Kevin L. Hulett hires graduates of the ATE-funded cybersecurity program because it blends cybersecurity with information technology instruction.

In 2006 Kevin L. Hulett graduated from Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology with three degrees: an associate of science degree in information technology (IT), an associate in applied science in IT-networking; and a bachelor of technology in information assurance and forensics. The day after graduation he went to work as a systems administrator at the college in Okmulgee, Oklahoma.

Now as associate vice president of Technology Services there, he supports "home-growing" the IT staff. Nine of the 11-member technology services employees are graduates of the OSU Institute of Technology.

Hulett Appreciates Program's Blending of Security in IT Courses

"It think it really gave me the tools that I need to manage and lead the security effort. The degree program taught IT in general and networking ... On top of that it built in all the security knowledge," Hulett said.

The OSU Institute of Technology is part of the eight-state Cyber Security Education Consortium (CSEC) that has received support from the National Science Foundation's Advanced Technological Education program. CSEC is one of five ATE centers that focus on developing curricula for cybersecurity technician education and faculty professional development programs at two-year colleges.

"Taking the security knowledge and infusing it with the IT knowledge makes it very easy to make sure that even from the ground level of implementing any project or any new IT function we build security in from the get-go," Hulett said.

He went on to explain: "It's valuable for all of my IT staff to be trained in security because a lot of times you hire a security person to watch out for the big picture on security, to watch out for attacks from the outside. But if all your staff is trained in security, everything they do, they make secure as they're doing it.

"You don't get as many holes in the first place that the full-time security person is trying to find. By having people with degrees in security in all the positions in IT you end up having the security baked into everything you do."