Mark Richards

GCU’s Master of Science in Cybersecurity offers students intensive, hands-on learning experiences to thoroughly prepare them to pursue challenging, high-tech careers. The following learning objectives and core competencies are included:

* Risk assessment, countermeasures, security policies and frameworks

* Ideologies of cyber-crime, identification of attack vectors and impact analysis of failed security measures

* Policy perspectives on security design

* Protection of intellectual property through encryption, hardware security and layered security defense strategies

The degree culminates with a capstone course: Cybersecurity Program Development. Students are required to develop a full cybersecurity program, taking any ethical or legal challenges into consideration.

Extensive coursework in professional, scientific, and technical writing. GPA: 3.59

Published author of non-fiction stories:

o The Mud Brick Crucible. Zero Dark Thirty. (Volume 3, Number 4)
o Sweet Kill. Veterans’ Voices, Fall 2018 (Volume 66, Number 3)
o PB Rahim. Veterans’ Voices, Spring 2016 (Volume 64, Number 4)

Paid Guest Blog Articles:
o The Necessary Evolution of Career Counseling. Talentoday.com
o 10 Steps to Start Prepping. Theprepperjournal.com

o Feature Film Screenplay: Hills of Peace. WGA# 1809726

o Television Comedy Pilot: The Sand Box. WGA# 2070726

o Winner of the Ernestine Schumann-Heink Military Service Award for Outstanding Writing, 2016.

Provide mechanical and electrical design of Telemetry and RF Products in support of the war fighter.
Design of military and aerospace printed circuits using Mentor PADS and DX Designer in accordance with IPC 2221 and IPC 2222 Class 3.

Design of precision fixtures, housings, and components using SolidWorks and AutoCAD. Review and evaluation of designs executed by others to satisfy product and project requirements. Develop and design documentation and drawings to facilitate fabrication and assembly of electronic and mechanical hardware.

Lead a team of up to six signal soldiers to establish, manage, and defend the communications networks of the 253rd Engineer Battalion, comprising over 400 personnel across six geographic regions. Official duties included: Enhanced Trusted Agent, Information Assurance Officer, Telephone Control Officer, and Information Management Officer on both SIPR (Secret) and NIPR (Unclassified) networks, as well as COMSEC (Encryption Key) custodian.

Create and implement Battle Drills for mitigating emergency situations, including full and partial network outages, power disruption, cross-domain violations, personal information (PII) leakage, and other significant acts. Manage, track, and maintain over 600 pieces of Information Technology and communications hardware throughout the Battalion areas of operation.