My Resume

About Me

Hey there! I’m William — a cybersecurity student at Liberty University with a heart for service and a passion for protecting others in the digital world. Ever since I heard FBI agents speak at U.S. Cyber Camp, I was hooked. That moment set me on a path toward my dream: serving in the FBI’s cybercrime division. I’m currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science with minors in Criminal Justice and Military Operations & Intelligence.

Along the way, I’ve had the chance to be part of some amazing clubs and teams—from competing in capture the flag events to helping build real-world software applications. I’ve grown just as much from those late-night debugging sessions as I have from leading small groups on campus. Whether I’m writing C++ for a programming challenge or mentoring someone through a tough week, I show up with integrity, curiosity, and a desire to grow.

Outside of school and cybersecurity, I’m into reading, music, and finding ways to make life (and systems) more efficient—both personally and organizationally.

I love learning from others, so if you’ve got life or career advice, I’d truly love to hear it. Feel free to send me a message!

Education

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science: Cybersecurity, May 2027 (anticipated)

Minor in Criminal Justice
Minor in Strategic and Intelligence Studies

Professional skills

Employment

Self-motivation, dedication, and a willingness to learn all contribute to my skills in collaboration, adaptability, leadership, and teamwork.

Personal

Strong work ethic combined with a willingness to learn. I am constantly striving to improve and better myself in order to exceed expectations and become the best person I can be. I am organized and attentive to details

Technical

Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Visual Studio, Visual Studio Code, Git, and VMware. Experience with Windows and beginner-level familiarity with Ubuntu and Kali Linux. Programming skills include intermediate C++ and beginner-level Python and JavaScript. Academic background includes foundational knowledge in derivatives and integrals.

Awards and Certifications

Conducted research and gathered intelligence in a group to develop an operational plan against a factory in Russia per guidelines given by the Military Intelligence and Operations Professor
Wrote multiple essays and papers on different cyber topics, including digital forensics, zero trust architecture, Docker breakout, threat hunting, and zero trust architecture
Completed Coursework: Programming in C++ Advanced, Information Security Concepts & Principles; Constitutional Government & Free Enterprise
Awarded Dean's List 3 semesters in a row for having a 3.5 or higher GPA for that semester
Final group presentation proposing an aerospace engineering degree in Technical Communications class voted Best in Course by the professor

Experience

Technical Experience

LU Cyber Club,Member, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA, August 2023 - Present

Participated in hands-on cybersecurity challenges, including capture the flag challenges and blue team engagements, to develop problem-solving skills in threat analysis and ethical hacking
Engaged in group activities designed to teach and practice different skills, such as client interaction, 15- minute plans, and social engineering
Developed my skills by learning from fellow students on topics such as Windows system threat hunting, web penetration testing, and Active Directory penetration testing.

Liberty University Software Development Club,Programmer, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA, August 2024 - December 2024

Communicated with front-end team members regarding project details, clearly communicating important project details
Collaborated with a team of 10 members to develop a podcast content delivery system utilizing the organization’s internal database, resulting in a 50% reduction in content delivery process time.
Was proactive in learning HTML and CSS syntax in order to contribute good code to the project.
Identified problems with the design and layout of the front-end and communicated with the front-end team to work on the problem, and redesigned the front-end

LU Competitive Programming Club,Member, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA, August 2023 - May 2024

Collaborated with fellow students to develop and implement efficient algorithms to solve programming challenges under time constraints.
Tackled a wide range of algorithmic problems, adapting strategies to different formats and constraints.
Debugged and optimized code to enhance performance, ensuring solutions met strict time requirements.
Gained skills in algorithm creation and coding techniques using C++ and Python.

U.S. Advanced Cyber Academy,Trainee, U.S. Space and Rocket Center, Huntsville, AL, July 2019 - July 2022

Collaborated with team members to solve problems, leveraging their expertise and developing ideas to finish first in team challenges.
Adapted to unseen problems by communicating and working with my team to solve them during the final engagement
Developed my skills during this time by gaining foundational knowledge in various areas of cybersecurity
Identified the necessary resources required to achieve the desired result and set them up accordingly for the engagement

Professional Experience

Keyholder,Advance Auto Parts, Land O' Lakes, FL, May 2022 - Jul 2024

Identified customer problems with their vehicles and presented solutions using my knowledge and training.
Organized racks and shelves to maintain store visual appeal, engaged customers, and promoted specific merchandise.
Responsibly led the store when the manager was not there, directing others in their daily tasks to accomplish the store's sales or item goals.
Greeted customers when they came through the door, listened to and interpreted their problems based on my knowledge, and clearly communicated the solution to them in an organized manner
Collaborated with a team to serve 12 commercial customers while handling over 50 customers throughout the day.

Custodial Maintenance Worker, Land O' Lakes Christian School, Land O' Lakes, FL, Jun 2019 - Mar 2023

Communicated with the supervisor to receive instructions and plans for upcoming events.
Displayed flexibility by coming into work whenever asked to help set up and take down for events on short notice
Took initiative to accomplish organizational goals by continuing to learn and improve my skills by asking questions from those around and above me
Planned events, allocated time, resources, and workforce to accomplish goals promptly and on time.

Community Outreach

Office of Spiritual Development,Community Group Leader, Lynchburg, VA, August 2024 - Present

Effectively navigated the different social systems within the hall community and among the members to establish rapport with the members of my group
Clearly communicated through speech my beliefs and ideas in a way that would be understood by the different members of my group.
Listened to thoughts and ideas from group members, to learn and get to know them.
Led a small group of 5-7 men in weekly discussions, guiding conversations on faith-based topics from campus church services and fostering a spiritually supportive community.
Managed conflict in the group by addressing each person involved in the conflict and handling it one-on-one with the individual rather than in a group setting.

William DeStefano