Cybersecurity Professional and USMC Veteran

Matthew D.

I am currently a full-time Cybersecurity Specialist and Network Engineer for a financial institution, where I manage enterprise security and network infrastructure. My technical foundation has been primarily built through 6 years of experience working full time in various IT roles. I hold the CompTIA Security+ certification, played enabled me to work on classified networks for the Department of Defense. My career began in 2018 as a Systems Administrator in the Marine Corps Reserves, followed by a progression through Help Desk, Firewall Administration, and Network Administration roles in the civilian sector.

My teaching experience comes from years of mentoring junior administrators and peers in high-stakes professional environments. In the Marine Corps and my subsequent corporate roles, I frequently served as a technical trainer for colleagues, breaking down complex concepts like subnetting, Cisco command line, and firewall logic for entry-level IT staff. This experience has been primarily one-on-one, focusing on adult learners and career-switchers who need to understand not just the textbook definitions, but how these systems function in a live production environment.

My tutoring approach is centered on "practical application." I believe that students learn best when they can connect abstract theory to real-world scenarios. Whether I am helping a college student prepare for the Security+ exam or guiding a professional through the basics of network engineering, I focus on building a strong conceptual framework first. I aim to demystify the intimidation factor of cybersecurity, providing clear, actionable guidance that helps students build confidence and achieve their certification or career goals.