Securing the Future: Joshua Alwin’s Cybersecurity Journey at MAGE

For Maryland Applied Graduate Engineering student Joshua Alwin, the decision to pursue a graduate degree with MAGE was rooted in a clear career goal: becoming a leader in cybersecurity. “UMD’s MAGE program stood out because of its cutting-edge curriculum and its designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence by the NSA,” he explains. “The courses are incredibly industry-relevant and aligned perfectly with where I want to go professionally.”

Joshua’s time in the program has already been marked by academic achievement and meaningful contributions to the MAGE community. Maintaining a 4.0 GPA across his first two semesters, he also earned a Teaching Assistantship for a Cloud Security course, which is a subject close to his heart. “That was a proud moment for me,” he says. “Being a TA pushed me to understand the material more deeply and taught me how to clearly communicate complex ideas. The MAGE faculty truly impressed me with their industry expertise and commitment to student success.”

His academic journey has included challenges, too, particularly in ENPM809V: Advanced Hacking and Embedded Systems. “That course pushed me way out of my comfort zone,” Joshua recalls. “But through a combination of self-study, collaboration with peers, and guidance from my professor, I ended up succeeding and growing both technically and personally.”

Outside the classroom, Joshua is gaining real-world experience through a highly competitive internship at Google (Mandiant) as a Security Consultant Intern on the Red Team. He landed the role through proactive networking and early applications—advice he readily offers to other MAGE students. “Summer internships are the best time to fully immerse yourself without the distraction of coursework,” he says. “Apply early—fall is key!”

At Google, Joshua is contributing to offensive security efforts by developing tools to enhance social engineering capabilities, particularly for phishing simulations. “It’s been an incredible experience and a dream opportunity,” he says. “There’s still a month left, and I’m excited to uncover more vulnerabilities and complete my project successfully.”

As he looks toward graduation and beyond, Joshua credits MAGE with helping him build the knowledge, network, and confidence to thrive in a fast-paced, high-stakes field. “Returning as a TA and taking on advanced coursework has strengthened my foundation. The program’s industry connections helped me land my internship, and I’m confident that MAGE will continue to shape my path to a fulfilling cybersecurity career.”

Published July 24, 2025