Today we’d like to introduce you to Christopher Macwan.
Christopher, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey to where I am today began in India. I came to the United States in 2010 with faith, hope, and a willingness to work hard. I did not have everything figured out when I arrived, but I trusted Jesus Christ and believed that if I remained faithful, continued learning, and worked hard, He would guide my path.
I am the youngest of four children. My parents, Rameshbhai and Ruthben Macwan, instilled in me the importance of faith, family, hard work, humility, and treating people with respect. My three sisters—Jackwina Patel, Jennifer Macwan, and Janet Solanki—have also been an important part of my life.
My grandparents, David Christian and my late grandmother, Julia Christian, were also an important part of my life. I am grateful for their love, prayers, and blessings. My grandmother Julia recently passed away, and I continue to carry the values and blessings she gave our family.
When I first came to America, my aunt and uncle, Sumati and Sunil Christian, sponsored me and helped give me the opportunity to begin this chapter of my life. Their children, Simpson, Sonet, and Sonia, also supported me throughout those early years. I will always be grateful to them for the love and support they showed me when I was beginning a new life in a new country. I am also thankful for my extended family, cousins, and relatives whose prayers and encouragement have followed me throughout my journey.
In February 2011, I joined the U.S. Army Reserve and served as a Cargo Specialist. My military service taught me discipline, responsibility, teamwork, commitment, and the importance of serving something greater than yourself.
I then began my civilian career in security with Securitas Critical Infrastructure Services, Inc. I gave that opportunity everything I had, and eventually I was honored to receive the Security Officer of the Year award. I was subsequently promoted to Account Manager for a client in Anaheim, California.
One of the greatest blessings throughout my journey has been the people God placed in my life. While I was working as a security officer, the client’s Facility Security Officer (FSO), Mr. Randy Owens, began mentoring me and introduced me to the world of industrial security. Later, Mr. Henry Empeno, who remains a mentor to me to this day, gave me opportunities to learn, grow, and succeed.
After Mr. Empeno left, the new FSO, Mr. David Martin, gave me an opportunity to join the company as a Security Specialist. My colleagues Ms. Annie Mungcal and Ms. Lorrie Orozco helped me succeed in that position, while Mr. Paul Fernandez, the company’s Information System Security Manager (ISSM), helped me learn Communications Security (COMSEC) and eventually appointed me as a COMSEC Custodian.
I have always believed that no one can know everything. There is always something new to learn, and there is always someone who knows something that you don’t. That mindset has pushed me throughout my career to remain teachable and seek opportunities to grow.
At one point, I decided that I wanted to purchase a home in Arizona. Through a program with Keller Williams Arizona Realty, I received support to study for the real estate licensing exam. I passed the exam and became a Realtor. Although I am not actively pursuing real estate because of my current professional commitments, I maintain my license.
Eventually, I was presented with an opportunity to become an FSO/Contractor Program Security Officer (CPSO)/COMSEC Manager at a location in Mesa, Arizona. Moving from Riverside to Mesa was not an easy decision. I was settled in California, had a home, and had built a life there. But I decided to take the opportunity and move to Arizona. During that transition, the Mesa location was acquired by another company, but I continued moving forward and eventually became the FSO/CPSO/COMSEC Manager.
Mr. Robert Swigert played an important role in my professional development by training and mentoring me in my CPSO responsibilities. He is now the site’s ISSM, and I am grateful that I have continued to learn from his experience and guidance. I am also grateful for my coworkers, who contribute every day to our shared success.
I am especially grateful to my current Site Manager, Mr. Mitchell Zamba. His support has made it possible for me to participate in professional organizations and community activities such as NCMS and InfraGard while continuing to fulfill my responsibilities at work.
In Arizona, I became involved with the NCMS Valley of the Sun Chapter, where I currently serve as Secretary and Membership Committee Chair. I am also a member of the NCMS National Counterintelligence Committee.
My involvement eventually expanded to InfraGard Arizona Members Alliance, where I serve as the Defense Industrial Base Sector Chief. I also founded and coordinate Counterintelligence Working Group (CIWG), giving me another opportunity to bring professionals together, share knowledge, and strengthen collaboration within the security and counterintelligence community.
My family continues to be the foundation of my life. My wife, Stephy, has been an incredible source of love, encouragement, and support throughout this journey. I am also deeply grateful for my mother-in-law, Ronika Martin Christian, and my sister-in-law, Kwincy Christian, for their love, encouragement, and prayers.
On July 31, 2026, Stephy and I were blessed with the birth of our first child, our son, Shadrach. Becoming a father has given me an even deeper perspective on family, responsibility, faith, and legacy.
When I look back at my journey—from coming to America in 2010, serving in the US Army Reserve, beginning as a security officer, receiving the Security Officer of the Year recognition, learning from mentors, becoming a Security Specialist and COMSEC Custodian, becoming a Realtor, moving from California to Arizona, becoming an FSO/CPSO/COMSEC Manager, and eventually serving in leadership roles within Arizona’s security community—I don’t see it as something I accomplished alone.
I see God’s faithfulness throughout the journey.
There have been many people who opened doors, taught me, encouraged me, supported me, prayed for me, and believed in me. But above all, I believe Jesus Christ has been the foundation of my journey. Every opportunity, every mentor, every challenge, every prayer, and every success has reminded me that I am not walking this journey alone.
My story is about taking the next step when an opportunity comes, remaining humble enough to learn from others, being willing to serve, and trusting God even when I cannot see what is ahead. I give Jesus Christ all the glory for where I am today. Without Him, I truly believe none of this would have been possible.
The positions and titles are not what matter most to me. What matters is using the opportunities God has given me to serve others, encourage people, continue learning, protect what I have been entrusted with, support my family, and hopefully leave a positive legacy for my family, my community, and the next generation.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it has definitely not been a smooth road. In fact, some of the most difficult seasons of my life are also the seasons that taught me the most.
When my parents and I came to the United States, we arrived with approximately $1,000 between us. America was still recovering from the financial crisis of 2008, and finding stability was not easy. We had to learn how to start over, navigate a new country, and build a life with very limited resources.
My parents taught me what perseverance really looks like. My father, Rameshbhai, rode his bicycle approximately 11 miles each way from Placentia to Orange for about a year and a half to get to work. My mother, Ruthben, walked to multiple jobs, covering several miles in total. They did not complain about what they had to do. They simply did what was necessary to provide for our family and help us build a future. Watching them taught me that hard work is not something you talk about—it is something you demonstrate.
At the same time, I was trying to find my own place in a completely new environment. I had to learn to speak and understand English better, learn how things worked in American society, and adapt to a culture that was different from the one I grew up in. Meeting people from different backgrounds, cultures, and ethnicities was sometimes challenging. There were moments when I felt uncomfortable or unsure of myself.
But those experiences also taught me something very important: people may look different, speak differently, or come from completely different backgrounds, but we all have struggles, hopes, families, and dreams. Learning to communicate and connect with people who were different from me became one of the greatest lessons of my life.
During those early years, I worked three jobs while also serving in the U.S. Army Reserve. There were times when I was exhausted, but I knew I was working toward something bigger than the difficulty of that particular day. I was trying to build a future and make the sacrifices of my parents worthwhile.
My faith was also a major source of strength. I believe Jesus Christ gave me the strength to keep going when things were difficult. There were many times when I could not see what the future would look like, but I learned to take one step at a time and trust God with the next step.
Today, when I look at where our family is, I am reminded of how far God has brought us. We now own three vehicles and two homes, one in California and one in Arizona. I don’t look at those things simply as material accomplishments. To me, they represent years of sacrifice, hard work, persistence, and the opportunities God provided along the way.
The contrast between where we started and where we are today is something I never want to take for granted. We came to America with approximately $1,000, and my parents were willing to walk and ride bicycles miles to work just to give their children a better future. Today, our family has been blessed with stability and opportunities that I could not have imagined when I first arrived.
And now, that journey has taken on an even deeper meaning. On July 31, 2026, my wife, Stephy, and I welcomed our first child, our son, Shadrach. Becoming a father has made me reflect even more on the sacrifices my own parents made when we came to America with very little. I now understand even more deeply that their sacrifices were about creating possibilities for the next generation.
I want Shadrach to know where our family came from, appreciate the sacrifices that made his opportunities possible, and understand that success is ultimately about what you do with the blessings God gives you.
Those experiences shaped the way I approach life today. They taught me not to take opportunities for granted, to remain humble, to keep learning, and to have compassion for people who are struggling because you never know what someone is carrying behind the scenes.
Looking back, I would not describe those years simply as hardships. They were lessons. They taught me perseverance, gratitude, discipline, empathy, and faith.
My parents showed me through their actions what sacrifice looks like. My family supported me through prayer and encouragement. Mentors opened doors and taught me things I did not know. And through all of it, I believe Jesus was guiding me.
So no, the road has not been smooth. But I am grateful for the difficult parts because they helped shape the person I am today. They remind me that where you start does not determine where you will finish, and that sometimes the hardest roads are the ones that prepare you for the purpose God has planned for your life.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Professionally, I work in the security and national-security community, where my responsibilities involve protecting people, information, assets, and organizations. I currently serve as an FSO, CPSO, and COMSEC Manager for a defense contractor in Mesa, Arizona. My work requires security knowledge, attention to detail, discretion, communication, leadership, and—perhaps most importantly—the commitment to continuously learn.
My career has grown considerably from where I started. I began as a security officer, and through hard work, mentorship, and a willingness to learn, I progressed into management and eventually into the industrial security profession. Today, I support security responsibilities within the Defense Industrial Base. Because of the nature of my work, there are certain things I cannot discuss publicly, but I take the responsibility very seriously because the work ultimately contributes to protecting our national-security interests.
What I am most proud of professionally is being able to protect the organization I serve while contributing to the broader national-security mission. For me, success is not simply about passing an inspection or meeting a requirement. It is about building a security program that works every day and creating an environment where people understand why security matters.
One example is my approach to compliance and inspection readiness. I have focused on building strong documentation, continuously training and educating the team, improving reporting procedures, providing security briefings and training, and developing strong professional relationships with U.S. Government agencies. I also place a great deal of importance on relationships with employees. Security works best when people feel comfortable communicating, asking questions, reporting concerns, and understanding that security is a shared responsibility.
I believe those relationships are just as important as policies and procedures. A security professional can have excellent documentation, but if employees don’t understand the purpose behind the requirements or don’t feel comfortable coming forward with concerns, the program will never be as effective as it could be.
My commitment to continuous learning is probably what sets me apart professionally. I have never believed that anyone knows everything. There is always something new to learn, whether it comes from a mentor, a coworker, a government partner, a regulation, an inspection, or even a mistake. I try to remain teachable and then share what I learn with others.
That philosophy has also led me into professional leadership and community involvement. I serve as Secretary and Membership Committee Chair for the NCMS Valley of the Sun Chapter, and I am also a member of the NCMS National Counterintelligence Committee. Through those roles, I have the opportunity to connect security professionals, encourage professional development, and contribute to the security community beyond my own workplace.
I also serve as the Defense Industrial Base Sector Chief for InfraGard Arizona Members Alliance. In addition, I founded and coordinate CIWG. These opportunities allow me to bring people together, encourage collaboration, share knowledge, and strengthen relationships within the security and counterintelligence community.
I am especially grateful to my current Site Manager, Mr. Zamba, whose support has allowed me to participate in NCMS, InfraGard, and other professional activities while continuing to meet my responsibilities at work. I am also grateful to Mr. Swigert, who trained and mentored me in my CPSO responsibilities, as well as the many mentors and coworkers who have contributed to my development throughout my career.
I am proud of the progression from where I started to where I am today. I came to the United States in 2010, served in the U.S. Army Reserve, worked multiple jobs, started as a security officer, and had to learn a new country and culture. I was fortunate to have mentors who saw potential in me and gave me opportunities to grow. Today, I have the opportunity to use what I have learned to serve others and contribute to a community that plays an important role in protecting our country.
I also believe leadership is not about being the person who knows everything. It is about being willing to learn, being willing to listen, and helping the people around you succeed. If someone becomes better because I shared something I learned, introduced them to someone, encouraged them, or helped them understand something they were struggling with, I consider that a success.
Ultimately, my career is an extension of my faith and my values. I believe Jesus Christ has given me the opportunities and abilities I have, and I want to use them responsibly. I try to approach my work with integrity, humility, and a spirit of service.
What sets me apart, I believe, is the combination of my personal journey, military experience, security background, commitment to continuous learning, and desire to serve others. I have been blessed by people who invested in me, and now I want to invest in others. For me, protecting the national-security mission is more than a job—it is a responsibility that I am honored to carry.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Something that may surprise people who know me professionally is that my journey into security was not a straight path at all.
I actually started working when I was around 19 years old in India. One of my early jobs was selling credit cards for SBI Card and ICICI Bank through an agency. At that time, especially in my city of Anand, Gujarat, many people were hesitant about credit cards. There was a lot of misunderstanding about how credit cards worked, and people were often suspicious because they had not been properly educated about the product.
I realized very quickly that I couldn’t simply walk up to someone and ask them to apply for a credit card. I had to earn their trust and educate them. It took considerable time to build my reputation in the community.
Eventually, something interesting happened. I put the ICICI Bank credit-card logo on my motorcycle. People in the community began recognizing me. I would ride through town and people would honk, stop me, and ask me to help them complete their credit-card applications.
That was a memorable experience because I realized that my reputation had become my introduction. People weren’t stopping me simply because I was selling something. They were stopping because they trusted me to explain it to them and help them through the process.
I also developed one of the best approval rates among the people doing that work. I believe that came from taking the time to understand the process, educate people honestly, and make sure applications were completed properly rather than simply trying to sell as many cards as possible.
That experience taught me something I still carry with me today: people respond to trust. Whether you are selling a financial product, teaching a student, working with employees, dealing with a government partner, or working in security, relationships matter. If people trust you, they are more willing to listen, communicate, and work with you.
Before coming to the United States, I was also involved in different forms of community service. I helped with blood-bank donation efforts, spent time serving elderly people in homes for senior citizens, helped people who were in need, and helped organize college functions and activities.
I also enjoyed helping students who struggled with the transition from studying in Gujarati to studying in English at the college level. I helped teach subjects such as economics, management, and human resources to students who understood the concepts but were struggling with the language transition. I wanted them to understand that having difficulty with English did not mean they were incapable of succeeding.
Then, in 2010, I immigrated to the United States and began another chapter of my life. I had to learn a new environment, adapt to a different culture, communicate in a different way, and build a new career while also carrying family responsibilities.
Eventually, that journey led me into security. I started as a security officer and worked my way into management and then into industrial security and national-security responsibilities.
Looking back, I don’t think those early experiences were unrelated to what I do today. Sales taught me communication and relationship-building. Teaching taught me patience and the importance of meeting people where they are. Community service taught me compassion. Immigration taught me resilience and adaptability. Military service taught me discipline and service. My security career brought many of those lessons together.
The surprising part is that the service-oriented person people see today was already there long before I had any professional titles. The industries and jobs changed, but the underlying motivation remained the same: I have always enjoyed helping people, learning from others, solving problems, and trying to make someone’s situation a little better.
And now, with the birth of my son, Shadrach, on July 31, 2026, I find myself thinking even more about the lessons I want to pass on to the next generation.
Through all of those chapters, I believe Jesus Christ was guiding me. I may not have understood the purpose of every experience when I was going through it, but today I can look back and see how God used each season to prepare me for the next.
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