How do you support NNSA?

As a Cybersecurity Service Provider Analyst, I am a part of a very important team in NNSA that supports Cybersecurity Service for the Department of Energy. This means that I assist other sites in preparation for Command Cyber Readiness Inspections by conducting computer security audits.

What is your personal or cultural background, and how has that shaped you and your approach to your career?

I am of Chinese/Thai/Filipino/Vietnamese decent, and I was raised in New York City before joining the Air Force. After military service, I decided to use my computer skills to help people as a civilian.

What did you study in school and how did it impact you personally and professionally?

I studied IT and chemistry in college, and I worked in IT in the military. This education and professional experience helped me gain the critical knowledge and skills necessary to become the professional I am today. It also gave me confidence. I know that as a professional, I can answer a lot of complicated questions. When I come across a difficult IT or science question, I don't feel uneasy because I know that either I have the answer, or I can find it.

What led you to a career in nuclear security?

I pursued a career in nuclear security because there is a need for cybersecurity in all areas of our modern world, but particularly in national and nuclear security. At the end of the day, I feel proud that I can assist in this important endeavor.

What is the best part about your job?

The people. I get to work with a very positive team who cares for each other and the work that we do. This translates to positive energy all around: I come to work very happy, my team is happy, and in the end, our customers are happy.

What is your proudest accomplishment while working at NNSA?

In general, I like helping people fix complicated technical problems. For example, recently, I was able to assist a site in understanding an exception request. This process is not easy. It can be confusing for beginners and experts alike, but it is important because it can affect the outcome of the cybersecurity evaluations.

Tell us something interesting about yourself.

I am one of those lucky people who loves what they do, so my hobbies also involve technology. In particular, I like to learn new things about cutting-edge technology and how it developed throughout history. In my free time, you can often find me watching YouTube videos, watching historical documentaries, or reading articles about these scientific achievements.

Do you have any highlights from your time supporting NNSA?

I am fairly new to NNSA, but one of the projects I worked on right away was a tracker review endeavor that enables Cybersecurity Service Providers to quickly and accurately track exception requests. This project took months to complete, and I am proud to have accomplished it.   

What advice would you have for anyone interested in a career in nuclear security?

For anyone interested in a career in nuclear security, STEM, or public service, don’t wait. Just apply for the job. My career has been incredibly satisfying because I sought out interesting opportunities in science and technology.

Why do you think diversity and inclusion is important to your profession?

I think diversity is a good thing and it is necessary for an organization’s growth and success. Different people with different ideas can improve an organization because diversity gives an organization an edge. On my team, while we all may have different backgrounds, we still work as a team to tackle the same goals and we support each other daily.