(MARSHALL, Texas) – Ki’untrez O’Quinn already had a degree in Computer Information Systems when he enrolled in Texas State Technical College’s Cybersecurity program.
“I had a plan, but I didn’t really know which route to take in the computer world, so I did some research and found out about cybersecurity,” he said. “My mom was actually telling me about TSTC, and if I go there I could find a job quickly, so that’s what I did.”
O’Quinn, of Longview, said he became interested in TSTC’s Cybersecurity program because he wants to stop the hackers that threaten the public, including his own family, every day. The program’s hands-on lessons prepared him for the challenge.
“It was interesting to dig deep into how hackers execute what they do, and in order to stop that you’ve got to know what they do and how they think,” O’Quinn said. “Without going to school here (TSTC), I don’t think that I’d know half the things I know about cybersecurity and how to perform the things that I do.”
O’Quinn credits Amy Hertel, the Cybersecurity instructor for TSTC’s Marshall campus, with teaching him everything he knows about the field. Hertel herself said O’Quinn has become a significant asset to the world of cybersecurity.
“He approaches challenges with genuine curiosity and consistent determination, and he brings a strong work ethic to everything he takes on,” she said. “Alongside his technical growth, he stands out as a thoughtful communicator with a calm, gentle presence that contributes positively to any team he’s part of.”
During his time in the program, O’Quinn received an internship with Citadel 6, a cybersecurity provider in Longview for small and midsize companies. He was hired full time by the company after receiving his associate degree in 2024 from TSTC. O’Quinn currently holds the title of security operations center analyst/cybersecurity solutions engineer with Citadel 6 and plans to keep progressing in his career.
“You’ve just got to be determined, work hard and believe in yourself,” he said. “That’s really the best part of being able to give back; my experience could probably enlighten someone else.”
According to onetonline.org, information security engineers earn a median salary of $108,170 in Texas, where the number of these jobs was projected to grow 29% between 2022 and 2032.
Cybersecurity is available at TSTC’s Fort Bend County, Harlingen, Marshall, North Texas, Waco and Williamson County campuses, as well as online. The program offers an associate degree, two certificates of completion, and an advanced technical certificate in Digital Forensics Specialist.
For more information on TSTC, go to tstc.edu.