Reflection 3: Interview with LT Christopher Gregory
Director of IT Support for the Navy Reserve
Interviewed by: Alexander L. Trevino
Spring 2026 CYSE 368 Internships in Cybersecurity
Professor Teresa Duvall
TA Joshua Russell
Commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command
Due: April 5, 2026

I chose to interview Lieutenant Christopher Gregory because his career path shows
how curiosity, hard work, and real-world experience can lead to success in the cyber and IT
field. I currently work at Commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command, where I am
completing my internship under his supervision. Since CNRFC sits near the top of the Navy
Reserve chain, our IT shop supports large scale issues that can affect multiple commands
across the Reserve force. Working under LT Gregory has given me the chance to see how IT
supports mission readiness while also requiring strong security, accountability, and
leadership. His story, experience, and advice made him a great person to interview for this
paper.
LT Gregory explained that he was a late starter in the IT world, but he always had a
natural curiosity about computers. He said that when he was younger, computers were not
as easy to buy and use as they are today, so if you wanted one, you often had to build it
yourself. That helped him learn how computers worked from the ground up. He started his
military career in the Air Force as an electronics technician, where he learned about radio
signals, weather, and how those things can affect missions. In 2008, he deployed to Iraq for
a year. While there, he started as a low-ranking airman, but through his skill and work ethic,
he worked his way up to running the entire IT network for the base. His job was to make
sure communication stayed secure and successful for everyone, including senior
leadership.
He later spent twelve years working with array ship calibration for anti-mine
systems. This work involved balancing electromagnetic fields so ships could pass through
mine areas without setting them off. One of the major accomplishments during that time was being part of the team that set up the 110 coefficient amp on B pow for the USS Ford. After that, he knew he wanted to keep growing in the field. He worked hard to earn his undergraduate degree in Information Technology Management, which he completed in December 2019 in less than two years. He then applied for direct commission and became an Information Professional Officer in August 2020. Soon after commissioning, he completed his master’s degree in Computer Science in December 2020.
One of his first jobs after commissioning was working in the Pentagon in the R6 department as the Director of Information for the Navy Reserve, where he focused on policy and strategy. He later became the Acting Deputy Chief Information Officer. After that, he redesignated from an 1825 IP Officer to a 1207 TAR HR Officer. He currently works as the Director of IT Support for the Navy Reserve, where he has led projects that improved the way support is handled across the force, including creating a ticketing application that reduced mistakes and sped up the process.
After speaking with him, one thing that stood out most was what he called natural intellectual curiosity. He said this can take someone farther than degrees or certifications alone because it pushes them to keep learning and growing. He also said one of the best technical habits a person can have is asking why until they fully understand the problem. For example, if a computer will not turn on, you should not stop at just finding the bad part. You should keep asking why that part failed, what it affects, and how the system works together. He believes this is how people build real technical knowledge instead of just surface level troubleshooting.

LT Gregory also talked about the soft skills needed in IT. He said one of the most important is being able to explain information in a way that customers can understand. Not every customer has the same level of computer knowledge, so IT workers have to know how to adjust their explanation depending on who they are speaking to. He also stressed the importance of strong communication and professionalism. He gave an example of a junior IT sailor who was technically capable but handled communication poorly. In the example, a captain had a network issue, and instead of respectfully explaining the next steps, the sailor gave a poor response and closed the ticket. LT Gregory explained that the better approach would have been to respectfully let the customer know the issue needed to be elevated and then follow up properly. That example showed how communication can matter just as much as technical skill.
When asked what entry level jobs are best for gaining experience in the field, LT Gregory said the best way is to get in the trenches. He believes the military is one of the best ways to enter IT because it can provide both a security clearance and training in many technical areas. He also said the military gives people room to learn through failure and improvement, which is not always the case in the civilian world. Outside the military, he said any hands-on work like building data centers, working with racks and servers, or learning network setup can give someone a strong foundation. His advice was to start where the work is, ask questions, and learn everything possible about the environment.
Finally, LT Gregory said that when hiring full time employees, the main thing he looks for is intellectual curiosity. He believes degrees and certifications matter, but they only go so far if the person does not truly care about the work. He wants people who are willing to keep learning, solve problems, and stay involved. He also values people who are not afraid to do the smaller or less glamorous tasks, whether that means crawling under a desk or tracing a cable. In his view, no job is beneath a good leader or a good technician because the mission still has to get done.
Overall, I chose LT Gregory because his story reflects many of the qualities I respect and want to build in my own career. His path into cyber and IT was not simple, but it shows how far curiosity, hard work, and persistence can take someone. Interviewing him gave me a better understanding of what it takes to succeed in this field, both technically and professionally. It also reminded me that communication, humility, and the willingness to keep learning are just as important as technical ability.