Carmelo Walsh

Hi! I'm Carmelo Walsh; cybersecurity pro, ukulele enthusiast, part-time runner fitness wannabe, and full-time person trying to juggle work, wellness, and wonder. This is my personal site where I've blogged about everything from cybersecurity rants to old-school highlights from back in the day.

I found a quote that really stuck: "That's pretty much how I live my life now, anchored in Wealth, Health, and Inner Self."

Building Wealth 💰

My Cybersecurity Career 🔐

Back then, “Information Security” wasn't a real field yet, we were just lumped in under “IT”. After leaving the Corps, I joined the Department of Corrections and worked my way up from a corrections officer to one of the youngest State network specialists at the time. I was only 22 going on 23. Now? I serve as Vice President of Cybersecurity Operations at Magellan Health. I oversee a bunch of really smart, passionate folks and lead areas like AppSec, Threat Intelligence, IR, BCP, and more.

Building Health 🏃‍♂️

Running, Fitness & Fighting 🥷

Running and I have a complicated relationship. In the Marine Corps, I had to run, topping out at about 6 miles a year for a while. Once I got out, I chose to get as strong as I could, but after a shoulder injury in 2014, I realized I needed to switch things up. I started running in 2015. I'm not fast, but I'm somewhat consistent. I can average 5-6 miles a week, even in Phoenix heat.

To keep things interesting, my son and I tackle obstacle races like Spartan and Rugged Maniac. I still hit the gym regularly to stay functional, strong, and sweaty. Lately, I've also taken up Filipino Martial Arts, which basically means whacking each other with rattan sticks and calling it a workout.

Building Inner Self 🎵

Ukuleles & Music 🎸

My love for the ukulele started in Hawaii. I heard Jake Shimabukuro play and was blown away. I've met him a few times and every time, I walk away inspired to play more, and play better. Now I play every day. I play the guitar too, and dabble a little with the keyboard.

I challenge myself with 100-Day Projects, like learning to play “Bohemian Rhapsody” on uke. The discipline helps me stay grounded and gives me something creative to strive for. I run the Phoenix Ukulele Group on Zoom and help out with in-person meetups; we've built an amazing little community, not just from Phoenix, but from all over.