A switchback is the zig-zag path that makes a steep incline climbable. It doesn't lower the mountain — it breaks the ascent into segments you can actually sustain.

That's how real skill develops: through community, problem-solving, and perpetual learning. We build the trail.

I'm William Leonard. Eleven years at DEF CON — five as Chief of Staff, two as Director of Training. I founded DEF CON Trainings in 2023, and in that role I had the privilege of working alongside some of the best instructors in the world. Switchback exists to bring that caliber of talent closer to home.