What happens when doing the right thing costs you your career? In a gripping episode of Theresa Carpenter’s leadership podcast, we meet Paul Pearson—Air Force veteran, cybersecurity expert, and whistleblower—whose moral compass led him down a path filled with resistance, retaliation, and ultimately, resilience. This episode dives into Paul’s shocking experience exposing corruption on a Department of Defense contract and how he rebuilt his career and purpose in its aftermath.
Guest Bio: Paul Pearson
Paul Pearson is an IT professional, veteran, and whistleblower based in San Diego. He began his career in the U.S. Air Force as a metrologist and later transitioned into cyber operations, ultimately serving in the 275th Cyber Operations Squadron in the Air National Guard. In 2019, while working as an Information System Security Officer for an Army contract, Paul uncovered corrupt practices that led him to blow the whistle—an act that dramatically altered his professional trajectory. Today, he is the founder of Running Name LLC, serves as President of Edorana, and is Vice President of Whistleblowers of America, where he helps others navigate the challenges of speaking truth to power.
🔑 Key Takeaways
A Career Built on Skill and Service: Paul’s deep technical foundation began in the military, where he worked with precision instrumentation and later in cybersecurity. His skills, developed from a young age due to limited resources, gave him a unique edge in tech and cyber operations.
The Whistleblower Incident: While contracting with the Army, Paul discovered efforts to rig audit outcomes to favor companies with insider ties. When he refused to stay silent—despite being offered a bribe—he was swiftly retaliated against and ultimately fired.
Institutional Failure and Retaliation: Paul’s reports to insider threat officials and CID fell flat. Though investigators acknowledged his claims, they dismissed them as inconsequential. A year later, he lost his security clearance on questionable grounds—just days after his child was born—effectively ending his job.
Entrepreneurship and Advocacy: Turning adversity into action, Paul founded Running Name LLC, a veteran-owned IT firm serving nonprofits and small businesses. He also became heavily involved in Whistleblowers of America, redesigning their systems and helping others articulate their own stories of injustice.
Support Systems Matter: Paul emphasizes that patterns of retaliation are alarmingly similar across industries. Through his work with Whistleblowers of America, he discovered community and healing. Theresa echoes the need for transparency and the critical role whistleblowers play in upholding accountability.
Looking Ahead: Paul is now focused on growing his business and supporting other whistleblowers. He’s helping nonprofits amplify their missions through tech while promoting the upcoming Whistleblowers of America Conference in Washington, D.C., on September 18–19.
Listen to Audio
Watch Full Episode
Paul Pearson’s story is a powerful reminder of the cost—and courage—of integrity. His experience sheds light on systemic corruption, the failures of institutional accountability, and the very real consequences whistleblowers face. Yet through resilience and purpose, Paul turned a personal crisis into a mission to support others. His journey is a testament to the fact that real leadership often means standing alone before you can stand with others.
Resources:
- Connect with Paul on LI
- Running Name LLC: https://www.runningname.com/
- Eduruna.org: https://www.eduruna.org/
