Dillard Trapp

Business leader, Business mentor, Change agent, Connector, Educator/Teacher, Entrepreneur, Idea generator, Investor, Parent, Philanthropist, Social entrepreneur, Technologist

Dillard Trapp is a United States Marine Corps veteran, cybersecurity executive, and entrepreneur whose leadership is grounded in discipline, service, and a deep commitment to community. He served ten years in both active duty and the reserves and became one of the first Marines to hold the Cyber Security MOS. The experience shaped his belief that resilience, structure, and adaptability are not only military principles but also foundations for effective leadership in business and in life. Dillard is the Founder and CEO of Simply Trapp Solutions, a cybersecurity and risk management firm that supports companies across the country with compliance, governance, and digital protection. His work in government contracting helped him secure multi-million dollar contract awards and allowed him to employ and mentor professionals nationwide while creating pathways for veterans who want to build careers in technology. He has earned a reputation for making complex problems simple and for helping organizations build confidence in their digital future. His entrepreneurial work includes the creation of Just Ice Served, a Pensacola-based company that produces premium craft and cocktail ice for top bars, restaurants, and hotels across the Gulf Coast. He is also the Co-Founder of Supreme Seaside Solutions, a commercial services company that helps small cleaning operators work together to win larger contracts and keep opportunity within the local community. For Dillard, each business he builds must serve a purpose, create opportunity, and uplift others. He holds a master’s degree in Cyber Security and Information Assurance from Western Governors University and has been accepted into a doctoral program that he plans to begin next year. His academic focus continues to influence his approach to leadership, risk management, and the development of future technology professionals. Dillard participates in community organizations including the American Advertising Federation Pensacola, the Gulf Coast Minority Chamber of Commerce, MenPact, and Leadership Pensacola. He supports local nonprofits such as Pace Center for Girls, Pensacola Little Theatre, Fork Cancer, the Sheriff’s Foundation, and the Escambia County Summer Youth Employment Program. His commitment to mentorship extends beyond traditional volunteering, and he often works with youth and young professionals through CareerSource Escarosa and the national mentoring platform Veterati. He is a co-founder of the Pillars of Promise Foundation, created with Dr. Marcus McBride and Travell Davis. The foundation focuses on empowering young people with tools in technology, finance, health, education, law, politics and entrepreneurship. Its mission is to inspire bold dreams and help the next generation develop the confidence and skills to build futures filled with possibility. In 2026, Dillard will co-host TEDx Pensacola with his colleague Sherri Babylon under the theme Hidden in Plain Sight: Stories That Shape Tomorrow. Together they are creating a platform that amplifies authentic stories, celebrates work often overlooked, and highlights the innovation and leadership that already exist within the community. For Dillard, leadership is rooted in service. He believes that success is measured not by titles or individual achievements but by the number of people whose lives are improved by the work you do. His mission is to leave people and places better than he found them and to build a legacy defined by integrity, impact, and opportunity.

I am passionate about creating opportunities that help people grow into the best versions of themselves. Everything I do, whether in the Marine Corps, cybersecurity, business, or community work, has been guided by a belief that people rise when someone invests in them. I care deeply about helping others unlock their potential, especially those who may not have had the support, resources, or confidence to see what they were capable of becoming. I am passionate about leadership that serves. My time in the Marines shaped my understanding of what leadership truly means. It taught me to be accountable, to care for the people around me, and to push myself even when no one is watching. Today, I carry that same mindset into every role I hold. I believe leadership is not about authority. It is about responsibility. It is about showing up, doing the work, and helping others climb higher because you took the time to guide them. I am passionate about collaboration. None of the businesses I have built were created alone. Every company grew because people came together with shared belief and shared effort. Building Simply Trapp Solutions with the support of my cybersecurity partners, launching Just Ice Served with Will Campbell, and developing Supreme Seaside Solutions with Justin Loftin all showed me how powerful collaboration can be. When people trust each other, combine strengths, and stay aligned on mission, they create things that are bigger and better than what any one person could accomplish. I am passionate about serving my community. Pensacola has welcomed my family with open arms, and I feel a responsibility to pour into the place that has given us so much. I care about supporting local nonprofits, mentoring young people, offering financial literacy training, and helping the next generation of leaders find their path. From supporting organizations like Pace Center for Girls, Pensacola Little Theatre, Fork Cancer, and the Sheriff’s Foundation, to working with youth through CareerSource Escarosa and the Pillars of Promise Foundation, my focus is always on the impact we can create together. I am passionate about building systems that empower people. In cybersecurity, that means helping organizations operate safely and confidently. In commercial services, that means giving small operators the chance to secure large contracts and consistent work. In hospitality, it means helping local venues elevate their craft and bring new experiences to the community. Across all my ventures, my passion is building something meaningful that improves lives and strengthens communities. I am passionate about education. I believe education is one of the most powerful tools for transformation, whether it takes the form of formal degrees, technical certifications, mentoring, or real-world experience. Earning my master’s degree in Cyber Security and Information Assurance shaped the way I approach problem solving and leadership, and pursuing my doctoral work next year will allow me to expand the way I guide others. I want to help people understand technology, risk, business, and leadership in a way that feels accessible and empowering. I am passionate about amplifying stories that deserve to be heard. This is one of the reasons I am excited to co-host TEDx Pensacola with Sherri Babylon. I believe the most powerful ideas are often hidden in plain sight. They come from ordinary people doing extraordinary things without recognition. I am passionate about creating platforms that elevate those stories, bring light to overlooked perspectives, and inspire others to take action. I am passionate about building a legacy rooted in integrity and impact. My family, my daughters, and my community motivate me to be better, to grow, and to lead with purpose. Everything I do, from cybersecurity to ice production, is about leaving people and places better than I found them. If I can create opportunity for others, inspire greatness, and strengthen the community that embraced my family, then I am living out my purpose.

“Leadership, collaboration, and service create opportunity. Opportunity transforms communities.” We often talk about leadership, service, and community impact as if they stand alone, but real transformation begins when these forces work together. Every meaningful change in a person, a business, or a city starts with opportunity. Opportunity turns potential into purpose, and it appears when leaders choose to serve and people choose to collaborate. My journey has shown me that leadership is not a title. It is a responsibility. It is the choice to go first, to set the tone, and to create structure where none exists. I learned that in the Marine Corps, and I carry it into every company and community space I touch. Leadership shapes environments, decisions, and futures. Collaboration gives leadership its reach. Nothing I have built was built alone. The growth of Just Ice Served, Supreme Seaside Solutions, and Simply Trapp Solutions happened because of partnership, shared vision, and bringing strengths together. Collaboration multiplies what any one person can do. It accelerates progress and creates stability for everyone involved. Service is the anchor. It keeps ambition honest and reminds you that success is measured by the number of people whose lives improve because you showed up. It is the foundation of mentorship, youth programs, philanthropy, and the daily work of lifting others. When service becomes the mission, everything you build has deeper meaning. When leadership, collaboration, and service come together, opportunity follows. Opportunity allows individuals to grow, families to stabilize, and communities to evolve. It does not require grand gestures. It shows up in small acts: opening a door, offering mentorship, teaching a skill, or believing in someone who has never had someone believe in them. These moments often go unnoticed, yet they change the direction of lives. This is why the theme of our TEDx Pensacola event, Hidden in Plain Sight, resonates so strongly with me. The things that transform communities are already here. They live in everyday interactions, waiting for leaders to activate them with intention. The idea worth spreading is that opportunity should not be rare or reserved for the lucky. It should be created on purpose through leadership rooted in service and collaboration rooted in community. When we build environments that reflect these values, we do more than succeed. We elevate everyone around us. This is how we shape the future of our cities. This is how we strengthen our businesses. This is how we leave people and places better than we found them.

Community Empowerment and Youth Leadership Development, Cybersecurity Strategy and Risk Management, Digital Transformation and IT Governance, Entrepreneurship and Multidisciplinary Business Building, Federal Government Contracting and Program Execution, Governance, Risk, and Compliance (NIST, CMMC, SOC2, FedRAMP), Leadership Development and Servant Leadership, Public Speaking and Thought Leadership on Technology, Service, and Community, Strategic Partnerships and Collaborative Ecosystem Building, Veteran Workforce Development and Transition Coaching

My TED story begins long before stages, titles, or companies. It begins in Columbia, South Carolina, where I learned early what service, family, and community really meant. Those values carried me into the Marine Corps, where I spent ten years learning discipline, leadership, and what it means to take responsibility for the people around you. That experience shaped everything that came afterward. When I transitioned into cybersecurity and later into entrepreneurship, I realized that the same principles that guide a Marine in the field also guide a leader in business and in community. The importance of structure. The power of collaboration. The impact of serving others. And most importantly, the responsibility to create opportunity wherever you can. My journey has never been about one business or one industry. It has been about building things that help people grow. From cybersecurity and government contracting, to hospitality and commercial services, to mentoring youth and supporting nonprofits, every chapter of my life has been rooted in one mission: leave people and places better than I found them. TEDx Pensacola gives me the chance to bring my experiences together and share the deeper message behind everything I do. Opportunity is often hidden in plain sight. It shows up in small decisions, overlooked moments, and quiet acts of leadership. It appears when people come together, believe in each other, and choose service over ego. I want to shine a light on the everyday actions that change lives, because they are happening all around us. My TED story is about honoring where I came from, appreciating the community that embraced my family, and using my voice to inspire leaders, veterans, young people, and everyday citizens to create opportunity on purpose. If I can encourage even one person to serve more, collaborate more, and believe in their ability to make a difference, then my story has done its job. TEDx is not a platform for me. It is a platform for the message. A message rooted in service, leadership, collaboration, and the belief that communities transform when people choose to lift each other higher.

People don’t know I’m good at seeing potential in people and building systems that help them grow. I have a natural ability to translate complex problems into simple, actionable steps and stay calm when everything around me feels chaotic. Whether I’m mentoring youth, guiding veterans, or helping small businesses scale, I’m good at recognizing strengths, creating structure, and connecting people in ways that open doors to new opportunities. People also don’t know I’m trained in areas that have nothing to do with my career. I can play the piano, I was an All-State swimmer, I grew up horseback riding, and I’ve always enjoyed singing and dancing. These are the parts of myself that remind me to stay balanced, stay creative, and stay connected to who I was long before the titles, the companies, and the responsibilities.