Story By Katrice Williams
Photos by Aaron Hoffman

“I couldn’t be more proud that I did join, and I’m proud to call myself a veteran,” U.S. Navy veteran Brian Maroney states.

He thinks of himself as a true military brat after living all over the world throughout his childhood. Brian comes from a long line of military servicemen. His dad is a retired Navy veteran of twenty years who served within the intelligence community. Brian is actually an eighth-generation military serviceman within his family, adding to an extensive familial resume of patriotic service.

Road to Intelligence

Brian became fascinated with technology as early as middle school. Whether figuring out the intricacies of how electronics worked or making repairs to certain devices, he was intrigued by it all.

Immediately after graduating, and following in his dad’s footsteps, Brian enlisted in the Navy. He felt privileged to have his dad as a mentor. Brian knew that his dad embodied a wealth of knowledge and insight in the field of intelligence. Upon enlisting, Brian was certain about the career path he wanted to pursue, and his dad was a valuable resource throughout the process.

Following boot camp, Brian was stationed in Pensacola, Florida, for six months, where he received training in his field of choice: cybersecurity.

NSA

In 2008, Brian was sent to a duty station in Hawaii to be a part of the National Security Agency (NSA), the U.S. intelligence agency responsible for protecting the nation’s communication networks and information systems from foreign cyber threats.

Brian was able to put his skills to good use. As part of NSA Hawaii, he supported security operations and engaged in countless tasks to ensure national and international public safety for all troops. Brian’s assignment in Hawaii was completed in 2011. He was then relocated to serve with NSA Georgia, where he participated in cyber operations and intelligence analysis while continuing to support national security missions.

“I was very focused on the missions and the operations,” he says.

While serving, Brian participated in both Operation New Dawn and Operation Enduring Freedom. He helped maintain the freedoms that we enjoy by protecting our home front from cyber threats. He assisted in cyberwarfare and cyber intelligence to aggressively combat cyberattacks from hackers and the broader digital security threats of cyberterrorism. These threats exist on the Internet with the intent to steal sensitive information. They are especially dangerous when they involve the highly sensitive matter of government intelligence.

Brian was responsible for protecting against nearly anything that could threaten national security.

Post-Military Intelligence

Upon completion of his first military term in 2013, Brian did not re-enlist. He felt that he could use his skills to make an even greater difference in the civilian arena.

“I loved the military. I loved the camaraderie. It taught me not only to be a good team player, but to be a leader in the industry. It set me up with a good foundation and refined my skills to enhance the cybersecurity industry. I felt I could have a bigger impact when I was out,” he says.

In 2015, Brian began working abroad as a contractor in Abu Dhabi to aid the U.S. and various allies with cybersecurity.

“Using our cybersecurity operations, we were able to prevent many of these cyberattacks while also supporting other countries like France, South Korea, and Japan,” he says.

Brian maintained connections from his military career and was recommended to pursue a mission in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Brian was chosen to lead the mission, which involved black hat hacking and helping to protect countries from terrorist activities.

He didn’t stop there. He later took his expertise to Nike and assisted with protecting the organization from cyberattacks. Brian is currently working to protect small and medium-sized business owners by offering solutions that help prevent cyberattacks. He is confident that the service is a vital one.

“An attack can shut down a business, affecting revenue and daily operations,” he says.

Brian is aware of the impacts of artificial intelligence (AI). He feels that it will continue to become more prominent; however, he plans to be prepared.

“We want to ensure that we’re safeguarded against the threats of AI, but we also want to enhance our everyday use of it to provide the best experience for our customers,” he says.

Digital Automotive Media Outlet

Thanks to his technology background, Brian is proficient in website design. He used his skills to build an automotive website, as he understood the size and passion of the automotive community. He formed a group that included individuals, many of them veterans, from all around the world with similar automotive interests.

“No matter where you go, there’s a community for people who like cars. It’s a very strong community,” he says.

Brian began writing news articles about the industry, including stories about individuals and their personal vehicles. The website eventually reached more than 700,000 followers.

“Around 2015, it was one of the top 20,000 websites. It was a fun project,” he says.

There were various cyberattacks against the website; however, Brian was able to use his cybersecurity skills to protect it.

CNN Travel

Brian has been privileged to travel to 52 countries on various career-related assignments. He was able to partner with Cable News Network (CNN) for a couple of travel reports, giving the media conglomerate insight into many of the captivating sights and points of interest throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa.

He often took three or four days every two weeks to travel to various countries.

Interests in Retro

Brian is also a retro antique dealer, particularly when it involves retro gaming. Thanks to his background, he is able to repair gaming systems, including old Nintendo and Sega Genesis consoles.

He also has an affection for vintage signage, an interest he picked up from his dad. During his childhood, his dad collected old signs, purchasing them and hanging them throughout the basement.

“When I was growing up, everything that surrounded me in my basement was old advertisements. I would sit in the basement playing video games and just stare at the signs,” Brian recalls.

He remembers, in particular, an old classic Coca-Cola sign.

Community

Brian and his wife, Shay, are glad to have made the local area home for themselves and their children. The couple could not be more proud of their Richmond Hill community.

“It’s a strong community. The biggest thing is the bond that we have,” he says.

Brian feels that his community is tight-knit, one where neighbors care about each other and are always willing to offer a helping hand. He remembers a couple of trying times over the years, particularly the devastating flooding caused by Tropical Storm Debby in 2024. Richmond Hill was one of the hardest-hit areas.

“We all banded together and helped those impacted. I couldn’t be more proud,” he says.

He also recalls a period of inclement winter weather several years ago. The conditions brought a heavier-than-normal snowfall to the area. He and his wife were out of town when it occurred. In the couple’s absence, neighbors came together to help his mother-in-law.

“They gave her a generator, helped with food, and just looked out for her during the storm,” he says.

Brian has served his country both in and out of uniform. He has helped keep this nation, along with many others, secure from countless threats, allowing for the priceless freedoms enjoyed by so many.