AFCEAN of the Month, October 2024
Lt. Col. Gilberto Perez, USAF, embodies the AFCEA inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility (IDEA) mission in all aspects of his work, military service and continued support of AFCEA. Col. Perez works closely with the AFCEA Cyber Committee and has been integral to the AFCEA Technology Committee white paper program, assisting with research, production and webinars.
Col. Perez is known for welcoming new members and fostering an inclusive environment. From championing his colleagues and fellow volunteers, to ensuring fellow committee members are kept in the loop when dealing with life events, he is a well-respected leader in the AFCEA community and known for going the extra mile.
Col. Perez provides guidance and mentorship, assisting with the success of his fellow AFCEANs. His IDEA-related insights regarding organizational development, readiness and defense strategies have been incredibly instrumental in shaping the world of cyber. He is currently leading a white paper research project with AFCEA’s Cyber Committee called “Tomorrow’s Trailblazers: IDEA-Strengthened Cyber Career Development Strategy” that looks to create a career development road map for early and mid-career cyber professionals from diverse backgrounds, experiences and professional journeys to support our nation’s cyber workforce.
In addition to his AFCEA International Cyber Committee involvement and active-duty military service, Col. Perez is currently working on his doctorate, conducting IDEA-related research specific to cyber and defense, which are two areas encountering many challenges related to recruitment and retention. Col. Perez is highly skilled at taking incredibly complex and wide-scale challenges, identifying critical need areas, and developing and implementing effective solutions that align with the mission and support the people involved throughout every step.
In 2024, Col. Perez received the prestigious Military Cyber Professionals Association Order of Thor from the U.S. Air Force’s most senior cyber leader, Lt. Gen. Robert Skinner, Defense Information Systems Agency director and JFHQ-DODIN commander.
He is also a recipient of the 2024 AFCEA IDEA Hero Award. Giving back is a major component of Col. Perez’s lifelong dedication to service, as evidenced by his extensive volunteerism, people-focused innovation and unwavering commitment to supporting others. His actions and subsequent impact people’s lives and careers, along with the organizations in which he is engaged, are a testament to the value of IDEA and its effort to make the world a better place.
