For Fortified Health Security vCISO, Troy Cruzen, service isn’t just something he randomly chose; it’s something he dreamed about.
Growing up in Michigan, history surrounded Troy. His father, a history buff, filled their home with books about U.S. presidents, military history/wars, and board games that recreated famous Civil War battles, such as Battle Cry.
Later, he discovered a family member who had recorded the family history in a thick, leather-bound book, a living archive of military lineage that stretched back centuries. It includes her passion for family research and lineage tracing from American settlers to the current day. She was interested in tying roots back to the Revolutionary War, and this genealogy documentation was a fascination of hers. Inside the book includes names, birth certificates, and stories that trace generations of service across every major conflict in U.S. history, from the Pilgrims to current-day service. Some notable names include Admiral Richard Cruzen, serving in both World War I and World War II.
Now, Troy’s name appears in that book too.
“It’s pretty surreal,” he said. “Reading about my ancestors, where they were born, where they served, and now knowing I’m part of that same story.”
From Childhood Curiosity to a Calling
“I was already watching every war movie I could,” he said. “But seeing that book, seeing my family’s names in there, made it something entirely different in terms of legacy.”
After college, inspired by his family’s legacy and his own desire to serve something larger than himself, Troy joined the U.S. Navy. It wasn’t the easiest route: he had already earned his degree and was newly married, but he knew he wanted to contribute in a way that mattered.
Service, Sacrifice, and Resilience
Troy served from 2015 to 2019, stationed primarily at the Naval Oceanography Mine Warfare Center. His work combined technology, oceanography, and high-stakes missions detecting underwater mines, often in harsh environments far from home.
He deployed twice to the Middle East, navigating the grueling rhythm of sea duty life where missions could start at a moment’s notice. On his second deployment, he was stationed in Bahrain and operating in Kuwait up to the birth of his first child. There was uncertainty he’d make it home, but luckily, his leadership got him back just in time.
“I didn’t know if I’d make it home,” Troy recalled. “But a lieutenant commander stepped in and got me on a flight the next day. I made it home just in time for my daughter’s birth.”
That experience, balancing duty, danger, and the pull of family, shaped how Troy defines strength. Not just physical grit, but perseverance, adaptability, and compassion.
Building Security from the Battlefield to the Boardroom
After leaving the Navy, Troy continued his mission of protection, this time through technology. He became a defense contractor in San Diego, teaching Navy and Marine Corps personnel how to use advanced sonar, encryption, and communication systems to detect mines, just like when he was on active duty.
The work, rooted in cybersecurity, data integrity, and threat intelligence and defense, felt familiar. “The adversaries were different,” Troy said. “In the military, it was physical threats in the water. In cybersecurity, it’s digital threats in the network. But the mindset is the same: stay vigilant, understand the threat, and be ready. So many parallels laid the foundation for what I’m doing today.”
That path eventually led him to Fortified Health Security, where he applies the same discipline and purpose he developed in uniform to protect healthcare organizations and patients from evolving cyber threats.
A Family Still in Service
Service remains central in the Cruzen household. Troy’s wife, who once served as the Navy ombudsman supporting deployed families, now works with veterans through the VA, helping former service members secure disability benefits and navigate life after deployment.
“She’s still helping people every day,” Troy said proudly. “That’s what makes it so special, we both found ways to keep serving.”
Closing the Circle
For Troy, adding his name to that family book isn’t the end of the story. It’s a continuation, a thread linking past and present through values that never fade: commitment, curiosity, courage, and care for others.
“Service changes you,” he said. “You carry it forward in whatever you do next. I may not wear the uniform anymore, but I’ll always be part of that mission, protecting people.”
