Mission evolved: A veteran’s leap into cyber

Denise’s career has always been shaped by a willingness to reinvent herself when the moment called for it. She joined the U.S. Air Force at 18, stepping into the demanding world of aircraft maintenance, where she also met her husband who was in the same field. The work was intense, the hours long, and when their son was born, both parents found themselves on the same grueling schedule. That’s when Denise made her first major pivot. She realized that changing careers was about creating stability and momentum for her family.

In 2012, she moved into the growing field of cybersecurity, a leap that would define the next chapter of her life. She spent more than a decade serving in cyber roles across the Air Force and later the U.S. Space Force, earning her CISA and Scrum Master certifications along the way. Reinvention had become a pattern and a strength.

As retirement approached, Denise once again looked ahead. A friend at Sabel encouraged her to consider a SkillBridge placement, and she took the chance. She had heard good things about Sabel, but what she witnessed during the government shutdown left a lasting impression. She noticed one thing right away – during the government shutdown, Sabel did everything they could to retain employees impacted by the paused contracts.

“That really spoke to me,” Denise said. “It made me see that [Sabel] really cares about people.” By the time her SkillBridge program ended, the decision felt natural – she accepted a full‑time role.

Today, Denise works at the intersection of policy creation and cybersecurity as a Cybersecurity Analyst at the Cyber Center of Excellence. Programs include Spacestation, MTE, nimbusCORE, and others, and her work spans system security policy, accreditation, and ensuring systems are ready to operate in a federal environment. It’s foundational work: without the policies she builds, customers can’t be onboarded and systems can’t go live. That appetite for learning, paired with her adaptability, is what has carried her through nearly 15 years in the field.

“I’m constantly learning and I’ve been doing this for almost 15 years. Every day is new and you can learn something from everyone you work with daily.”

Working remotely from California, Denise feels she has found something she didn’t expect: a company culture that makes distance feel small.

SkillBridge, she said, was a turning point – one that helped her translate years of military experience into a civilian career where she could continue to grow.

The hands‑on experience gave her the chance to apply everything she’d learned in uniform to real customer needs, showing her how her military skills translated into the private sector.

“[Skillbridge] allows you to get experience in the private sector doing something you already know how to – or want to – do; it’s a great transition period. Sabel could see my work ethic and the work I produced rather than just words on a resume. Those transferrable skills are often hard to quantify on paper.”

When asked what she’d tell someone entering the fast-moving cybersecurity field, her advice reflects the mindset that has guided her own path.

“Always be flexible, willing to learn, and ready to throw your hat in the ring. Everything is a learning experience.”

Denise’s story is one of continual evolution – of choosing growth, embracing challenge, and proving that reinvention isn’t a single moment but a career‑long practice.