My Journey
From the plains of Wyoming to the digital frontier.
Hometown Roots
I grew up in Gillette, Wyoming. Around there, folks work hard, keep their word, and help each other out. That’s how I was raised, and it’s how I still approach my work today.
The Pivot to Cyber
I joined the Air Force to work in radio communications. While I was there, I learned about a new cybersecurity team called the Mission Defense Team. I studied for my Security+ certification, got accepted, and worked with a small crew to build new cyber defense methods from the ground up. Those methods were later adopted across most Air Force bases.
From Student to Mentor
That job introduced me to servers and enterprise networking. I put in the time to learn everything I could, and before long I was writing Linux guides that other team members used in training. I found out I enjoyed both solving tough problems and teaching others how to solve them too.
Barracks Connectivity
While I was deployed in Africa, the barracks didn’t have any internet. I ran a cable to my container, set up a router I had flashed with DD-WRT to bypass certain network restrictions, and got Wi-Fi working in our little connex box. It gave everyone a way to stay connected during downtime.
Sharing the Know-How
When I got back, I started a YouTube channel (now unlisted) with tutorials on setting up home servers. I liked finding ways to explain complicated steps so that anyone could follow along.
Starting Bighorn Byte
I started Bighorn Byte to bring that same hands-on help to Sheridan. My aim is to be the local tech person you can call when something breaks, when you want something set up right, or when you just need a clear answer.