TSTC student blazing a future in cybersecurity

(HUTTO, Texas) - In a world that is constantly adapting, Blaise Deibert is planning to set the pace in cybersecurity.

Deibert, a Pflugerville native, is in his third semester of Cybersecurity at Texas State Technical College's East Williamson County campus. He credits his girlfriend's father for his interest in cybersecurity as a profession.

"My girlfriend's dad has 20 years of experience in the cybersecurity industry," he said. "He gives me guidance and mentorship."

Believing that work experience is just as important as a degree, Deibert did not waste time in finding a job when he arrived at TSTC.

"My first semester, I went to Career Services (at TSTC) and met Hunter Henry," he said. "Hunter connected me to get my first job."

Deibert works at Protis IT (information technology) Solutions, a managed service provider in Austin.

"I like where I work," he said. "I'm getting experience writing script, I'm being pushed to learn more, and I'm getting experience."

For Deibert, cybersecurity's constant changes are a job benefit.

"I like figuring things out and learning," he said. "In IT, I've seen that you have to constantly be willing to challenge yourself because things always change."

The future is not out of Diebert's mind, and eventually he wants to specialize in artificial intelligence because of growth in that area. He also knows where he wants to stay rooted for his goals.

"I want to stay in Austin," he said. "It's the only place in Texas where I can comfortably see my career blossom with the growth of tech in this area. I like to surround myself with people who are smarter than me so I can learn, and I think this is where I'll be able to do that."

The median salary for an information security engineer in Texas is $100,720, according to onetonline.org. The site projected that the need for these professionals in Texas would grow 20% between 2020 and 2030.

Cybersecurity is one of TSTC's performance-based education programs in which students can move through their training at a flexible pace. The program is offered in online and hybrid formats.

TSTC offers an Associate of Applied Science degree and certificates of completion in Cybersecurity, and an advanced technical certificate in Digital Forensics Specialist, at its East Williamson County, Fort Bend County, Harlingen, Marshall, North Texas and Waco campuses.

Applications for the spring semester are being accepted. Spring registration begins October 28.

For more information about TSTC, go to tstc.edu.

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