Information Security Engineer at ManTech International Corp.
Ex-airman now defends FBI from cyber attack.
By Warren Duffie

Trojan horses, spearfishing, Anna Kournikova. Computer viruses come in a whimsical variety of names, but they’re far from a laughing matter. In the hands of a skilled hacker or cyber terrorist, this technology can lay waste to even the most secure computer networks.

So it’s crucial that America’s government and security agencies have dedicated warriors to combat such threats – front-line troops such as Matthew Munro.

On the Job
Munro, 43, is an information security engineer for ManTech International Corp. – a leading provider of technologies and solutions to national security programs operated by the intelligence community and federal government.

Munro is in charge of a team that supports the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s security operations center. The analysts – all ManTech contractors – work 24/7.

“The FBI is like any other government agency and receives its share of security threats and issues,” said Munro, a former Air Force master sergeant. “The key to preventing breaches is getting critical information to the right people.”

Munro is on the job from 0630 to 1630. “The job is very satisfying and it mirrors what I did in the military,” said the 23-year veteran. “The hardest part was learning the lingo. Like each branch of the military, the FBI has its own unique language and work-speak. The most rewarding part is helping the world’s premier investigative organization stay on the cutting edge.”

In Uniform
Munro joined the Air Force in 1986. The 18-year-old was working a lousy job, attending night school and living with his parents. His life’s path was cloudy and uncertain. His father, himself an Air Force veteran, asked Munro what he wanted to do with his life, and recommended he consider joining the military.

“I checked out all the branches, but the Air Force looked the best,” Munro said. “I wasn’t a good swimmer and I wasn’t crazy about the idea of sleeping on the ground a lot.”

During his career, Munro served in Germany, Texas, Arkansas, Maryland, Korea, Georgia, Washington, D.C., and Iraq. He was trained as a special agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations.

The Transition
When he returned from Iraq in 2007, Munro knew his career was winding down. He wanted to get out with “all his fingers and toes intact” and began planning his transition. After completing a bachelor’s in computer studies from University of Maryland University College, he left the Air Force in 2010.

Besides attending transition classes, Munro called on his network of current and former colleagues. The outreach paid off: A former boss who worked for ManTech called to tell him about the information security engineer’s position. Within a month of retiring, he landed the job.

“I actually had three types of résumés,” Munro continued. “A standard one, a skills-based one, and one formatted like a letter. In all three, I highlighted my experience in cyber investigations, but my letter résumé also spotlighted my time in Iraq, when I helped investigate the remains of exploded IEDs, to determine who constructed them.”

Be financially savvy. “I had a friend who retired a year before me, and he almost cried when he saw his first civilian paycheck. He only took home $100 more than what he made in the military. You can make more as a civilian, but you’re taxed more and have to pay more out of pocket expenses.”

Build a network of friends and colleagues. “Keep in regular contact with everyone. Your network can be a powerful tool during your transition.”

How’d You Get That Job?
Besides attending transition classes, Matthew Munro called on his network of current and former colleagues. The outreach paid off: A former boss who worked for ManTech called to tell him about the information security engineer’s position. Within a month of separating, he landed the job.

“I actually had three types of résumés. A standard one, a skills-based one, and one formatted like a letter. In all three, I highlighted my experience in cyber investigations, but my letter résumé also spotlighted my time in Iraq, when I helped investigate the remains of exploded IEDs, to determine who constructed them.”

What Munro Likes About His Job

• My co-workers. They come from all walks of life and are as diverse as my Air Force colleagues.
• It’s a great feeling to know that my team and I are playing a vital role in safeguarding America’s security.

ManTech International Corporation
HQ: Fairfax, Va.
# of Employees: 10,000
2009 Revenue: $2 billion
www.mantech.com 

Did You Know?
Of ManTech’s 10,000 employees, half are military veterans or active Reservists.