B.A.A.S. in Cybersecurity from Eastern Illinois University (December 2026)
- Transition into security-focused role (Junior SOC Analyst, Security Operations)
Long-Term (2027+):
- Build expertise in threat detection, incident response, and security operations
- Pursue advanced certifications (CISSP, CEH, or specialized vendor certs)
- Contribute to cybersecurity community through open-source projects and knowledge sharing
My career has been built around high-stakes operational environments where failure isn't an option:
- In the Navy, I operated in threat environments where security protocols were life-or-death.
- In emergency medicine, I managed critical systems where downtime meant patient harm.
- In manufacturing operations, I led process improvements that saved millions while maintaining safety and compliance.
Cybersecurity combines everything I've trained for: risk assessment, incident response, systems thinking, and the discipline to operate under pressure while following documented procedures. This isn't a career change—it's a redeployment of skills into a domain where they're mission-critical.
This README was last updated: February 8, 2026