Akwaaba, welcome!
Built to protect. Wired to learn.
I'm Manuel Yannick Armah, but most people call me Yannick. I'm a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and Ghanaian-American engineer who traded petroleum engineering in Kumasi for cloud security. I build secure cloud environments and show how I did it. The full story is better told over a call.
★ Marine Corps Veteran
Cloud DevOps
Cybersecurity
Threat Intel
Systems Admin
Oil wells → firewallsSemper Fidelis
AS FEATURED INMilitary Families Magazine & MilMentorThe path from Marine Corps to Cloud DevOps Engineer
Read the feature →
how I got here
From oil wells to firewalls.
I started out studying how oil moves through rock. Then I moved to the States, joined the Marine Corps, and found out I'd rather understand how data moves through networks. Every step since then has been about turning discipline into skill.
2020 — 2022 · KUMASI, GHANAKwame Nkrumah University of Science & TechnologyStudied petroleum engineering: MATLAB, reservoir and drilling engineering, and the habit of modeling a system before touching it. Interned at GOIL PLC and trained in IT at IPMC Ghana, which is where the tech bug first bit.
2023 · U.S. MARINE CORPSCorporal, United States Marine CorpsKept high-availability systems and data links running, troubleshot failures under pressure, and led and cross-trained a team.
2024 — 2026 · PURDUE GLOBALB.S. CybersecurityEarned while on active duty, made the Chancellor's List seven times, and joined NSLS.
2025 — 2026 · UNIVERSITY OF THE PEOPLEB.S. Computer ScienceA second degree, earned alongside the first, in Linux, Python, and the fundamentals underneath it all.
2025 · CYBER SECURITY FORUM INITIATIVEThreat intelligence analyst → assistant team leadResearched ransomware groups using MITRE ATT&CK, the Kill Chain, and the Diamond Model, and later helped lead the cohort.
2025 — 2026 · LEVEL UP IN TECH · BOOTS2BYTESCloud DevOps fellowship + AI/ML programA 37-week build program in AWS, Linux, Python, containers, and Terraform, plus a 12-week AI/ML and security track.
NOW · BUILDING IN PUBLICShipping my own labs, one secure build at a timeAfter a SkillBridge internship as a Site Reliability Engineer (Federal) at Zscaler, I'm building Azure and AWS projects and getting ready for the next mission. Ask me what's next →
“Service does not end when you leave the military. It means using what you have learned to support others.”
“Security isn't hiding the password better. It's deciding who gets to ask for it.”
“Se wo were fi na wosankofa a yenkyi.” It is not wrong to go back for what you forgot.
“Semper Fidelis.” Always faithful to the mission, the team, and the people who come after.
stuff I've built
Security isn't a setting. It's the design.
Every build ships with the errors I hit and how I fixed them. This is the short version. The deep dive, with the trade-offs and what I'd do at scale, is a call away.
AZURE · IDENTITYRepo ↗
The web server never stores the database password
Azure SQL, Key Vault, and a managed identity, documented with every error and its fix.
Key VaultManaged IdentityAzure SQLRBACLinux
AZURE · NETWORKINGRepo ↗
A database with no public IP
Two subnets and NSG rules with a deny behind them. Ping dropped to 100% packet loss while SSH kept working.
VNets & SubnetsNSGsNetwork SecuritySSHTroubleshooting
AZURE · GOVERNANCERepo ↗
Who can act, what can be built, who finds out
RBAC, Azure Policy, and budget alerts on one resource group, mapped to NIST CSF 2.0.
Azure PolicyRBACCost ManagementNIST CSF 2.0Governance
Fresh from GitHub
Updates automatically when I push a new project
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lately…
OCT 2026AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
JUN 2026Graduated: B.S. Cybersecurity, Purdue Global
OCT 2026590 service hours, honored by Miles for Military
APR 2026HashiCorp Terraform Associate (004)
what I'm good at
Built in labs. Tested under pressure.
CLOUD & DEVOPS
AWSAzureTerraformInfrastructure as CodeCI/CDContainerizationAmazon S3Key VaultAzure Policy & RBACLinuxPython
SECURITY OPERATIONS
Threat DetectionIncident ResponseVulnerability AssessmentVulnerability ManagementSecurity MonitoringZero TrustNIST CSFMitigation Strategies
THREAT INTEL & SIEM
SplunkSIEMLog ManagementEvent CorrelationCyber Threat IntelligenceRansomware AnalysisMalware ResearchOSINTMITRE ATT&CKDiamond Model
TOOLS
WiresharkNmapMetasploitBurp SuiteFTK ImagerAutopsyLinux FirewallsActive DirectoryIISPower BIMATLAB
LEADERSHIP
Small Team LeadershipCoaching & MentoringOperational PlanningTechnical WritingAnalytical ReportingProject CoordinationWorkload Prioritization
the paperwork (earned, not given)
Certified across cloud, security, and SIEM.
CERTIFIED
HASHICORP
7×
Chancellor's ListPurdue Global · 7 terms590
Hours of community serviceRecognized by Miles for Militarypress play
Grab a coffee. These ones go deep.
Full lab walkthroughs, conference recaps, and builds from start to finish, errors included.
▶
FEATURED · LAB WALKTHROUGH
Moving a database password out of a config file
Key Vault, managed identity, and Azure SQL, built step by step with every error left in.
Watch now ↗CONFERENCE RECAP
Video title
TECHNICIAN MODE · DIAGNOSTICS
Screws out. Panel off. Let's find the fault.
Before the cloud, there's a motherboard. Tracing the problem board by board, the way any bench tech would.
TECHNICIAN MODE · UPGRADE
RAM, SSD, and thermal pads, up close.
Reseating memory, checking the NVMe drive, and inspecting the thermal pads on the heat sink. Hardware is where security starts.
kind words from good people
“Any team that brings Manuel on is getting someone who will outwork the room while lifting the people around him.”
“Manuel brings a rare combination of curiosity and grit. He does not just want to check boxes and move on. He wants to understand systems deeply, whether that is AWS architecture, Kubernetes, automation or security compliance.”
Alecia Tolver20-year Army veteran · Executive & transition coach
“Manuel has distinguished himself as one of the most outstanding students I have encountered in my academic career.”
“His professionalism, attention to detail, and communication practices make him a trustworthy and highly valuable candidate for any organization.”
“Manuel consistently stands out as one of the top performers in the class.”
“His ability to speak well, work with others, and encourage others to do their best illustrates leadership skills.”
“He turned in all his assignments on time, and most of the time, he exceeded what the assignment required.”
“{{ cr.text }}”
Full signed letters are shared privately with verified hiring teams.
Request them with my resume →
made the magazine!
From mentee today to mentor tomorrow.
A feature on MilMentor, the platform connecting military job seekers with top employers. It follows my path toward Cloud DevOps and cybersecurity, guided by co-founder Peter Cline, and my plan to become a mentor myself.
“I know how valuable it is to have someone take the time to provide guidance, encouragement and practical career advice.”Read the full article ↗
THE FEED · UPDATED DAILY
Kind words from my people.
notes from the road
Every conference, written up honestly.
What I achieved, what I learned, what I'd do better, and the people I met.
No. 012026 · Florida
Military Influencer Conference 2026
wore the outfit. people noticed.
ACHIEVED
Walked in as a Marine in transition and walked out with a phone full of new connections: founders, recruiters, coaches, and fellow veterans, all from one weekend of real handshakes.
LEARNED
The room remembers stories, not titles. Leading with “Marine moving into cloud security” opened more doors than any résumé line.
DO BETTER
Follow up within 48 hours, not a week. This time some conversations cooled before I got back to them. Next year every handshake gets a coffee chat on the calendar before I fly home.
IMPACT
More motivation, sharper focus, and a network that is already cheering me on. I’ll be back next year.
next time, I will…
Pitch a panel or a lightning talk instead of only attending. Bring a one-page card with a QR code to my labs. Map out the booths and people I want to meet before day one, and post a recap within the week while the energy is still fresh.
what people said afterSee the post ↗
“You have a real gift for building genuine connections. People leave a conversation with you feeling heard.”
“Love seeing your growth. It’s inspiring to see how far you’ve come and how you keep pushing yourself. Keep going!”
“It was great seeing you at the MIC! I see you making big moves in the near future!”
“Manuel, my little brother, it was a pleasure seeing you at the MIC. I’m cheering you on.”
“Great experience. Love your outfit by the way.”
“It was so nice to meet you!”
No. 02Sep 2026 · Washington, DC
17th Annual Billington CyberSecurity Summit
event no. 5 this year.See the post ↗
ACHIEVED
My fifth event of the year. Met professionals from government and the private sector in one room.
LEARNED
How AI-enabled threats are changing the game, and what cloud security and DevSecOps teams are doing to build more resilient systems.
DO BETTER
Pick sessions ahead of time and bring sharper questions for the speakers, so every conversation goes one level deeper.
IMPACT
ACT Now Education’s 3-2-1 framework kept me focused, consistent, and intentional: show up, connect, keep growing.
I will…
…turn one summit topic into a hands-on lab, so what I heard on stage becomes something I can build.
No. 03Oct 28–29, 2025 · National Harbor, MD
Total Force+ Conference
met the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps.See the post ↗
ACHIEVED
Connected with outstanding professionals from across the military and veteran community, and got a photo with the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps.
LEARNED
Valuable insights from leaders across every branch on stage, and how much the community invests in people who are transitioning.
DO BETTER
Come with a short list of who I want to meet and one question for each, so every handshake has a purpose.
IMPACT
A rewarding experience that reminded me where I come from, and the knowledge and connections I keep using moving forward.
I will…
…apply what I learned and keep showing up for the Marines coming up behind me.
how I connect
The 3-2-1 framework I run every month.
Created by Jai Satters through MilMentor. It's why I show up to events with a plan and leave with real relationships.
3CONVERSATIONS
Three meaningful conversations a month about what moves my transition forward: career direction, industry insight, long-term goals.
→ One person ahead of me→ One peer→ One person coming up behind me
2EVENTS
Two purposeful events a month, and I capture the key takeaways from each one. That's where the write-ups above come from.
→ One event to learn→ One event to connect
1PRIORITY GOAL
One goal, fully committed, for the whole month. Broken into weekly actions and tracked to done.
→ Update resume or LinkedIn→ Finish a certification module→ Build one partnership→ Launch one initiative
Want to be one of my three this month? Book a call.
People I've met
still serving
The service didn't stop when the uniform did.
I'm a volunteer at heart. Everyone I help has served this country, or loves someone who did, and they deserve support quickly.
590hours of community service. Only 25 were required for the Miles for Military flight that took me to my graduation.
LTI Cohort 65 · we all painted the same flagUSO · Center RepresentativeWelcoming service members, veterans, and their families
2026 —Navy-Marine Corps Relief SocietyClient service assistant, connecting families to resources
2026 —Cyber Security Forum InitiativeVolunteer assistant team lead, threat intelligence
2025 —ACT Now EducationVolunteer, helping the military community find free certifications and career tools
2025 —
ALUMNI & COMMUNITIES
NPower · Alumnus
Leadership Transition Institute · Alumnus
IVMF · Alumnus
MilMentor · Mentee
American Corporate Partners (ACP) · Mentee
Miles for Military
ColorStack
NSLS
off the clock
Fast cars, fresh powder, full plates, one more episode.
FORMULA 1
A pit stop is just a really fast deploy.
Strategy, telemetry, and a crew that rehearses failure. I watch every race, even the 3 a.m. ones.
EATING THE WORLD
Jollof is home. The rest is a passport.
I'll cook jollof for you any day. Everything else I'm happy to let the experts make: sushi rolls, margherita, tacos, jerk chicken, and any pastry in the window. Know a spot I have to try? Tell me.
ON MY WATCHLIST
Great stories, binged responsibly.
BINGINGDrive to Survive · Mr. Robot
AI, ON REPEATLatent Space for agents and MCP · Practical AI for shipping it safely
SECURITYDarknet Diaries, true hacking stories
Hot take on AI agents + security? Bring it to coffee.
SKIING
Grew up in the heat. Found my calm in the cold.
Read the terrain, commit to the line, adjust on the way down. Skiing keeps me honest about speed and control.
FOOTBALL, THE ORIGINAL
I watch it. I play it. I call it football.
Ghana raised me on it. Pickup games, Sunday matches, and a lot of opinions about the Black Stars. Need one more for a game? I'm in.
BIKING
Two wheels, no notifications.
Long rides are where I sort out problems I couldn't solve at the keyboard.
let's talk
Pick a time. I'll bring the coffee.
30 minutes on Google Meet. We can talk about a role, a lab, the military-to-tech transition, or anything else. All times are Eastern Time (ET).
30 min · Google Meet video
Calendar invite and Meet link sent by email
Prefer a phone call? Add a U.S. number
YOU'RE BOOKED · {{ bkRef }}
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{{ bkMonth }}ET · Weekdays
hiring? start here
Request my resume.
Tell me a little about the role and I'll send over the latest version. You can also ask the front desk in the corner, and it'll walk you through it.
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Thank you. It's on its way soon.
You'll hear back at your work email. Want to talk sooner? Book a time.
say hi
Give a shout-out, or just say hi.
Worked with me, met me at an event, or watched a video? Leave a note. Messages show up once they're approved.
Medaase! Your note will appear once it's approved.
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Adinkrahene: the symbol of greatness
Good isn't the goal. Great is.
You've seen the highlights. The real conversation covers what I'd build for your team, how I'd secure it, and what I bring from the Corps. Let's have it.
Y
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