My name is Asher Embry and I am a student at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA studying cybersecurity. I am a recent graduate from Northern Virginia Community College, holding an Associate’s degree in cybersecurity. For the Fall 2025 semester I am learning the role of cybersecurity as an interdisciplinary study and how the field interacts with business entities and social sciences. During my time at NVCC I learned fundamental cyber skills like networking, server administration, and how cyber attacks happen, while also earning my CompTIA Network+, Security+, and Linux+ certifications. In the future I hope to put my studies to good use, preferring more hands-on work. I do not have any strong preferences and am keeping my options open.

One of my passions and ways I spend my free time is scouting. I have served as the Lodge Chief, the elected youth leader of the largest Order of the Arrow lodge in the nation, where I had the chance to lead my peers, organize events, and give back through service. The Order of the Arrow is Scouting’s national honor society, focused on brotherhood, cheerfulness, and service. I also spent three summers working on boy scout camp staff, where I taught and mentored scouts in the outdoors, and one summer as a ranger at Philmont Scout Ranch, guiding crews through life-changing treks in the New Mexico backcountry. These experiences not only deepened my love for the outdoors but also taught me the value of teamwork, adaptability, and leading by example.