Cyber Captains

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The Cyber Captain Program (CCP) at VMI is a hands-on, paid program designed to develop the next generation of cybersecurity leaders.

The CCP equips cadets with practical experience, technical expertise, and leadership skills to excel in the rapidly evolving field of cybersecurity.

Benefits of Participating in CCP:

Professional Certifications: Earn credentials such as Network+, Security+, OSINT, and more.
Hands-On Experience: Work in specialized teams like Web Security, AI & Security, OSINT, Cyber Action Team (CAT), IoT & Security, gaining real-world cybersecurity skills.
Competitions: Participate in national level cybersecurity competitions like CTF, NCX, CyberFusion and more.
Internship Opportunities: Engage in DoW internships with potential pathways to DoW employment.
Paid Program: Receive compensation for your time and contributions during the academic year.
Community Engagement: Participate in Community Outreach sessions and VMI Open House activities and be part of the Cyber Club, Drone Club, and Programming Club.

Cyber Captains AY 2025-2026

This year’s captains were interviewed and selected by the CyDef Team, and represent a wide array of disciplines and majors within VMI’s academic programs.

Cadet	Major(s)	Minor(s)
Owen Andrews	Electrical and Computer Engineering	Physics
Thomas Bell	Electrical and Computer Engineering	N/A
Eufenuel-John Buna	Electrical and Computer Engineering	N/A
Abduhuq Chaudhury	Electrical and Computer Engineering	Cybersecurity, Math
Kayleb Eldridge	Computer and Information Sciences	N/A
Samuel Ferlazzo	Economics and Business	N/A
Sarah Fitzsimmons	Computer and Information Sciences, Applied Mathematics	Chemistry
Serenity Fraser	Electrical and Computer Engineering	Physics/Math
Isaac Gwin	Electrical and Computer Engineering	N/A
Benjamin Hagerich	Computer and Information Sciences	N/A
Grace Hobbs	Computer and Information Sciences	Physics
Michael Jorgensen	Electrical and Computer Engineering	Computer and Information Sciences
Michael Kelley	Computer and Information Sciences	N/A
Aiden Lodge	International Studies	N/A
Caroline Marini	International Studies	N/A
Jacob McClure	Electrical and Computer Engineering	Computer and Information Sciences
Adil Pattada	Computer and Information Sciences	N/A
Katelyn Redlinger	Computer and Information Sciences	Psychology
Santiago Rocha	Computer and Information Sciences	Electrical and Computer Engineering, Spanish
Adam Serfass	Computer and Information Sciences	N/A
Mamoud Sesay	Computer and Information Sciences	N/A
River Smith	Computer and Information Sciences	N/A
John Stotler	Computer and Information Sciences	Electrical and Computer Engineering
Amber Strapponi	Computer and Information Sciences	Cybersecurity
Martha Tumwikirize	Biology	Cybersecurity
Ty Yonas	Physics	Nuclear Engineering
Mohammad Zanganeh Niazabadi	Electrical and Computer Engineering	Cybersecurity, Math
Yushen Zhu	Electrical and Computer Engineering	Chinese