“I selected the UMBC Cybersecurity master’s program because it offered a strong blend of technical, policy, and leadership graduate work which best fit my desire to continue to excel both professionally and personally.”
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Vic Macias
Plans: Ongoing Military Service and Leadership
MPS, Cybersecurity
Summa Cum Laude
Hometown: Severn, MarylandLieutenant Colonel Vic Macias is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. After nine years of service as a Weapons System Officer in the F-14 Tomcat, and a short time working in the civilian sector, he returned to service in the National Guard, where he quickly rose through the ranks to become Squadron Commander. In his new role focusing on network security and warfare, he realized the value of an advanced degree that could blend technology, policy, and leadership education, selecting UMBC’s cybersecurity master’s program. In his graduate capstone project, Vic researched the role of the National Guard in the defense of the nation’s critical infrastructure—such as power, water, gas, and communications—from cyber threats. He proposed recommendations for a more proactive cyber defense, outlining a new national model of cybersecurity.