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J.D. Senger Credits Air Force for Security Smarts

Andy Morgan

11.05.2019


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J.D. Senger didn’t fly fighter jets in the U.S. Air Force, but he did help to pilot the military into the new field of computer security.

At Oncor, J.D. is our Information Security Officer. Each day, he relies on the computer and cyber security smarts gleaned from 20 years of active Air Force duty to keep the company’s extensive information technology safe and secure.

“What I learned in the Air Force was a big factor in understanding security concepts that we apply here today at Oncor,” he said. “There’s always so much to learn. You can do this for 40 years and still not understand it all.”

A native of North Dakota and Ohio, J.D. joined the Air Force in San Diego after a job as a printer. The Air Force, he believed, would be a good way to learn a skill and earn a college degree.

After basic training in Texas, J.D. was assigned to bases in Florida, Korea and Japan, with temporary assignments in Kuwait, Guam and Alaska.

“I did a lot and I got to see a lot,” he said. “We worked with the Air Force Command and the National Security Agency. Once, they sent me from Korea to Alaska to try and hack into the Alaska Headquarters Command. That got me excited about security.

“When I started in computers, I was working with mainframes and punch cards and magnetic tape,” he said. “Things changed quickly. But I liked it and so, I stuck with it.”

The Air Force not only taught him about computer security, but also the importance of continuous learning. He earned a bachelor’s degree in the Air Force and then a master’s degree in cyber security during his 10 years at Oncor. He’s now working on a doctorate.

“The military also made me a stickler for being punctual,” he said. “I’m also very organized. My inbox is empty before I go to bed at night.”

Underlying all that he gained from his military service is the honor of serving his country.

“That part is just natural. It’s part of the job. Service before self,” he said. “Even today, every time I hear the national anthem, it brings a tear to my eye.”

He said every veteran likes for someone to recognize them for their service. “If you have a family member or friend or relative who served, remember to tell them thanks on Veterans Day,” J.D. said. “It really makes their day and makes a difference.”