Why Not Me?

When I was in eighth grade, I got a homework assignment that changed my life. The task: to write about what I wanted to be when I grew up.

Up to this point, I thought I wanted to be a doctor. As providence would have it, right about the time my English teacher assigned the task of writing about my future career, my science teacher had me dissect a frog. Needless to say, becoming a doctor went out the window: incisions in skin…that was not going to work. So what now?

I reassessed my options. I knew the man I admired most — my dad — worked as a mechanical engineer. I knew he traveled a lot and as an Air Force veteran placed a high value on doing work as a federal government contractor supporting our military. He seemed to really enjoy his work and those with whom he worked (the company softball games bore this out). Yet, I did not really know what an engineer did.

I wondered: Would I enjoy being an engineer? What does it take to become one? Would I be good at it?

You may be asking yourself those same questions today as they relate to cybersecurity. Back then, I wasn’t thinking about a career in cybersecurity. I’m not a millennial who grew up with a smartphone tethered to me. I’m a GenXer who happened to be mentored, inspired, and challenged at just the right time. Hopefully, by sharing some of the lessons that I learned on the journey from that homework assignment to my career in cybersecurity, I can pay that inspiration forward to you.

Lesson 1: Do What You Love and Love What You Do

My Dad had been cultivating and encouraging my interests and aspirations throughout my life, so when I wanted to learn more about his career as a mechanical engineer, his first message to me was this: “you’ll work at least 90,000 hours in your lifetime, so do what you love and love what you do.” We shared a love for science and math.

I was taught very early that science was all around me and key to the world I wanted to explore. If I asked the proverbial “why” questions that all kids do, I was sent to an encyclopedia or the library to see what I could find out myself. I also recognized early that success in math was gender neutral…your answers were either right or wrong and weren’t dependent on someone subjectively judging your work. I took joy in figuring out math because I loved being right. That, and it helped me come up with creative ways to get the most mileage out of saving my weekly allowance.

Taking the time to explore what I enjoy and evaluating how it ties to my work has been a guide that I revisit regularly. It led me to transition from a degreed mechanical engineer to a job as a systems engineer, then as a software engineer, a systems integrator for information technology systems and to cybersecurity.

For you, your journey may not start with engineering; but, it may start with psychology or sociology or criminal justice or even healthcare. All are equally viable starting points for a promising cybersecurity career that demands and values critical thinking, problem solving, and teamwork. The job opportunities are diverse because everyone needs cyber experts — technology companies, banks, hospitals, governments, schools, retail, transportation… the list goes on. With cybersecurity, you can pick your passion and make a difference.

Lesson 2: Seek a Hands-on Introduction to the Field

There were no “bring your child to work” days when I was growing up; but, my father created one for me. At his office, he took out a sample drafting document, stretched it across his drafting desk and pulled out some photographs, starting to explain what it was, exactly, that he did all day. My father explained that his job was to design on paper the machine components that would be manufactured and placed on nuclear warships in defense of our nation. He also shared of participating in “shock trial” exercises to assess how mechanical components on a ship would respond in live conditions; offering the opportunity to improve the systems if necessary. From that moment, I was hooked on engineering and the idea that I could use creativity and problem solving to defend our country against our greatest adversaries.

Today, 61 percent of millennials say they have no idea what a cyber career entails. How do you figure that out?

One way is through my company: Each year, Raytheon co-sponsors the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (NCCDC) with the Department of Homeland Security. More than 200 colleges and universities and 2,400 students participate in competitions around the country with cyber experts from Raytheon and other partner volunteers providing student-teams realistic malicious attacks and operational challenges. There are a number of other similar competitions for students and professionals that take place regionally, nationally, and globally, to which I encourage women to seek participation, even if just as an observer, to build awareness of the “possible” through “simulated exercises” in cyber.

Lesson 3: Become a Perpetual Learner and Always be Ready for Change

This lesson means asking “why” and equally important “why not me.” While completing my bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and materials science from Duke University, I recognized that information technology was evolving as a critical new frontier. I completed an independent study in computer science in part out of need…. I was tired of having to re-type my term papers because of data being lost and I wanted to better understand the performance of personal computing. Although computer science was not my field of study, I figured “why not me” and sought out a professor to champion my independent study in computing.

Facing graduation, I considered my engineering degree as an entree’ into the career of my dreams by giving me the necessary tools to solve complex problems. The way I viewed it, no matter what job out of college I took, there would be a certain level of on-the-job learning, so there was no risk to starting my career in an adjacent field that could leverage my technical problem solving skills aligned with my new interest. So, rather than working as a mechanical engineer, I accepted a position as a systems engineer, joining a company aligned with my values focused on developing solutions to defend our country against our greatest adversaries; but, in a new frontier than of my father’s…that of computer and network systems.

During my career, I’ve supported government agencies and the commercial sector — from the Department of Homeland Security and NASA to global banks and the intelligence community. I’ve worked to develop better weather prediction systems, provide stronger e-commerce platforms, and improve information sharing, analytics, and network security. I have led teams of 10 and teams of hundreds.

There’s one thing that stays constant: during each transition, I engaged in some level of self-led learning, much like that computer science independent study as an undergraduate. These included certifications, workshops, seminars and trainings — of which there are many.

You can arrive at cybersecurity from an endless number of paths, the opportunities to let it take you places — and to contribute to the betterment of our society along the way — are limitless.

Valecia D. Maclin is a cybersecurity program director at Raytheon Intelligence, Information and Services. Ms. Maclin holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and Material Science from Duke University; a Master of Science degree in the Management of Technology from the University of Pennsylvania and the Wharton School of Business; and additionally holds multiple professional certifications including PMP, CISSP, ISSMP and GSLC.