🛡️ Cybersecurity | 🤖 AI Fundamentals | ☁️ Cloud | 🎓 Education
Cybersecurity and information technology professional with a strong academic and instructional background focused on systems security, cloud computing, and applied cyber defense. I specialize in translating complex technical concepts into practical, standards-aligned solutions through hands-on labs, real-world scenarios, and workforce-focused education.
I am currently enrolled in "CSC-114: AI I", where I am increasing my knowledge in artificial intelligence, ethical AI considerations, and applied AI use cases within cybersecurity and information systems. This coursework directly supports my long-term focus on AI-integrated cyber defense education and secure system design.
� AI collaboration and prompt engineering � GitHub workflows and version control � Building my first AI assistants
🌍 Beyond technology and cybersecurity, I am deeply passionate about international travel and cultural exploration. My experiences span multiple continents and decades, exposing me to diverse political systems, cultures, languages, and operational environments. These experiences have strengthened my adaptability, situational awareness, and global perspective—qualities that directly inform my approach to cybersecurity, risk analysis, and problem solving.
USA States not visited as of yet (8) : Alaska, Colorado, North Dakota, Missori, Nebraska, Arkanasas, Michigan, Wisconsin Antarctica is the only continent that I have not visited
| Year / Date | Location | Country | With Whom | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1986 | Panama | Panama | Aldo Mata | |
| Mar 1987 | Veracruz | Mexico | Aldo Mata, David Dodd | |
| Dec 1987 | Cancun | Mexico | Jim Vickers | |
| Oct 1990 | Saudi Arabia | Saudi Arabia | ||
| Mar 1991 | Iraq | Iraq | ||
| 1998 | Sonora Bay | Mexico | Vicki | |
| 1999 | Germany, Austria, Luxembourg | Europe | Vicki | Romantische Straße |
| Mar 1999 | Italy, Vatican City | Europe | Vicki | |
| Dec 1999 | Tegucigalpa | Honduras | Vicki | |
| 2000 | Nova Scotia | Canada | Vicki | |
| Sept 2003 | Nassau | Bahamas | Vicki, Alex | |
| 2011 | Rothenburg | Germany | Vicki, Alex, Zoe | |
| Dec 2015 | Taipei | Taiwan | John Wu | |
| Jun 2019 | Castaway Cay | Bahamas | Vicki, Alex, Zoe | |
| Oct 2022 | Istanbul | Turkey | Vicki | Medical tourism |
| Mar 2023 | Japan | Japan | Family | Bullet train experience |
| Mar 2024 | Japan | Japan | ||
| 2024 | Netherlands, Canada | Europe/North America | Alex, Vicki | College search |
| Jul 2025 | France, Morocco, Gibraltar, Spain, Portugal | Europe/Africa | Solo | Bucket-list journey |
🌐 Travel has shaped how I view systems, risk, resilience, and human behavior across borders. These lived experiences consistently inform my work in cybersecurity education, global threat awareness, and technology decision-making.
🇵🇦 🇲🇽 🇸🇦 🇮🇶 🇩🇪 🇦🇹 🇱🇺 🇮🇹 🇻🇦 🇭🇳 🇨🇦 🇧🇸 🇹🇼 🇹🇷 🇯🇵 🇳🇱 🇫🇷 🇲🇦 🇬🇮 🇪🇸 🇵🇹
🌎 North America · 🌍 Europe · 🌏 Asia · 🌍 Middle East · 🌍 Africa
My international experiences reinforce that cybersecurity is not solely a technical challenge but a socio-technical problem shaped by trust, communication, cultural expectations, and decision-making under uncertainty. Observing how people interact with technology across cultures has strengthened my ability to anticipate user behavior, recognize insider risk indicators, and design security controls that account for real-world human limitations rather than idealized users.
This global perspective supports my broader interests in human factors in cybersecurity, cybersecurity education, and policy-aware system design, where effective security depends on aligning technical controls with human behavior and organizational culture.
- Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development
- AI Applications in Cyber Defense
- Cloud Security and Virtualization
- Identity and Access Management (IAM)
- Digital Forensics and Incident Response
- Standards-Based Security (NIST, CIS, ISO)
Cybersecurity & Systems
- Network Security, IDS/IPS, Endpoint Security
- Risk Assessment and Security Controls
- Digital Forensics Fundamentals
- Incident Response and Threat Analysis
Cloud & Platforms
- Cloud Computing Fundamentals (AWS, Azure concepts)
- Virtualization Technologies
- Identity and Access Management
Operating Systems
- Linux
- Windows 10/11
- macOS
- Unix-based systems
Frameworks & Standards
- NIST Cybersecurity Framework
- NIST SP 800-series concepts
- CIS Critical Security Controls
- GitHub: https://github.com/8BitTech2
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/8bittech
I welcome collaboration on cybersecurity education, AI fundamentals, cloud security projects, and applied learning initiatives.
I hold multiple associate degrees across different IT disciplines, giving me a rare cross-functional perspective that connects cybersecurity, networking, cloud systems, and end-user support into a cohesive operational view. I currently have 14 active industry certifications too!
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## Find Me
- 📫 Right here on GitHub!