Certifications & Education¶
For Hiring Managers
10 active certifications aligned with GRC Engineering, Cloud Security, and Detection Engineering roles. CySA+ and PenTest+ scheduled January 2026 to strengthen offensive/defensive hybrid positioning.
Certification Roadmap¶
gantt
title Certification Timeline — GRC + Detection Engineering Path
dateFormat YYYY-MM
axisFormat %b %Y
section Foundation
A+ (Complete) :done, 2024-02, 2024-03
Network+ (Complete) :done, 2025-01, 2025-02
Security+ (Complete) :done, 2025-01, 2025-02
section Security Specialist
ISC2 CC (Complete) :done, 2023-03, 2023-04
SSCP Associate (Complete) :done, 2025-08, 2025-09
CySA+ (Scheduled) :active, 2026-01, 2026-02
PenTest+ (Scheduled) :active, 2026-01, 2026-02
section Cloud & GRC
AWS Cloud Practitioner :2026-02, 2026-03
ISC2 CCSP :2026-03, 2026-04
section Management
ITIL4 (Complete) :done, 2025-05, 2025-06
Project+ (Complete) :done, 2025-11, 2025-12In Progress — January 2026¶
CompTIA CySA+ (CS0-004) Threat detection, security analytics, incident response. Validates SOC analyst and detection engineering skills. Detection SIEM IR Status: Exam scheduled January 2026
CompTIA PenTest+ (PT0-002) Penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, exploitation techniques. Validates offensive security fundamentals. Offensive Pentest Red Team Status: Exam scheduled January 2026
Why these certifications matter:
- CySA+ → Detection engineering roles require demonstrated threat analysis capability
- PenTest+ → Understanding offensive techniques improves defensive control design
- Together → Purple team perspective: know how to attack, know how to detect
Active Certifications¶
Security & Risk¶
| Credential | Issued | Validates | Target Roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| CompTIA Security+ ce | Jan 2025 | Core security concepts, risk management, compliance | All security roles |
| ISC² SSCP (Associate) | Aug 2025 | Security operations, access controls, incident response | SOC, Security Ops |
| ISC² CC | Mar 2023 | Foundational security principles | Entry-level validation |
| CompTIA CSIS | Jan 2025 | Infrastructure security (Security+ + Network+ + A+) | Security Engineering |
Networking & Infrastructure¶
| Credential | Issued | Validates | Target Roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| CompTIA Network+ ce | Jan 2025 | Network architecture, troubleshooting, security | Infrastructure Security |
| CompTIA A+ | Feb 2024 | Hardware, OS, troubleshooting fundamentals | Foundation |
| CompTIA CIOS | Jan 2025 | IT operations (Network+ + A+) | Operations |
| Linux Professional Institute (LPI) | Sep 2025 | Linux administration, command line, system management | Cloud/DevSecOps |
Management & Process¶
| Credential | Issued | Validates | Target Roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| ITIL 4 Foundation | May 2025 | Service management, change control, incident management | GRC, Security Ops |
| CompTIA Project+ | Nov 2025 | Project management, stakeholder communication | Team Lead, GRC |
Planned — Q1 2026¶
| Credential | Target | Why This Matters |
|---|---|---|
| AWS Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02) | Feb 2026 | Validates cloud fundamentals for AWS security work |
| ISC² CCSP | Mar 2026 | Cloud security architecture, validates senior cloud security positioning |
Cloud roadmap rationale: AWS Control Pack portfolio project demonstrates hands-on cloud security. Certifications validate the underlying knowledge for hiring managers who require formal credentials.
Education¶
B.S. Cybersecurity & Information Assurance¶
Western Governors University | Expected: February 2026
Capstone: TraceLock™ — Multi-domain RF threat detection platform (patent pending)
Program coverage: - Security frameworks (NIST, ISO 27001, PCI-DSS) - Network security and architecture - Penetration testing and ethical hacking - Security operations and incident response - Cloud security fundamentals - Governance, risk, and compliance
Accelerated completion: Competency-based program allows certification stacking — 10 industry certifications earned during degree.
Licenses¶
| License | Issued | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot | Active | Legal commercial drone operations — validates AAM/UAS credibility |
| HAM Radio License | Active | RF experimentation and emergency communications |
| GMRS License | Active | Extended-range radio communications |
Role Alignment¶
| Target Role | Key Certifications | Status |
|---|---|---|
| GRC Engineer | Security+, SSCP, ITIL4, Project+ | ✅ Ready |
| Cloud Security Engineer | Security+, Network+, AWS CP (planned), CCSP (planned) | 🔄 In Progress |
| Detection Engineer | Security+, SSCP, CySA+ (Jan 2026), PenTest+ (Jan 2026) | 🔄 In Progress |
| Security Analyst | Security+, CySA+ (Jan 2026), Network+ | 🔄 Jan 2026 |
Verification¶
All certifications verified via official channels:
- CompTIA: Credly profile
- ISC²: Member ID verifiable upon request
- FAA: Certificate available upon request