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Academic theory meets military reality: Cyber students and Space Force leaders connect on future of defense

  • Published
  • By Alex Chang, Space Systems Command Public Affairs
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --  In a quiet corner away from the bustle of a major industry conference, the future of Space Force met the present as aspiring cyber security professionals engaged in a spirited Q & A with U.S. Space Force Guardians from Space Systems Command on January 23, 2026.

The session, attended by college seniors from the Cyber Halo Innovation Research Program (CHIRP) in conjunction with AFCEA’s annual Space Industry Days conference, offered a rare glimpse into the human side of the nation’s newest military service, ranging from candid discussions about "growing pains" to advice on navigating a high-stakes career.

For the students, it was the culmination of intensive research; for the Guardians, it was a chance to mentor the next generation of cyber talent.

The CHIRP program is a partnership between U.S. Space Force’s SSC and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to grow the cybersecurity workforce needed to help protect important space systems. The college-to-career program brings together government, industry, colleges, and universities to provide students with a direct two-year pathway to a cybersecurity career at SSC or its industry partners.

The program was founded to address a critical shortage of cybersecurity talent – it teaches far more than just code and, as revealed during the Guardian’s roundtable discussion, it teaches professional survival.

During the session, students pressed Guardians on technical and geopolitical issues, asking about the capabilities of our adversaries within the space domain and how the Space Force is managing its data integration.

Guardians offered advice about embracing and growing from failure, as well as prioritizing soft skills over technical prowess. 1st Lt. Amy Padilla emphasized the importance of clear communication, advising students to distill down ideas when briefing complex topics to non-experts.

"It's not what you say, it's how you say it," Padilla told the students. "You can have the answers, but it's how you deliver that message and how you get that buy-in from whomever you're talking to. That is just as key."

She went on to encourage the students to embrace a diverse career path, urging them to “keep as many doors open along the way because you can really do it all."

For the students, who were hand-selected among qualified applicants from California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH), the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), and California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB), the path to cybersecurity revealed more potential than expected.

Evelyn Mejia, a student from CSUSB, described cybersecurity as a "fractal" field.

"You can look into it, zoom in as much as you would ever want to, and you'd always find something new," Mejia said. "At the same time, at any point you could step back and look at it as a system and there's just a place for everyone and everything."

Penny McKenzie, the director of CHIRP and a cybersecurity engineer at PNNL, described the initiative as a "whole person mentorship program."

"We find mentors from SSC for the students, and they also have mentors from PNNL," McKenzie explained. The mentorship covers everything from conducting research to more pragmatic elements of the workplace, including soft skills such as writing professional emails.

The program began in 2018 when Space Systems Command approached PNNL to help find talent. Since its first cohort launched in 2020, CHIRP has aimed to turn students into "self-starters" ready for government service.

"The goal has always been to try and get them in at S6," McKenzie said, referring to the Command's cyber and data organization, “or getting them placed somewhere where they can still expand their knowledge and use the knowledge they have to help keep our country safer."

The program is currently in an exciting transition. McKenzie and deputy program manager Lisa Campbell revealed they are shifting the program to a sustainable model that will open opportunities to students nationwide.

For the Guardians who attended the discussion, the value of the program was clear. Charlie Brown, deputy director for SSC’s S6 Communications and Information organization, noted that the students' questions were "very well thought-out" and sparked genuine engagement. He went on to add that the value of discussions with current Guardians “shows students a completely different aspect of what's available to them… things outside of what they're learning in school. And I think that is really critical too.”

"You can tell just based on the questions, that these CHIRP students are all self-starters, very motivated," added Padilla. "Hopefully, programs and events like these are helping to empower and motivate the next generations of cyber talent.”

As the cybersecurity landscape grows increasingly complex, programs like CHIRP serve as a vital pipeline for the defenders of tomorrow. They do more than just fill a staffing need; they cultivate a community of passionate, ethical problem-solvers ready to tackle challenges that haven't even been imagined yet.

"I think initiatives like these are vital to make sure that we have a future," Maj. David McCain chief of staff for SSC S2, the organization responsible for military intelligence, security, and threat analysis, reflected on the day's interactions. "We’re making sure that we have fresh perspectives coming into SSC and the Space Force."

For the students, the path forward is now clearer and less daunting. They leave with the knowledge that their skills are needed, their perspectives are valued, and that even the highest levels of national defense are accessible to those willing to learn.

As Diego Acosta, a CHIRP participant from UTEP, put it, simply realizing "this is how the world communicates now" fuels a drive to protect it. With mentors guiding them to be flexible and pursue every passion, these future Guardians represent a promising horizon where technical expertise meets human ingenuity to keep the Nation safe.

 

 

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