A Little About Myself
Professional Experience
Bilingual (Spanish) Navy Veteran with 7+ years of proven experience in ensuring compliance with security management programs and overseeing workplace safety in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments. Knowledgeable in Plans of Action and Milestone (POA&M), Risk Management Framework (RMF), and using National Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publications; 800-53, 800-60, 800-37, 800-70, FIPS 199 and FIPS 200.
|
My Academic Journey
- After graduating high school, I immediately started at Cal State University Northridge. However, things took a turn when I was overworking myself with my employer by taking extra shifts and working overtime. Unfortunately, I was put on academic probation, and to make it worse, I was fired from my employer. I didn’t tell anyone until one week before heading to boot camp that I had dropped all my classes and joined the Navy Reserves. This put my academic journey on hold. The military shaped me to become more disciplined, responsible, and accountable.
Glendale Community College
I attended Glendale Community College to retake classes and restart my journey. I worked two jobs to pay for classes because I was ineligible for financial help. A lesson was learned, but I was able to transfer back to Cal State Northridge 4 semesters later.
California State University Northridge (CSUN)
B.A. Criminology and Justice Studies
- California State University Northridge. Home of the Matadors. I was excited to return to CSUN to finish what had been started. I redeemed myself by earning straight A’s the first semester back. However, another academic halt happened when I was tagged to deploy overseas. But this did not stop me from taking available online classes overseas. I continued to attend classes despite the 10-hour difference. I returned in person to CSUN in spring 2020 to finish strong and earn my degree.
University of San Diego
M.S. Cyber Security Operations and Leadership
Overseas, I was intrigued by our operations involving encrypted radio signals and network security. With cyber activity growing exponentially due to the coronavirus, and concerns shifting telework to be commonplace, there was an increased need for cybersecurity and safety professionals. Cybersecurity caught my attention because it challenged me to expand my knowledge, adapt to difficult situations, and analytically think through problems. Exploring different schools, the University of San Diego stood out because of its unique curriculum. I knew the curriculum at USD would prepare me to be a trained cybersecurity professional in the workforce.
|