Daniel Oh is a adorned veteran, former NYPD officer, and devoted advocate for security and safety in each bodily and digital landscapes.
With a profession rooted in service, Daniel’s journey spans deployments as a Workers Sergeant within the U.S. Military Reserve to his impactful work in New York Metropolis’s regulation enforcement. His navy service in Iraq and Afghanistan earned him a number of commendations, together with the Bronze Star Medal, for his management and bravado in high-stakes environments.
After transitioning to civilian life, Daniel joined the NYPD, the place he excelled as a Neighborhood Coordination Officer, prioritizing belief and collaboration throughout the neighborhood. His dedication to defending others and his skill to handle crucial incidents led him to the elite Emergency Service Unit, the place he dealt with a few of the metropolis’s most difficult conditions.
At the moment pursuing a level in cybersecurity at Purdue World College, Daniel is targeted on bridging the hole between conventional regulation enforcement and the trendy challenges of cybercrime. His aim is to equip regulation enforcement businesses with the instruments and information wanted to deal with the ever-evolving digital threats impacting public security.
Past his skilled endeavors, Daniel Oh is deeply dedicated to mentoring veterans and younger officers, fostering resilience, and advocating for community-based security options. His dedication to service continues to encourage and form the subsequent technology of public security professionals.
What impressed you to dedicate your life to service, first within the navy after which in regulation enforcement?
Service was all the time part of my upbringing. My father, who was within the Korean Military, taught me about self-discipline and the worth of defending others. I grew up listening to tales concerning the sacrifices individuals make for his or her communities and nation, and it instilled a deep respect for that type of work. Becoming a member of the navy felt like a pure step—a solution to contribute to one thing greater than myself. After serving abroad, I wished to proceed making a distinction at house. The NYPD gave me the prospect to guard and join with my very own neighborhood in methods I hadn’t skilled earlier than.
How did your navy coaching put together you for the challenges of policing in New York Metropolis?
The navy gave me a basis in self-discipline, management, and decision-making beneath strain. Within the Military Reserve, I discovered how one can analyze conditions shortly, keep calm in high-stress environments, and lead others by means of uncertainty. These abilities had been crucial on the streets of New York. As a police officer, you face unpredictable conditions each day, whether or not it’s de-escalating a battle or responding to emergencies. My navy coaching helped me strategy these moments with focus and a transparent thoughts, which frequently made the distinction between chaos and management.
Are you able to describe a second in your profession that examined your resilience and the way you overcame it?
One second that stands out was after I was within the Emergency Service Unit. We had been coping with a home dispute that had escalated right into a harmful standoff. The household was in misery, and feelings had been working excessive. It was a type of conditions the place phrases, not pressure, had been the answer. I spent hours speaking to the people concerned, utilizing each little bit of persistence and empathy I had. It examined my psychological resilience, however we managed to resolve the state of affairs with out anybody getting damage. That day jogged my memory how highly effective communication will be, even in probably the most unstable conditions.
What position does empathy play in management, significantly in high-stakes careers?
Empathy is crucial. Whether or not you’re main a staff within the navy or working with a neighborhood as a police officer, understanding others’ views is important. It builds belief and respect, that are the foundations of efficient management. When individuals see that you simply genuinely care about their issues, they’re extra prone to work with you and comply with your lead. Empathy doesn’t imply being comfortable—it means being human. It’s about balancing power with understanding, which is one thing I’ve tried to hold with me in each position.
How has the idea of public security advanced throughout your profession, and what challenges do you see forward?
Public security has turn out to be extra complicated. It’s not nearly bodily safety; digital threats are an enormous concern now. Cybercrime, misinformation, and on-line scams affect individuals’s lives simply as a lot as conventional crimes do. Legislation enforcement has to adapt, not simply by responding to those threats however by stopping them by means of training and know-how. The largest problem is bridging the hole between conventional policing strategies and trendy digital instruments whereas sustaining belief within the communities we serve.
What drew you to pursue a level in cybersecurity, and the way do you see it influencing your future work?
Cybersecurity caught my consideration as a result of it’s an space the place regulation enforcement continues to be catching up. I’ve seen firsthand how digital threats, like identification theft and hacking, can disrupt lives and even result in bodily crimes. I wished to equip myself with the information to deal with these points. This diploma is about getting ready for the longer term—serving to regulation enforcement combine know-how into their work whereas staying forward of the criminals who exploit it.
What recommendation would you give to somebody contemplating a profession in regulation enforcement as we speak?
Be able to serve with humility and integrity. Policing isn’t only a job; it’s a accountability. You must be keen to pay attention, adapt, and study every single day. Construct sturdy relationships with the neighborhood you serve—it’s these connections that make the job significant. On the identical time, care for your self. The work will be demanding, and resilience is vital. Keep bodily match, maintain your thoughts sharp, and don’t hesitate to hunt help whenever you want it.
How do you preserve stability between your skilled duties and private life?
It’s not all the time simple, however I’ve discovered to prioritize. My household is my anchor, and spending time with them helps me recharge. I additionally make it some extent to give attention to bodily health and mindfulness. Whether or not it’s a exercise, martial arts follow, or only a quiet second to replicate, these routines maintain me grounded. Steadiness comes from figuring out when to push and when to step again, and that’s one thing I’ve labored laborious to grasp through the years.
What do you consider is a very powerful trait for efficient management?
Consistency. Individuals must know what to anticipate from you, particularly in high-pressure conditions. Should you’re constant in your actions, your selections, and your ideas, it builds belief. Whether or not you’re main a staff or working inside a neighborhood, individuals will comply with somebody they know they will depend on. Consistency additionally means staying true to your values, regardless of how difficult the circumstances.
What’s your imaginative and prescient for the way forward for regulation enforcement and public security?
I’d prefer to see a stronger give attention to training and know-how. Legislation enforcement must work extra carefully with communities to deal with their distinctive issues and construct belief. On the identical time, now we have to embrace know-how, not simply to struggle cybercrime however to enhance how we function general. My hope is for a future the place public security is extra proactive, extra inclusive, and higher outfitted to deal with the evolving challenges of our world. It’s a giant process, however I consider it’s potential with the right combination of innovation, empathy, and dedication.
