Cybersecurity expert, veteran, LEGO fan
Sam Moyer loved playing with LEGOs as a child. He says it taught him to be disciplined about following directions and adhering to processes, both important skills for his career.
He is the Lead Cybersecurity Engineer for MxD, the digital manufacturing institute and National Center for Cybersecurity in Manufacturing, which equips manufacturers with the digital tools, cybersecurity, and workforce expertise needed to strengthen their companies. Sam is involved in everything security-related at MxD from awareness and education to policy creation, lifecycle management, adherence, ideation, and engineering.
Prior to joining MxD, Sam spent over 11 years on active duty supporting the United States Air Force and United States Space Force. Most recently, as a contractor, Sam supported the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Engineering Directorate as the Lead Information System Security Officer. He has held roles across the cyber spectrum, working on company-level network administration, cybersecurity governance, and the implementation of the Department of Defense (DoD) Risk Management Framework. While on active duty, Sam completed his undergraduate degree in Cybersecurity through the University of Maryland, University College.
For his dedication to serving his country and his unwavering commitment to protecting American manufacturing from cybersecurity threats making him an inspiration to many, Sam Moyer is a Modern Maker.
Q&A with Sam
How did you find your way to working in advanced manufacturing?
I always dabbled in computers in high school but didn’t get a start in cybersecurity until I enlisted in the Air Force. The Air Force had just restructured some of their computer-related careers, and I joined the newly formed “Cyber Surety” career field. I have worked at enterprise-level firewall and proxy administration, communication security (COMSEC), and information assurance (governance, risk, and compliance). After earning a degree in Cybersecurity and a few certifications, I left active duty and joined the Air Force Reserves (and am still a reservist). I also worked as a contractor supporting the Air Force Lifecycle Management Center, Engineering Directorate, before finding my way to MxD. Given MxD’s mission to advance and empower American manufacturing through digitization, it was a great fit to leverage my prior education and training toward informing, educating, and securing the manufacturers that support the Defense Industrial Base (DIB).
What is the most challenging part of your job?
The hardest part is keeping a plethora of individuals from multiple backgrounds and sectors on the same page while keeping them interested in what cybersecurity means for manufacturing industries. While it might not be the cutting edge of cybersecurity or information technology, it is a vastly important undertaking to help secure America's manufacturers and supply chains.
What is the best part of your job?
The people, work culture, and flexibility MxD has provided have been amazing, and I love the connections we are able to make, convening different stakeholders that might otherwise not meet. One of the strengths at MxD is our ability to provide an environment where industry, academia, and government can all come together to solve tough problems with innovative solutions. As an avid LEGO fan, I love seeing how pieces come together, especially when they come together in ways you had not thought of before.
What would people be surprised to learn about manufacturing or your role in it?
Just how smart, advanced, and clean modern manufacturing can be. Coming from outside of the sector not too long ago, I had a perception of manufacturing as a less desirable career path and equated it to the run-down industrial sectors you see in pockets near American cities. I’m happy to report that isn’t the case for the future of manufacturing.
I think people would also be surprised by the growing need for cybersecurity professionals within the manufacturing and industrial space. I feel it’s a sector that doesn’t quite correlate to modern technological trends, especially to those unfamiliar with the sector.
What advice do you have for someone new to the industry?
Lifelong learning is the key to life, so figure out the best way for you to learn and get involved that way. Manufacturing is a broad and expanding career. If you are new and underwhelmed, there are always retraining opportunities and industry needs to fill that you can pivot to like cybersecurity, data analytics, and supply chain management.
What makes you excited to go to work?
Knowing that what I’m doing is making a difference for American manufacturing, not just for the Department of Defense but my neighbors and friends who own manufacturing businesses, work for manufacturing companies, or provide the tools and services to keep America making.
What activity gives you the most energy?
Any activities that allow me to get deep into my own thoughts. This could be working out, hiking, exploring new cities or countries, or just taking time to process life.
What hobbies make you better at your career?
LEGO building for following directions and processes. First, it’s a cathartic act of following directions and building something out of seemingly nothing. It also helps with "attention to detail" which is paramount in cybersecurity. A missed or misplaced piece means time spent correcting. As a LEGO fan for years, it has also been interesting to see the unique ways or new structural techniques employed in building sets. (A model car from 2010 is constructed quite differently than a model from 2020. It's interesting to see the process maturity.)
How does the work you do impact the world?
We help small and medium manufacturers, owned by real everyday people, succeed and stay competitive in an ever-advancing and growing global market.
