San Antonio cyber bootcamps seek military officers

SAN ANTONIO – As the military continues to face more cutbacks, skilled cybersecurity specialists are leaving the service and looking for opportunities on the civilian side.

In an effort to assist military officers focus their skills in an entrepreneurial direction, the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce is planning to conduct a series of Cybersecurity Bootcamps beginning in March.

Two former military officers who already made a successful transition to the private sector are spearheading the program. Joe Krull with Denim Group and Brad Morrison, founder and CEO of Innove LLC, are heading up the effort.

John Dickson, also with the Denim Group and chair of the Technology subcommittee for the San Antonio Chamber (formerly the Greater San Antonio Chamber) also is involved

The chamber is seeking applications from officers who have the requisite skills and are interested in learning how to launch their own business. There is no cost for applicants who are selected for the program.

The bootcamp will consist of four quarterly programs with the first one set to begin on March 20.

Session one will focus on business strategy and planning.

The second session in June will focus on business financing.

A third session in September will look at sales and marketing strategies.

The final session in December will focus on human resources. Locations for the sessions will rotate between various sponsor companies in the San Antonio area.

“We really want these talented people to stay in San Antonio once they leave the service,” Morrison says. “So we will work with them and assign them to a mentor to provide them with the basic business skills they need to be successful outside the military.”

For more information and to get an application, call Michelle Morris at 210-229-2105.