We had the opportunity to chat with James about his approach to cybersecurity and leadership. After a 20-year career in the United States Marine Corps and over 30 years of specialized experience in counterintelligence, James views cybersecurity through a threat-focused lens rather than system management. He told us: “I have a few really smart people doing cybersecurity. I have ten million people out there trying to break the network. I look at it from their perspective.”

James also emphasized the human element in cybersecurity. While he champions Zero Trust architecture and strong security protocols, he stressed that organizational culture, workforce awareness, and education are crucial. He noted, “Our users and people are both our biggest strength for security and cybersecurity, but they’re also our biggest weakness,” with issues like password discipline, unsecured network access, and security awareness critical factors in preventing breaches.

One of his most memorable insights was about leadership: “Never underestimate the importance of a phone call or face-to-face meeting.” James believes in knowing his team members as people, not just “butts in seats.” He emphasized that “every one of these individuals that support these missions are real people with real families and real problems.

James’ human-centric approach, business acumen, military leadership principles, and extensive technical expertise make him a valuable addition to the TripleCyber team. “I’ve learned in business that we have to do four things really well. We have to manage people, resources, time, and money. Doing that allows us to focus on our primary mission.” His Marine Corps experience strengthens this business foundation: “Take care of the mission; take care of the people. They will take care of each other if we do them right.”

Welcome aboard, James! We’re looking forward to your leadership in strengthening TripleCyber’s cybersecurity capabilities while continuing to foster our people-first culture.