Martin Balome is a cybersecurity professional, former educator, former air traffic controller, and novelist whose diverse career spans the intersection of technology, education, national security, and critical infrastructure protection. With over a decade of experience in high-stakes operational environments, Martin brings firsthand expertise to his fiction. His professional credentials include Security+, SSCP, CySA+, CCSP, and PenTest+ certifications, reflecting deep knowledge of the vulnerabilities and attack vectors that threaten modern infrastructure systems. Martin began his career as a teacher, where he developed a passion for making complex subjects accessible and engaging. He then transitioned to aviation, working in air traffic control, aviation safety management, and aircraft accident investigation. This experience instilled a rigorous, methodical mindset and deep appreciation for precision, risk management, and the human factors that determine success or catastrophe in high-pressure environments. Building on this foundation, Martin moved into information technology and cybersecurity, focusing on identity and access management, enterprise network defense, incident response, and security operations. His work has spanned the financial and technology sectors, where the consequences of security failures are measured in real-world impact.

These experiences converge in his fiction. VECTOR STRIKE, the first book in The CRITICOM Files series, draws directly from Martin's dual expertise in aviation and cybersecurity. The novel explores a covert unit protecting America's critical infrastructure from threats that exist between agencies-the kind of vulnerabilities Martin has spent his career studying and defending against. Martin is also the author of THE ALARIS PROTOCOL series, exploring the collision of artificial intelligence and global power, and THE BLACKWOOD DOSSIER series, following elite operatives navigating the shadows of international security. His work appeals to readers of Tom Clancy, Daniel Suarez, Mark Greaney, Jack Carr, Mark Russinovich, and anyone who demands their thrillers be grounded in reality. A resident of Washington State, Martin lives with his wife and their two children. When not writing techno-thrillers grounded in authentic tradecraft, he develops cybersecurity education through Caliana Academy and explores the Pacific Northwest. VECTOR STRIKE is published by Caliana Press.