Meet Hannah
From Rodeo Queen to Cyberwarfare
From her humble beginnings in rural Mississippi, Hannah began her professional journey in the rodeo arena, where she learned key life lessons in entrepreneurship, tenacity, and resilience. She competed in hunt seat, western equitation, and rodeo at the collegiate level, bootstrapped a bucking bull operation, and was one of the first women in Mississippi to be recognized as a Master Cattle Producer. She won multiple state, regional, and national awards for her equestrian skills—all on horses she trained herself—but her most prized crown is “Miss Congeniality” at the Dixie National Rodeo, which attests to her versatility and strength in and out of the saddle.
Hannah pursued graduate studies at Florida Institute of Technology, where she explored how technological innovations disrupted traditional systems, including military, corporate, and governmental structures. She was particularly interested in how hyperconnectivity dismantled established networks, reshaped industries, and affected local, regional, and national economies. (Refined "Hannah enjoys working with massive challenges" for clarity) Hannah loves tackling massive challenges—whether it’s a 2,000 lb bucking bull or a national cyber defense policy that balances security and freedom. She completed a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) and a Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT).
Following graduate school, Hannah co-founded Becker Digital, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business that provides strategic consulting to government agencies. At Becker Digital, she leads business development, program development, and training delivery. In short, she secures government contracts, builds high-performance teams, solves operational challenges, and ensures top-tier service delivery to the public sector. Originally a “Mom and Pop” shop started at Hannah’s kitchen table, Becker Digital has since delivered unmatched support to local, state, and federal government agencies as well as national nonprofits across the U.S.
Hannah specializes in transforming challenges into opportunities, pain into progress, and setbacks into inspiration for meaningful work. Drawing on her lived experiences, she addresses pressing societal challenges brought by technology. While the Internet has enabled unprecedented connections, it has also introduced new threats to communities, organizations, and national security. Her work in cyberspace led her to teach at senior military colleges, complete a fellowship at Joint Special Operations University, publish works through the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) International, and pursue additional graduate studies in Irregular Warfare. If it’s complex and involves people and technology, Hannah is ready to “buck it out.”
After earning an Animal and Dairy Science degree from Mississippi State University, Hannah married a U.S. Army service member, leading her to rethink her original cowgirl career. With frequent relocations, a trailer full of bucking bulls and roping horses wasn’t feasible for military life. Her second passion was technology; she had learned basic computer skills at a local library and was fascinated by how connectivity was reshaping society. Reflecting on her science background, she saw the impacts of technological evolution on the multi-domain “Galapagos Island” of society.
Today, Hannah serves as Vice President at Becker Digital, Director at Becker, DeVaughn & Associates, and Adjunct Professor of Cyberwarfare at Norwich University. She is active on nonprofit and government boards focused on quality-of-life improvements in rural Appalachia, advocates for legislative changes for disabled veterans and wounded warrior families, and treks up mountains on her retired rodeo horse. Hannah is available for consulting projects and speaking engagements on topics including cyber, defense, economic development, higher education, and military affairs.
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