Whole Cyber didn’t begin in a boardroom or from a business plan. It started with a failure—a personal one.
As Navy veteran Paul Cummings approached retirement, he did everything the system told him to do. He went through the Transition Assistance Program (TAPS), updated his résumé, and prepared to shift into the civilian workforce. But this was 2020--the height of COVID. The rules had changed, and no one had updated the playbook.
The résumé format he was taught was now obsolete. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) rejected applications before a human ever saw them. Months of effort, dozens of applications, and yet--silence. From this frustration, Paul did what veterans often do: he adapted.
Through networking, he discovered Vets2Industry, a nonprofit hosting monthly networking events for veterans and military spouses. It was there he learned the real rules—tailoring a résumé to each role, understanding how ATS filters work, and hearing story after story of people saying, “I want to break into cybersecurity”—but lacking guidance, mentorship, or IT experience.
It was a broken record: “Just get this cert, go get that cert.” But for many, the foundational knowledge wasn’t there. The system was gatekeeping success behind expensive bootcamps and assumptions.
Then came October 24, 2021.
At 11:30 PM, Paul received a call. A veteran in crisis had been targeted by a “COVID grant” scam. What began as a promise turned into a financial trap—an income-share agreement demanding 15% of his first-year earnings in exchange for access to a program he couldn't afford. He was laid off, overwhelmed by bills, and teetering on the edge.
Paul did what no cert ever teaches. He listened, helped, and offered a path forward--completely free, and without financial strings.
That night, the momentum began. A network of directors and supporters formed through a massive LinkedIn group chat. Together, they committed to something new: a non-profit workforce development organization built on access, empathy, and expertise.
They called it Whole Cyber—because it wasn’t about half-measures or partial pathways. It was about meeting people where they are, and walking with them until they’re where they want to be.
Today, Whole Cyber offers a comprehensive, 360-hour curriculum. It doesn’t just point to CompTIA or vendor certifications. Instead, it builds true readiness—38 role-based badges and micro-certifications that stack into real-world capability. It’s not just training; it’s transformation.
No cost. No income share agreements. Just community. Opportunity. And the belief that cybersecurity should be a doorway, not a paywall.
Empowering the Future of Cybersecurity Talent
Whole Cyber Human Initiative Inc. (WCHI) is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Non-Profit (SD-VOB) dedicated to transforming lives through innovative and accessible cybersecurity education. Founded by retired Navy veteran Paul Cummings, Leah McLean, and our founding Advisory Board, we are a global leader in workforce development research, leveraging nearly 300 years of combined industry expertise.
Our Approach
We bridge the gap between talent and opportunity by delivering complementary and immersive cybersecurity programs tailored for transitioning service members, veterans, military families, and first responders. With a curriculum designed to meet the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education’s (NICE) framework, we empower individuals to find their place among the 52 cybersecurity roles while developing the technical and non-technical skills required to thrive in the digital economy.
Our self-paced programs and tier-based cohorts provide mentorship, personalized career transition guidance, and comprehensive training. By curating resources from leaders like Cisco, Microsoft, AWS, and Fortinet, we save participants $8,500 to $26,000 in education costs compared to traditional bootcamps.
As Navy veteran Paul Cummings approached retirement, he did everything the system told him to do. He went through the Transition Assistance Program (TAPS), updated his résumé, and prepared to shift into the civilian workforce. But this was 2020--the height of COVID. The rules had changed, and no one had updated the playbook.
The résumé format he was taught was now obsolete. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) rejected applications before a human ever saw them. Months of effort, dozens of applications, and yet--silence. From this frustration, Paul did what veterans often do: he adapted.
Through networking, he discovered Vets2Industry, a nonprofit hosting monthly networking events for veterans and military spouses. It was there he learned the real rules—tailoring a résumé to each role, understanding how ATS filters work, and hearing story after story of people saying, “I want to break into cybersecurity”—but lacking guidance, mentorship, or IT experience.
It was a broken record: “Just get this cert, go get that cert.” But for many, the foundational knowledge wasn’t there. The system was gatekeeping success behind expensive bootcamps and assumptions.
Then came October 24, 2021.
At 11:30 PM, Paul received a call. A veteran in crisis had been targeted by a “COVID grant” scam. What began as a promise turned into a financial trap—an income-share agreement demanding 15% of his first-year earnings in exchange for access to a program he couldn't afford. He was laid off, overwhelmed by bills, and teetering on the edge.
Paul did what no cert ever teaches. He listened, helped, and offered a path forward--completely free, and without financial strings.
That night, the momentum began. A network of directors and supporters formed through a massive LinkedIn group chat. Together, they committed to something new: a non-profit workforce development organization built on access, empathy, and expertise.
They called it Whole Cyber—because it wasn’t about half-measures or partial pathways. It was about meeting people where they are, and walking with them until they’re where they want to be.
Today, Whole Cyber offers a comprehensive, 360-hour curriculum. It doesn’t just point to CompTIA or vendor certifications. Instead, it builds true readiness—38 role-based badges and micro-certifications that stack into real-world capability. It’s not just training; it’s transformation.
No cost. No income share agreements. Just community. Opportunity. And the belief that cybersecurity should be a doorway, not a paywall.
Empowering the Future of Cybersecurity Talent
Whole Cyber Human Initiative Inc. (WCHI) is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Non-Profit (SD-VOB) dedicated to transforming lives through innovative and accessible cybersecurity education. Founded by retired Navy veteran Paul Cummings, Leah McLean, and our founding Advisory Board, we are a global leader in workforce development research, leveraging nearly 300 years of combined industry expertise.
Our Approach
We bridge the gap between talent and opportunity by delivering complementary and immersive cybersecurity programs tailored for transitioning service members, veterans, military families, and first responders. With a curriculum designed to meet the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education’s (NICE) framework, we empower individuals to find their place among the 52 cybersecurity roles while developing the technical and non-technical skills required to thrive in the digital economy.
Our self-paced programs and tier-based cohorts provide mentorship, personalized career transition guidance, and comprehensive training. By curating resources from leaders like Cisco, Microsoft, AWS, and Fortinet, we save participants $8,500 to $26,000 in education costs compared to traditional bootcamps.
So, What is a “Whole Cyber Human?”
A Whole Cyber Human is more than a cybersecurity professional. It’s someone who possesses foundational and practical knowledge holistically across the IT and cybersecurity spectrum. These individuals, whether career pivoters, transitioning veterans, or students, are equipped with the technical expertise and soft skills to excel as force multipliers in the workforce.
At Whole Cyber, we redefine the talent pipeline by focusing on real-world applicability, inclusivity, and sustainability. Together, we’re shaping the future of cybersecurity one individual at a time.
At Whole Cyber, we redefine the talent pipeline by focusing on real-world applicability, inclusivity, and sustainability. Together, we’re shaping the future of cybersecurity one individual at a time.
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