Gary Rossi ⋅ Napa, CA The Coaches ⋅ 18 years experience

Darius - I also offer this advice - use an informational interview approach - go on LinkedIn and look for someone in Cyber Security - use a tailored/customized connection request and ask for 15 - 20 minutes to provide you guidance, counsel and advice - if the two of you see a fit then that person might be your mentor - a 2nd advantage is you build up your LinkedIn Network which can serve you will in your new career. Here is my profile for a start - https://www.linkedin.com/in/garyrossibaldrigecoach/

Saul Gomez ⋅ Chesapeake, VA TI Verbatim Consulting ⋅ 10 years experience

Darius, great advice posted here...if you have not yet came across Cyber Warrior Academy, look them up. Check your messages for more info. https://www.cyberwarrior.com/cybersecurity-bootcamp/

Joe Engle ⋅ Indianapolis, IN Electrical/Software Eng. + MBA ⋅ 30 years experience

Hello Darius. I spoke with my friend, who was in cybersecurity for many years in a company with 1000+ employees.

Most smaller companies have general IT support people. When a company gets big enough, say 1000 employees, or if they have particularly sensitive data, then they will hire a cybersecurity specialist. When larger companies (fewer in number), need cybersecurity specialists, they can attract people with experience.

My friend suggests, get some training in general IT support and start with that sort of position. Once inside the company, you may be the one to handle whatever security needs the company has. At any rate, you will get IT experience and network with lots of people. That should get you into a good position to move more specifically into cybersecurity.
He also suggests, if you can take classes(IT or cybersecurity) at a local NC college, local businesses may tap the college for students with your interest. I.E. networking via the school.

Thanks for your service. Sorry I am not able to mentor on this topic.

Richard Byrne ⋅ Hillsborough, NJ Intel Corporation ⋅ 53 years experience

I've added links to information & videos under these sections of my EE webpage:
http://eehot.com/ee.html#infosec
http://eehot.com/ee.html#datascience
http://eehot.com/ee.html#mentoring
http://eehot.com/ee.html#cool
http://eehot.com/ee.html#languages
http://eehot.com/ee.html#jobs
http://eehot.com/ee.html#gjobs

Have you heard of Skillbridge?
https://skillbridge.osd.mil/
https://skillbridge.osd.mil/program-overview.htm
https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/dodskillbridge - videos

Alternately:
lLog onto the ACP webpage,
click on the ACP Advisornet tab, & select the "Community" icon.
Under the "Advisors" tab, select "Information Technology" from the "Refine by" pull down box.
(Other selections include: Business, Engineering, Project Management ... ),
Look for the "Show More" box at the bottom of the page.
Examine the advisor profiles, & use the ACP message feature for advice.
Alternately, you could have selected the "Companies" tab &
entered part of a company name as a keyword for initiating your search.