Blueprint: Build the Best in Cyber Defense Leading by Example: Confidence and Responsibilty in Cybersecurity with Zak Stufflebeam
Aug 19, 2025
Zak Stufflebeam, a Director of Cybersecurity with a military background, discusses his captivating journey from military training to leading cybersecurity teams. He highlights key leadership lessons, emphasizing the importance of confidence and adaptability. Zak shares insights on overcoming imposter syndrome and fostering team trust, drawing parallels between military and corporate environments. He also offers essential advice for aspiring SOC analysts and underscores the significance of perseverance and maintaining focus under pressure for success in high-stakes situations.
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Early Military Leadership Shaped Calm
- Zak joined the Air Force young and quickly became an element leader responsible for ~20 people during basic training.
- He credits that early leadership role with teaching him to remain calm under pressure during crises.
Learning By Doing With Vendors And Pen Testers
- While deployed and with DISA, Zak taught himself troubleshooting and saved money by replacing vendor visits.
- That curiosity led the Secret Service pen tester to mentor him and pushed him toward offensive security.
Bootstrapping An Offensive Cyber Lab
- Zak designed and stood up the first offensive cyber lab for his state using scavenged servers from other branches.
- Repurposing available resources let them build tooling and training capabilities without new funding.
