Today’s generation of students had a chance to learn what role they could someday play during the 2025 Fall Cybersecurity Summit, held Oct. 22 inside the Lutheran Heritage Room at Thiel College.
“I think it was wonderful. We had some very insightful discussions,” said Dr. Thomas Dulaney, associate professor of math and computer science at Thiel College.
Dulaney moderated last week's summit, which involved a variety of speakers split among three panels focused on industry, education and military and government affairs.
Each panelist had a chance to speak and answer questions from Dulaney and the students. Tables with information and representatives were also arranged throughout the room.
The final panel featured Capt. Elliott Clark of the Army, SSgt. Jeremy King of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard and MSgt. Jorge Martinez of the Air Force Reserve.
When asked what kind of cyber threats each branch faced, Martinez said even though the Air Force plays more of a support role, they still face cyber attacks.
“The attackers might be trying to get someone’s social security number, for example,” Martinez said.
King said there are no limits to the type of targets that need to be protected against cyber threats.
“We’ve dealt with threats to the military and civilians, such as attacks on infrastructure,” King said.
Clark said that, while the threat of cyber attacks has increased, the military has continued increasing its capabilities to deal with those threats, resulting in an increased need for cybersecurity specialists.
“Five or six years ago, they didn’t even have a cyber branch in the military,” Clark said.
“There will always be people who want our info or data, or they want to see the world burn.”
Josh Marshall, a student at Laurel Technical Institute’s Sharon campus, was among the roughly 120 students present for Wednesday’s summit.
Marshall said he was interested in the cybersecurity field due to the potential job opportunities that would allow him to either work remotely or find a job in or near his native New Wilmington.
“My friends and family are all here, so I’d like to stay in the area,” Marshall said.
Regarding the cybersecurity summit, Marshall said he enjoyed being able to hear from experts in multiple fields, especially when it came to the risks and benefits of artificial intelligence.
“They gave a pretty good outlook on AI,” Marshall said.
“I’ve read and heard some business people who view AI positively, but of course they’re going to profit from it, so it was nice hearing from people who aren’t from the companies behind the AI.”
Another student in the audience was Jordan Kosin, an 11th grader from Neshannock Township School District in Lawrence County and a student enrolled in the Pennsylvania Cybersecurity Center.
Kosin said he was especially interested to hear from the military and government officials since he was considering a possible military career after high school.
Kosin added that he was glad he attended Wednesday’s summit and encouraged other students to participate if similar summits were held in the future.
“There are a lot of opportunities out there for cybersecurity,” Kosin said.
The summit was presented by Thiel College and the Pennsylvania Cybersecurity Center, which offers training, education and certification in cybersecurity technologies.
The event was sponsored by Penn-Northwest Development Corporation and the City of Hermitage.
“The job market is very large and robust when it comes to cybersecurity,” said Bradley Calleja, executive director of the LindenPointe Development Corporation.
The corporation oversees the eCenter@LindenPointe in Hermitage, where the Pennsylvania Cybersecurity Center is located.
About 200 students have gone through the Pennsylvania Cybersecurity Center so far. There are currently about 50 students in the current cohort, with five to 10 adults enrolled.
“We always tell our students, try to build upon the certification you get from us by getting a more specific certification or getting into the workforce or the military,” Calleja said.
Calleja said eCenter officials were able to draw upon their relationships with businesses and government agencies to bring together Wednesday’s panelists.
A representative from the Federal Bureau of Investigation was also expected to participate, but had to cancel due to the ongoing government shutdown.
© 2025 The Herald (Sharon,Pa). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
