The participants in the Cybersecurity Talent Initiative’s first three cohorts bring a variety of academic and professional experience to the federal government. These recent graduates will spend two years with federal agencies before they consider applying for a job with one of the initiative’s corporate partners. Read below to learn more about where each participant is placed, as well as the experience and background they bring to their cybersecurity role. Some participants are still in the agency clearance process or have chosen not to share their image.
Abay Bekele
Graduating Academic Institution: University of Maryland Global Campus
Placement: Environmental Protection Agency
Degree: Computer Network and Cybersecurity
CTI Participant
Graduating Academic Institution: Virginia Polytechnic Institution and State University
Placement: United States Secret Service
Degree: Computer Science and Mathematics
Adam Bailey
Graduating Academic Institution: Maryville University – St. Louis
Placement: Department of Treasury
Degree: Cyber Security
CTI Participant
Graduating Academic Institution: Virginia Polytechnic Institution and State University
Placement: United States Secret Service
Degree: Computer Science and Mathematics
Afua Amoako-Baah
Graduating Academic Institution: University of Maryland Global Campus
Placement: Department of State
Degree: IT-Information Systems Assurance
CTI Participant
Graduating Academic Institution: University of Maryland Global Campus
Placement: United States Secret Service
Degree: Information Technology and Information Assurance
Anna Taylor
Graduating Academic Institution: City College of New York
Placement: Department of State
Degree: Cybersecurity
CTI Participant
Graduating Academic Institution: George Washington University
Placement: Department of State
Degree: Cybersecurity
Bife Shiela Nyoweke
Graduating Academic Institution: University of Maryland Global Campus
Placement: Federal Deposit Insurance Agency
Degree: Cybersecurity Management and Policy
CTI Participant
Graduating Academic Institution: Purdue University
Placement: United States Army
Degree: Information Technology
David Han
Graduating Academic Institution: Virginia Tech
Placement: Department of State
Degree: Business Information Technology, Cybersecurity Management and Analysis
Grace Uchendu
Graduating Academic Institution: University of Maryland Global Campus
Placement: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Degree: Cyber Security Technology
Henrik Dagbashyan
Graduating Academic Institution: Western Governors University
Placement: United States Census Bureau
Degree: Cybersecurity and Information Assurance
CTI Participant
Graduating Academic Institution: Georgetown University
Placement: United States Secret Service
Degree: Cybersecurity Risk Management
CTI Participant
Graduating Academic Institution: Western Governors University
Placement: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Degree: Cybersecurity
Jarred Jallah
Graduating Academic Institution: The George Washington University
Placement: Department of Defense, Defense Technical Information Center
Degree: Cybersecurity
Kelly Reilly
Graduating Academic Institution: Grand Canyon University
Placement: Department of State
Degree: Cybersecurity
CTI Participant
Graduating Academic Institution: University of Maryland Global Campus
Placement: United States Secret Service
Degree: Computer Networks and Cybersecurity
Rebecca Mader
Graduating Academic Institution: New York University
Placement: Environmental Protection Agency
Degree: Global Security, Conflict, and Cybercrime
Ryan Do
Graduating Academic Institution: Drexel University
Placement: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Degree: Computing Security and Technology
Sean Patrick Manning Jr
Graduating Academic Institution: Marymount University
Placement: United States Census Bureau
Degree: Cybersecurity
Shaniya Snagg
Graduating Academic Institution: John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Placement: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Degree: Computer Science and Information Security
CTI Participant
Graduating Academic Institution: Western Governors University
Placement: Department of State
Degree: Cybersecurity and Information Assurance
CTI Participant
Graduating Academic Institution: Western Governors University
Placement: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Degree: Cybersecurity and Information Assurance
Thomas Middleton
Graduating Academic Institution: Capella University
Placement: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Degree: Cybersecurity and Information Assurance
Weston Wilson
Graduating Academic Institution: Western Governors University
Placement: Department of Treasury
Degree: Cybersecurity and Information Assurance
Adjua Lake
Graduating Academic Institution: University at Albany
Placement: Army Cyber Command
Degree: Cybersecurity
Akosua Nsowah
Graduating Academic Institution: George Washington University
Placement: State Department
Degree: Cybersecurity
Benjamin Quinn
Graduating Academic Institution: Florida Atlantic University
Placement: United States Secret Service
Degree: Computer Engineering
Cherrylita Turner
Graduating Academic Institution: George Washington University
Placement: United States Coast Guard
Degree: Cybersecurity Policy and Compliance
Daniel Embry
Graduating Academic Institution: George Washington University
Placement: United States Coast Guard
Degree: Cybersecurity
Emely Toledo Cruz
Graduating Academic Institution: George Washington University
Placement: Census Bureau, Office of Information Security
Degree: Cybersecurity
Frederico Colon
Graduating Academic Institution: George Washington University
Placement: State Department
Degree: Cybersecurity Policy and Compliance
Jayro Espino
Graduating Academic Institution: Metropolitan State University of Denver
Placement: Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
Degree: Cybersecurity
Jillene Vannostrand
Graduating Academic Institution: Western Governors University
Placement: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Degree: Cybersecurity and Information Assurance
Joseph Roesch
Graduating Academic Institution: George Mason University
Placement: United States Coast Guard
Degree: Information Technology
Laurence Pagan
Graduating Academic Institution: George Washington University
Placement: State Department
Degree: Cybersecurity Policy and Compliance
Marji Symonds
Graduating Academic Institution: Oregon State University- Cascades
Placement: United States Coast Guard
Degree: Computer Science
Maurice Prunty
Graduating Academic Institution: Walden University
Placement: State Department
Degree: Information System Security and Information System Management
Michael Austin
Graduating Academic Institution: West Virginia University
Placement: United States Coast Guard
Degree: Computer science- cybersecurity
Nicholas di Mauro
Graduating Academic Institution: William and Mary
Placement: Department of Health and Human Services
Degree: Computer science
Olivia Janssen
Graduating Academic Institution: Dakota State University
Placement: Federal Bureau of Investigation
Degree: Network Security and Cyber Leadership
Ramatu Mohammed
Graduating Academic Institution: Fordham University
Placement: State Department
Degree: Cybersecurity
Ryan Walsh
Graduating Academic Institution: Indiana University Bloomington
Placement: State Department
Degree: Cybersecurity Risk Management & Political Science
Sammy Noman
Graduating Academic Institution: George Mason University
Placement: State Department
Degree: Information Assurance and Security- Applied Cybersecurity
Sangeetha Ranadeeve
Graduating Academic Institution: University of Houston
Placement: State Department
Degree: Management Information Systems and Supply Chain Management
Lucinda Brooks
Graduating Academic Institution: Regent University
Placement: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Degree: Cybersecurity Management
Manpreet Duggal
Graduating Academic Institution: University of Albany, State University of New York
Placement: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Degree: Digital Forensics, Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cybersecurity
Kristin Miyoko Lockwood
Graduating Academic Institution: John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Placement: Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
Degree: Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity
Michelle Massarik
Graduating Academic Institution: University of Albany, State University of New York
Placement: Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
Degree: Cybersecurity Informatics
Steve Muthomi
Graduating Academic Institution: University of Maryland Global Campus
Placement: Environmental Protection Agency
Degree: Cybersecurity Technology
Carroll S. Rich
Graduating Academic Institution: Marymount University
Placement: Environmental Protection Agency
Degree: Cybersecurity
Joseph Salisbury
Graduating Academic Institution: Western Governors University
Placement: Federal Election Commission
Degree: Cybersecurity and Information Assurance
Kevin Smith
Graduating Academic Institution: Maryville University
Placement: US Army Cyber Command
Degree: Cybersecurity
Participant Testimonials
“My experience with working for the federal government through the CTI program has been so enriching. My co-workers and my supervisors have taught me everything from policy work to cyber security tools. It’s an amazing feeling to know that I have made a difference in the world and help to protect my nation from cyber security attacks.”
—Kevin, Cohort 1 CTI Participant
“The Cybersecurity Talent Initiative (CTI) provided an excellent opportunity to learn new tools and experience ‘hands-on’ training from Sr. Cybersecurity Engineers in the Public & Private Sectors. CTI provides an opportunity to work with Information Security and Cybersecurity Engineers, which increased my knowledge on proven methods to address vulnerability and incident management, remediations, mitigations along with supporting data analysis using various cyber tools, applications and other resources to research, detect, combat and potentially eliminate future cyber threats.”