Billy Rios
QED Secure Solutions
Portland, OR USA
"Pick those places that you love and you’re most curious about, and just go for it!"
Career Roadmap
Billy's work combines: Technology, Business, and Problem Solving
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
It certainly helps to have an academic foundation in cybersecurity. A degree can be very useful but it's not necessarily required. I think the most important thing to have in this field is curiosity. If you have the curiosity to explore, learn about the field, and try things out, you don't necessarily need the degree to succeed. I also recommend looking into certifications. They're a great way to explore a variety of things and they show prospective employers that you have formal education.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Business and Information Systems
University of Washington
Graduate Degree
Information Systems
Hawaii Pacific University
Graduate Degree
Business Administration and Management
Texas A&M University-Commerce
Graduate Degree
Military Operational Arts and Sciences
Air University
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Co-Founder:
Bachelor's Degree: Cybersecurity
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
I've taken a lot of twists and turns
1.
When I was growing up, cybersecurity wasn’t its own field of study yet but I still dabbled in it, tinkering with things, exploring networks, and breaking into video games.
2.
I earned my bachelor’s degree in business and information systems from the University of Washington, followed by a master’s degree in information systems from Hawaii Pacific University.
3.
I also earned my MBA from Texas A&M University as well as a master’s degree in military operational arts and sciences from Air University.
4.
I’ve built my career in cybersecurity working for a variety of organizations, including the government, the military, Microsoft, and Google.
5.
I eventually started my own cybersecurity company, which taught me a lot about how to run a business—the company was ultimately acquired.
6.
I co-founded a second cybersecurity company, QED Secure Solutions, and have been here since.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
I'm struggling and I'm the only one that this is happening to.
How I responded:
Like many others, I've experienced doubt in times of struggle on my journey. I sometimes joke that when I was starting out, if you were a betting person, you wouldn't have bet on me. Now I've built a great career in cybersecurity and am running a successful company, but I still experience struggle and loss. That's okay. It's okay to have those moments. It's okay to lose every once in a while. It's easy to question if you're the only one that this is happening to—just know that you're not.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
When transitioning out of the military, I said no when asked if I'd need help. I didn't have the introspection to fully realize the effects it had on me. I brushed it off and made a joke. I encourage others to take the help that's offered.