W. Christopher Cook
About the donor:
Colonel, USAF (Retired) Wyatt C. (Chris) Cook is the principal owner of San Antonio Cyber Consultants --an independent senior management consultancy specializing in expanding cyber security academic programs, retaining, recruiting and growing cyber security businesses, and increasing community cyber security awareness and preparedness.
He has forty years of public service, serving in senior intelligence, cyber, cyber security and public safety leadership positions in local and federal government. Most recently he served as Director of Strategic Planning, Facilities, for the San Antonio area regional 9-1-1 district. During twentyeight years of military service he filled a variety of senior staff and command positions.
- Successfully supported combat operations in Operations JUST CAUSE (Panama), DESERT STORM (Iraq), and ENDURING FREEDOM (Global War on Terrorism).
- Served in Washington DC (Pentagon and National Security Agency); San Antonio, Texas; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Panama City, Panama; Taipei, Taiwan and Misawa, Japan.
- Final assignment was as Director of Staff, Air Intelligence Agency, Lackland AFB.
As a community volunteer, he led community participation in DARK SCREEN -a 2003 community based cyber defense exercise. Since then, he also:
- Co-chaired three San Antonio Information Technology (and Cyber) Economic Impact Studies.
- Led the successful effort to attract the new AF Cyber Command to San Antonio, for which he was named the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce 2010 Volunteer of the Year.
- Organized the San Antonio area CyberPatriot program, an Air Force association youth education and cyber defense competition. His work resulted in Air Force Association designation of San Antonio as a CyberPatriot Center of Excellence.
In 2014, he opened a consultancy, San Antonio Cyber Consultants. He joined the Armour.io and Military City, USA Foundation Board of Directors in 2014 and joined the lnfoCyte and New Dominion Enterprises Board of Directors in 2015. He served as the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce Military Liaison to the 25th Air Force Commander and as an Honorary 67th Cyberspace Wing Commander. He is the Co-founder and Director of the San Antonio CyberPatriot Center of Excellence and Director of the CyberTexas Foundation, a 501 c3. He was recognized as a San Antonio Tech Titan in 2015 and an FBI Director's Community Leader in 2016.
His academic credentials include, Air War College (M.S. Equivalent), Maxwell AFB, Alabama; M.P.S., Political Science, Auburn University; Graduate Work (30 credit hours), Public Administration, University of Oklahoma; Air Command and Staff College (M.S. Equivalent), Maxwell AFB, Alabama; and BA, Political Science, The Citadel. He was an AFROTC Scholarship Cadet and Distinguished Graduate.
He entered The Citadel in 1970 as a Cadet Recruit and then Cadet Private, 4th Class, assigned to Oscar Company, 4th Battalion. In his second year, he was selected and served as the Oscar Company, Guidon Corporal. In his third year, he served as 4th Battalion, Sergeant Major and was a member of the 1973 Junior Sword Drill. In his fourth year, he served as Regimental Operations Officer, in the rank of Cadet Major. He graduated in 1974 and entered the US Air Force in January 1975.
He enjoys long distance running, sporting events, theater, travel, and outdoor activities; is a Partner, in the Llano River Whitetail Ranch; and Principal, San Antonio Cyber Consultants. He and his wife of 43 years, Kathy, have lived in Fair Oaks Ranch, TX since 2005. Their two sons, two daughters-in-law, and three beautiful granddaughters live in San Antonio. TX.
Preferred Sword Disposition: JSA Cadet
This sword has been carried by:
| Name | Class of | Year Carried | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carson King | 2022 | 2021-2022 | O Company Platoon Leader |
| Ryan Cannon | 2024 | 2023-2024 | O Company Platoon Leader |
| Cadet Jason Hutto | 2025 | 2024-2025 | O Company Platoon Leader |