Academic Internship – CYSE 368: Cybersecurity Internship
Internship Description
In my final year at Old Dominion University, I completed a 300-hour cybersecurity internship through the CyberNavigator program. This was a Department of Defense-funded experience focused on practical application of cybersecurity in public sector environments. I worked alongside state election officials and cybersecurity mentors to assess risks, review policies, and contribute to digital infrastructure protection—specifically within Virginia’s election systems.
The role centered around Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC), which aligns closely with my long-term career focus. I used this opportunity to sharpen my technical thinking, apply frameworks like NIST CSF and RMF, and gain experience working in a mission-critical environment where small mistakes could have big consequences.
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Work Samples
• CNIP Cyber Navigator Internship Project
Locality Status Report
– “Locality Status Reports 24-07-03”
This document breaks down election system vulnerabilities in rural counties and proposes a layered, GRC-informed mitigation strategy.
• Capstone Slide Deck – “Cyber Risk and AI Governance in Public Infrastructure”
Presented to fellow interns and election officials as part of the program wrap-up. Focused on integrating AI ethics into cybersecurity policy.
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Reflection
This internship wasn’t just about checking a box—it helped clarify what kind of work actually matters to me. I was placed in situations where I had to communicate clearly with non-technical professionals, write with precision, and manage my time across multiple moving parts.
The experience pushed me to be more self-directed, more focused, and more grounded. It also reminded me that calm, strategic leadership is often what makes the biggest impact in cybersecurity. I didn’t need to talk the most—I needed to be clear, accurate, and trusted.
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Skills Developed
Through this experience, I developed several career-critical skills:
• Decision-making and problem solving: Created structured recommendations based on real-world threat modeling and risk assessments.
• Communication: Learned how to present technical findings to stakeholders with no security background—clarity was key.
• Time management: Balanced fieldwork, reflection journals, and final deliverables while working other jobs and managing classes.
• Technical knowledge: Applied cybersecurity frameworks in real scenarios, not just classroom simulations.
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Connection to My Goals
This internship confirmed that GRC is the space I want to work in—especially at the intersection of public impact, infrastructure, and emerging technology like AI. I plan to pursue roles in Atlanta or Northern Virginia that allow me to continue working on high-responsibility projects.
More than anything, this experience helped me realize I don’t have to change who I am to succeed—I just need to stay focused, stay clear, and keep building from a strong foundation.