Meet Ta'Quierra Pittman, Security Analyst
When Ta’Quierra Pittman left the Air Force after seven years, she wasn’t sure what came next. Today, she’s found a new way to protect people — this time from cyberattacks — while building a fast-moving career powered by curiosity, teamwork, and AI.
November 14, 2025
From the Air Force to Abnormal: A New Way to Protect People
For seven years, Ta’Quierra served as an Air Force Police Officer — a role defined by structure, accountability, and protecting others. When it came time to transition out of military life, she knew she wanted a new kind of challenge but wasn’t yet sure what it would look like.
“After seven years of service, I took a leap of faith and decided to separate from the military,” she said. “I didn’t know exactly where I’d land, but I knew I wanted to keep helping people.”
A few months later, a job post for a Security Analyst at Abnormal caught her eye. “I saw the posting on LinkedIn and thought, is this real? It sounded too good to be true,” she said with a laugh. “But the more I learned about how Abnormal protects customers, the more it aligned with what I wanted to do.”
Her story is a reminder that skills gained in military service — teamwork, focus, and problem-solving — translate powerfully into cybersecurity.
When Purpose Meets Impact
Early in her tenure, Ta’Quierra attended a company All Hands where her manager shared the number of emails processed by the team and how that work translated to millions saved for customers.
“That moment hit me,” she recalled. “You’re doing your day-to-day, labeling and investigating, and you don’t always think about the bigger picture. Seeing the data made me realize how much we’re actually helping people and companies.”
That realization deepened her sense of purpose, with the same drive she carried in the Air Force, now reimagined through technology and teamwork.
“Seeing those numbers during All Hands made me realize how much our work truly helps people and companies.”
Mentorship and Teamwork that Drives Impact
As a new Security Analyst on the Customer Security Investigations (CSI) team, Ta’Quierra dove into the work — quickly mastering tools, investigating threats, and learning from peers. “Everyone is so willing to help,” she said. “The support here is incredible. If you have a question, there’s always someone ready to jump in and guide you.”
Her Air Force experience shaped how she approaches every investigation. “In the military, you learn discipline, communication, and how to stay calm under pressure,” she said. “Those skills translate directly to this work.”
That mindset soon led to mentorship. “I was asked to pair with an analyst in training to go through labeling together,” she said. “Watching their confidence grow reminded me how much we all lift each other up here.”
“In the military, you learn discipline, communication, and how to stay calm under pressure. Those skills translate directly to this work.”
Accelerated Learning with AI
AI is at the heart of Ta’Quierra’s work. It surfaces suspicious messages, flags anomalies, and allows her to focus where human judgment matters most.
“AI helps us work faster and more precisely,” she said. “It narrows down the noise so we can concentrate on protecting our customers.”
She especially appreciates tools like Angler, which let analysts look back over historical activity to identify emerging patterns. “It’s like having another set of eyes,” she explained. “You can see trends, connect dots, and make smarter calls.”
Ta’Quierra’s story shows what AI in cybersecurity looks like in practice — not replacing people, but empowering them to make more confident, informed decisions.
“AI helps us work faster and more precisely. It narrows down the noise so we can concentrate on protecting our customers.”
Recognition, Growth, and What’s Ahead
Recognition came quickly. Ta’Quierra earned her first Bonusly for surpassing 40+ Net Effective Hours — an achievement that fueled her motivation. “It gave me the push to keep going,” she said. “It felt like confirmation that I was on the right path.”
She’s also been recognized twice as the “Ultimate Queue Crusher,” after labeling nearly 3,000 messages in a single week. “I like to stay busy,” she said. “When I see that queue, I just dive in.”
Looking ahead, Ta’Quierra wants to continue growing her technical expertise and eventually help lead others through similar transitions. Her advice for anyone making the leap from the military into tech? “Don’t let job descriptions scare you. The skills you already have — teamwork, discipline, problem-solving — they translate more than you think.”
