As a child living in a remote village in western Alaska, Kory Morris Francis Joe was enthralled by the stars. Stargazing was a therapeutic pastime for Joe, who would stare up at the night sky to distract himself from the alcoholism that plagued his family, and so many others, in his rural community. Today Joe, Yupik Eskimo and Asa’carsarmiut Tribe, is studying at Northern Arizona University to become a mechanical engineer in a space program. He uses his past as motivation for the future.

Chad Lovett is happy to be back home in Fort Worth. Texas wasn’t exactly home to begin with, but it’s where, as a young adult, he began coming into his own. That was more than 20 years ago, but the recollections are still vivid. “You don’t necessarily know it at the time,” he explains, “but some of those early calls you make can really set you on your path.”

When you think of careers in cybersecurity, do you picture fighting cyber threats with Mission Impossible cyber feats? Those slick scenes from Hollywood studios may get attention, but the reality can be even more compelling. While the term “cybersecurity” is relatively new, measures like firewalls, user authentication, and information assurance are long-standing industry protections. What’s different now is a renewed emphasis on security, resulting in stronger defensive infrastructure and more sophisticated offensive attacks.