Cypher is a former member of Third Echelon, a top-secret black operation sub-branch within the National Security Agency (NSA) and currently the commander of Fourth Echelon, a newly created covert special operations/counter-terrorism group.

A highly decorated veteran of JSOC's DEVGRU, and the CIA's Special Activities Division, Cypher is a master in the art of stealth, having been trained in various undercover and covert infiltration tactics. He not only specializes in night-time combat but in close-quarters combat in urban warfare and fieldcraft-related skills as well. In addition, he is extremely proficient in tradecraft skills such as surveillance tactics, computer hacking, handling explosives and the use of nearly any conventional firearm ambidextrously, mostly utilizing the Center Axis Relock, a modern shooting stance used in close-quarters combat. He is also a highly trained expert in various forms of martial arts but he far excels in combat system of Judo, Krav Maga, and Wushu.