Huram-Abi Nzia Yotchoum
About Huram-Abi
Huram-Abi Nzia Yotchoum is a first lieutenant and recent graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. Now pursuing a master’s degree in Computational Mathematical Engineering at Stanford University, he is specializing in data science, statistics, and machine learning. With a strong foundation in both technical and leadership skills, Huram-Abi joined the Hacking for Defense (H4D) course to broaden his experience and develop new problem-solving frameworks for tackling national security challenges.
Interview
Q: What motivated you to take the H4D course?
Coming from a military background, Huram-Abi was drawn to H4D as an opportunity to work on real-world national security problems alongside an interdisciplinary team. He wanted to step outside of traditional classroom learning and engage with professionals from different sectors to better understand the complexities of working in government.
"I wanted to do something tangible—something that would get me out of the building and help me interact with like-minded people working to bolster national security. With my background as a military officer, I knew it was important to learn how to work in a team, use structured methodologies, and tackle complex problems within the government."
Q: What were your biggest takeaways from the H4D experience?
A: For Huram-Abi, one of the most valuable lessons from H4D was learning to slow down and deeply understand a problem before jumping to solutions.
"I’m a hands-on guy—I like to experiment, fail, and refine until I find the answer. But H4D taught me that sometimes, I can cut that process short by truly understanding the root problem instead of just addressing symptoms."
His team’s diverse mix of business students, international relations experts, and military personnel provided him with a perspective he wouldn’t have gained elsewhere. This exposure helped shape his approach to problem-solving and broadened his understanding of how government agencies operate.
Q: How has H4D influenced your career path?
A: Through H4D, Huram-Abi gained insight into the many ways he could serve beyond his current military role.
"Even if I don’t stay in the military long-term, H4D showed me that there are so many ways to contribute to national security. It’s exciting to see how organizations are working to improve how the government operates, and I want to be part of that effort."