Ryan Kovar: From Navy Sysadmin to Splunk Security Strategist

Early Career and Navy Service

• 💡 Ryan Kovar's journey into IT began with joining the US Navy, initially exploring roles in photography or radio and computer work.
• ⚓ He served as a system administrator on the USS Kitty Hawk, gaining experience with Windows NT, Unix, and Exchange.
• 🛡️ Kovar also managed cyber warfare defense for the fifth and seventh fleets during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, marking his first exposure to cyber security.

Transition to Civilian and Cybersecurity Roles

• ✈️ After the Navy, he worked for a defense contractor before moving to London to support the UK Home Office, where he stayed for four years.
• 🏢 Returning to the US, Kovar joined KPMG, working in big data and basic security, which led him to focus on the active adversary aspect of cybersecurity.
• 🏠 He helped build the first SOC and NOC at KPMG, gaining experience in enterprise monitoring.
• 🎓 While living in the UK, Kovar earned a Master's degree in Cybersecurity without a bachelor's degree, leveraging his professional development.

DARPA, Splunk, and SURGe Team

• 🚀 Kovar then worked at DARPA for four years, running a nation-state hunting team focused on research and development.
• 💻 He eventually joined Splunk, drawn by his prior use of their technology and the company's needs.
• 🛠️ At Splunk, he co-founded the SURGe research team, dedicated to solving