JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Washington – Capt. Isaac Tian, a cyber operations officer with the 262nd Cyber Operations Squadron, is among the first Air National Guard members selected under a newly established direct commission program for cyber professionals.
A combination of personal motivation and professional experience drove Tian’s journey into the Air National Guard. Having grown up in San Diego, California, he had considerable exposure to the Navy and Marines. He even participated in Young Marines, a youth program similar to Junior ROTC.
“I learned a lot from them,” Tian said. “It was an opportunity to reinvent myself, to learn how to be stronger, be tougher, to care about the people next to me and to be a leader from a really young age.”
Despite his exposure to and appreciation for those military values, Tian did not consider serving in the military at that time.
“I was on the path to go to college and do computing or do something technical,” Tian said. “I went through college, UC Berkeley four years, and went straight to grad school. That’s when I moved up to Seattle.”
While pursuing a master’s degree and doctorate of philosophy in computer science at the University of Washington, the whole world turned upside down with the coronavirus pandemic. However, while Tian and the majority of the population were stuck at home, the National Guard was assisting with food banks, vaccine distribution, and fighting fires.
“Living through that national and local disaster and seeing that there is an opportunity for people to go out there — even on a part-time basis — to take time off their full-time job and help out their neighbors, I think that was really powerful,” Tian said.
The third aspect that motivated Tian to join the Washington Air National Guard was the increase in the multitude and magnitude of cybersecurity incidents and attacks.
“Our peer adversaries are always trying to get a leg up, always trying to get a technological advantage,” Tian said. “If they’re going to most likely be employing their best and brightest, most qualified people to try to win that battle, we should be too.”
With his experience and education, combined with a desire to apply it and serve the state and country, Tian enlisted on Nov. 17, 2023, with plans to commission.
“When I first signed on, I was just going to go through the whole process: go through [Officer Training School] and be an O-1,” Tian said. “Around that time, I saw that there was a cyber direct commission program.”
The direct commission program allows individuals with specialized skills, such as those in the fields of medicine and law, to receive recognition for their professional experience and education. The program offers the opportunity to commission as an officer, thereby bypassing some of the traditional entry requirements.
Tian contacted the recruiter to ask whether it applied to him. Unfortunately, the program was only for active-component personnel. But shortly after enlisting, Tian discovered a memo outlining the process for a similar program within the Air National Guard.
After much investigation and coordination, Tian submitted a package to the National Guard Bureau for review under the first-ever cyber direct commission and constructive service board. The board awarded him with four years of constructive service and direct commission as an O-3.
Tian’s case is groundbreaking for the Air National Guard because it is the first time the program has been extended to cyber professionals.
“It was a challenge, and took a lot of people,” Tian said. “I’m really thankful that everybody had the patience. A lot of people worked really hard to help me get this far.”
While he is proud to be one of the first to commission under the new program, Tian remains focused on the bigger picture.
“It does mean a lot to go out there and be the first, to pave that road and then to make it easier for the people behind me,” Tian said. “It’s an honor and a responsibility.”
Looking ahead, Tian is excited to continue his service with the 262nd Cyber Operations Squadron and contribute to national security through his expertise. His unique blend of academic qualifications positions him as an asset to the Washington Air National Guard.