A thriving 4 in 1: Cyber student, Father, Veteran, and Google employee

Kevin was a Defensive Cyber Operations Analyst in the Navy. Employed by Mandiant, he is also an Adjunct Professor for the College of Western Idaho. Read a Q&A about his experience in the Duke Master of Engineering in Cybersecurity Program.

Why did you apply for the ME in Cybersecurity? What career goals did you come to Duke with?

My initial interest in Duke stems from my love of watching Duke basketball and growing up in the Coach K era. When I noticed that they had an opportunity for a master’s in cyber, I was beyond excited. Duke University is a well-known and highly respected school; to have the chance to say I graduated from Duke is more than a dream.  My career focus and goals out of this program are to dive deeper into what is needed at that managerial level and lead in the cyber world. This program will not only help cover new topics in cyber but also refresh my mind on some of the skills I have used in the past; while also providing the chance to learn more about business and leading in the work of Cyber.

How will you fulfill your internship/industry project requirement?

I am a full-time employee at Mandiant with Google Cloud and will use my time there as a consultant to fill the internship requirement.

Name 2-3 of the essential skills you gained during the program.

I am only one semester into the program, and so far, one of the primary skills I have used and focused on in this first year is the opportunity to connect with other high-level individuals in the Cyber world. This program presents fantastic opportunities to meet the type of people I want to be around and work with. Going back to school as a full-time employee and father, I have had to work on my organization, which has also helped with my time management. Those two skills have been heavily used in the last few months. A lot is going on in the program that I want to be a part of, but I do have to share that time with my current job and family.

What do you like most about the Duke Cyber program?

My first love with the program is that the educators work in the field. We are not just dealing with teachers as a profession but seasoned professionals dominating their workspace, creating startups, or working with top-tier organizations in this field.

Can you name one course that you found particularly important or relevant to you and why?

With only two core classes behind me, I am looking forward to my spring term Law and policy class with much excitement. My first two classes in this program were great refreshers and an excellent way to start the program and ease back into “college life.” I enjoyed the seminar speaker’s series, during which I heard from other cyber leaders and professionals in the workforce.