Today we chat with Cristina Pawlica, a distinguished member of the Simply Cyber community with an extensive background in cybersecurity and military service. Cristina shares her unique journey from serving in the Air Force as a Force Support Officer to pursuing a career in cybersecurity.

She delves into crucial leadership lessons and discusses the significant role of cybersecurity in K-12 education institutions. The conversation touches on her active involvement in the 2010 Foundation, which supports Air Force Academy cadets, and her passion for volunteering and helping build cyber resilience.

This episode concludes with a rapid-fire segment, providing a fun glimpse into Christina's personal preferences and insights on cybersecurity.

Episode Links:
- LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristina-pawlica
- Foundation 2010 - https://www.2010foundation.org

Resources Mentioned in Interview:

- SimplyCyber Con Presentation - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7ssW-OScdQ
- SimplyCyberCon - https://simplycybercon.org

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Elevating Cyber Careers Podcast
00:31 Meet Christina Polla: From Air Force to Cybersecurity
01:35 Christina's Cybersecurity Journey
05:53 Leadership Lessons from the Air Force
09:38 Creating Cybersecurity Content on LinkedIn
14:05 Current State of Cybersecurity in K-12 Schools
23:44 The 2010 Foundation: A Class Initiative
26:17 Introduction to the 2010 Foundation
26:45 Cadet for a Day Program
27:23 Supporting Cadet Parents
27:58 Addressing Hardships at the Academy
29:43 The Importance of Volunteering
31:42 Travel and Cybersecurity
35:09 Rapid Fire Questions
44:22 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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Connect with your host: James R. McQuiggan:
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jmcquiggan
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jamesmcquiggancissp
Website: https://jamesmcquiggan.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jamesmcquiggan.cissp
Email: [email protected]
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Simply Cyber empowers people who want a rewarding cybersecurity career 💪
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Video Editing / Sound Engineering: Matthew Bliss, MB Podcasts - https://www.mbpod.com
YouTube Title Graphic: London Company
Video Podcast graphics: Katie McQuiggan (www.katiemcquiggan.com)
Music Provided by: AppleHillStudios at Envato Elements
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Presented by Simply Cyber Media Group
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