In this episode of Cyber Inspiration, Evgeniy Kharam speaks with Kevin Spease, founder of ISSE Services, about cybersecurity in highly sensitive military environments and what it truly means to build security into systems from day one.

Kevin shares how working on the Minuteman III missile program shifted his view of cybersecurity from compliance-driven documentation to engineering-driven protection. He explains why “security baked in” matters far more than simply checking boxes.

The discussion also dives into:

• FedRAMP and government cybersecurity requirements
• Supply chain security risks
• Growing a cybersecurity company organically over 20 years
• The importance of honesty, ethics, and curiosity in hiring
• Why soft skills matter in technical environments
• Advice for veterans transitioning into cybersecurity careers
• Leadership lessons from difficult moments and uncertainty

This episode is packed with practical insights for cybersecurity professionals, founders, engineers, veterans, and anyone interested in critical infrastructure security.