Rich Holcombe
About Rich Holcombe
Rich Holcombe is the Manager of Security Architecture at Kohl's, with extensive experience in cybersecurity and information assurance.
Current Role at Kohl's
Rich Holcombe currently works at Kohl's as Manager of Security Architecture, a position he has held since 2022. In this role, he focuses on developing and managing security strategies to protect the company's digital assets. His responsibilities encompass designing security frameworks and ensuring that they are effectively implemented across the organization's IT infrastructure.
Career History at Kohl's
Rich Holcombe has held multiple roles in his tenure at Kohl's, showcasing a progressive career in cybersecurity. He began as a Technician from 2002 to 2003, later advancing to Information Security Technical Analyst (2003-2005), then becoming a Security Architect (2005-2008). He continued his ascent as Senior Information Security Technical Analyst from 2008 to 2016, followed by a five-year stint as Staff Architect (2016-2021). He briefly served as Senior Staff Security Engineer from 2021 to 2022 before assuming his current managerial position.
Previous Military Experience
Before joining Kohl's, Rich Holcombe served in the United States military. He was stationed at Naval Station Rota, Spain, as an Information Security Officer and Security Manager from 1998 to 2002. He also specialized as an F-14D Weapons Systems Specialist at Fighter Squadron 2 from 1994 to 1998. His military roles provided a solid foundation for his future career in cybersecurity.
Academic Background
Rich Holcombe has an extensive academic background in cybersecurity and information technology. He is pursuing a Doctor of Information Technology at Capella University, specializing in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance, from 2020 to 2025. He previously obtained a Master of Science in Information Technology Management from Western Governors University. Holcombe also studied at the University of Maryland Global Campus from 1998 to 2001.
Professional Certifications and Expertise
Rich Holcombe holds both CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) and CCSP (Certified Cloud Security Professional) certifications, underscoring his expertise in cybersecurity and cloud security. With over 15 years of experience, he specializes in designing and managing security solutions for hybrid cloud environments. He is also passionate about coaching and mentoring staff interested in security, contributing to the development of future cybersecurity professionals.