Dakota State University

Connor Starrett '24

Computer Science (BS), Cyber Operations (BS)

Even as a student, it’s important to network with your peers.

Connor Starrett is able to do just that this week, at the AFA Warfare Symposium this week in Colorado.

A Dakota State student and Air Force cadet major, Starrett learned of the professional development opportunity through his ROTC unit, the780^th Cadet Wing at South Dakota State University. He was one of three regional cadets chosen to attend. The 2023 theme is: “Dominant Air & Space Forces to Deter, Fight & Win.”

Attendees were able to hear from senior Air Force, Space Force, and industry leaders, network with other military members, spouses, and industry, and visit with more than 100 exhibitors to learn about the latest technology.

“I also look forward to the opportunity to meet other cadets from across the country and see ideas they may have,” he stated. “There is a saying that it’s a small Air Force, but the symposium will provide a chance to develop important connections now,” he added. As a young future officer, he was looking forward to hearing from the Air Force leaders, particularly in regard to the cyber disciplines.

This symposium complements his Dakota State coursework to prepare him for a role in cyber. A double major in Computer Science and Cyber Operations, Starrett is looking to join the Space Force after he graduates. He appreciates DSU’s unique courses, small class sizes, and one-on-one opportunities with professors. These allow students to dive deeper into topics, something he appreciates as a transfer student.

“I actually applied to DSU twice,” said the Hampstead, N.C., native. He applied initially as a high school senior when he was recruited to run track and cross-country, but due to family health issues he stayed closer to home, at East Carolina University. When the situation improved, he applied again as a transfer student. “I moved my things into my Jeep and moved 1500 miles and have not looked back.”

DSU’s partnership arrangement with the ROTC program at SDSU also gives Dakota State students the advantage of Air Force opportunities. The collaboration also helps create a strong partnership between the schools, and allows students to “build really awesome relationships,” he said.

Starrett’s family relationships have also motivated him for this path. His parents are Air Force veterans, and after their military careers, they continued to serve those who served, and he wants to follow their example.

“I want to do what I can do to help other people.”

When he is commissioned as an Air Force officer next spring, “I will be the first commissioned officer in my family line,” he said, “but I will be standing on the shoulders of giants.”

Computer Science (BS)

Cyber Operations (BS)

Johanna Coffey '25

Cyber Operations (BS)

Johanna Coffey is a first-generation college student.

A sophomore Cyber Operations major from Madison, S.D., she knows that it can be challenging to navigate the necessary steps to get to college. “It’s a learning experience,” she said.

She is lucky. Her step-grandmother, Dr. Deb Tech, is an Associate Professor at Dakota State in the College of Business and Information Systems. “Any questions I have, I can go to her and ask,” Coffey said.

Growing up in Madison, Coffey knew about Dakota State, plus she heard about the University from Tech, who downplays her impact on Coffey’s decision. “DSU sold itself to her,” Tech said.

Still, Tech admits, “people may not realize the subtle influence they can have, even if that influence is more about getting an education than about a specific institution.”

“I’m just glad I have someone to go to and talk with,” Coffey said.

For other students who don’t have this option, her advice is to “go to somebody if you don’t know what you’re doing, or call the university. There’s always someone there who you can go to who will have the answers you’re looking for, and will help you out.”

Coffey has had a good experience with this at Dakota State. “I love the people who work here and the people who attend because they’re so friendly. And the faculty, they know their stuff.”

Coffey is one of those who knows her “stuff” at DSU. She is a work study at the ITS Help Desk, and Tech said, “I hear she’s doing a great job at the Help Desk. That makes me proud.”

Coffey chose Cyber Operations as a major because it’s a field that is moving up in the world, and there will be a need for knowledgeable, trained employees.

“More technology is being pushed out, and that means more people will be needed in that field, so that’s job security.” She’s developing a particular interest in security programming, but said, “I love computers and helping people out any way I can.”

Cyber Operations (BS)

Aaron Baker 23

Cyber Operations (BS)

Aaron Baker fell in love with programming when he was in the fifth grade.

That passion led to professional programming and software development jobs, starting when he was about 15. He got his first internship when he was a junior in high school. That led to contracts for things like ethical hacking bug bounties.

After high school, he started working towards a cyber security associate degree at the community college in his hometown of Sheridan, Wyoming. There he heard about a new cyber research opportunity at Dakota State, so in 2019 he came to Madison to be part of the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at DSU, researching Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

Baker discovered malware analysis during this REU, and connected with a faculty member doing research in this area. After completing his A.A., he came to DSU to earn a bachelor’s degree in Cyber Operations.

“I enjoy school,” he said, “I like to focus on learning and address the problems that exist today.”

Malware is one of the security issues today, and Baker was able to continue researching this topic during the last school year, work sponsored in part by funding from the NSA. This effort has resulted in the creation of a tool for modular automated large-scale malware analysis framework.

This tool is novel enough to have been accepted for presentation at the 2022 Black Hat USA Arsenal this month. The Black Hat Arsenal website said that presenters there are “the best of the best in the world.” Researchers and the community showcased their latest open-source tools and products. This year, Arsenal provided tool demonstrations in an open, conversational, and hybrid environment where presenters are able to interact with attendees.

“I had a booth with a time frame to talk about it, demonstrate the tool and talk with people about it.” Baker’s presentation was titled “SubParse - Malware Artifact and Correlation Framework.”

“This tool allows for many file types to be analyzed, determining the file type,” he explained, “and run parsers to do static analysis directly on specific file types and enrichers,” which means doing post-data processing to get more information from threat and intelligence groups.

One advantage of this is that it gives the user several options, and has a web interface. “This allows for searchability of all results to narrow it down to the samples that might be interesting,” Baker said.

It was quite the experience,” he said, with the added advantage of networking with people from companies such as Hacker One and Synack, “to pick the brains with others in ethical hacking.”

He appreciates the experiences DSU offers “to continue with my education and dive deeper into the area of study that I’m enjoying more and more every day!”

Dakota State also offers him the option to get additional certificates before graduation.

Baker will graduate in May 2023, and hopes to end up in a cyber position, as a developer. He has always wanted to have his own software company but that is a long-term goal. In the meantime, he plans to network, meet people, and get more experience.

Cyber Operations (BS)

Sascha Walker '22

Cyber Operations (BS)

DSU faculty in The Beacom College of Computer & Cyber Sciences tell students to “Know your offense so you can know your defense. They are two sides of the same coin.”

In addition to this good advice, DSU provides students with research resources to study questions they may have about topics related to offense or defense.

Sascha Walker took advantage of this opportunity after an assignment in an advanced forensics course sparked an interest to further delve into the topic, and he applied for a Student Research Initiative (SRI) grant to research “Fileless Malware: Lessening Indicators of Compromise.”

Research is often a new experience for students, and Walker discovered it was completely different than a class project.

With research, “there are more amounts of data to collect and analyze,” he said. He spent a lot of time collecting data, analyzing data using various analysis tools, and drawing points from the data.

He was surprised to learn that “interpretation is a big part of it, too,” he said. The SRI also includes a presentation on his research results at the Dakota State Research Symposium in March 2022. This scale of a presentation will also be a new experience, but he’s enjoying the process.

“It’s pretty fun, seeing all the data and all the work you put into it,” he said.

This experience is very practical for his career, and after he graduates with his BS in Cyber Operations in Fall 2022, he will be able to market himself as a malware analyst or researcher.

“Once I know how a malware author thinks, it will better help me as a malware analyst,” said Walker. “A lot of employers might look at this research experience as a bonus.”

His faculty mentor for this project is Dr. Bramwell Brizendine, Assistant Professor of Computer & Cyber Sciences.

“This sort of research can allow Sascha to better understand some of the techniques embraced by malware authors,” Brizendine said. “This makes him much more capable of recognizing and understanding the nuances of malicious code he may encounter.”

Walker’s extra-curricular experience could be advantageous as well. A native of Estelline, SD, he is interested in working in other parts of the world, such as Germany. His experience as co-founder and President of the World Languages Club will help this, as he keeps up with German, and a little Russian and Korean.

Cyber Operations (BS)

Nathan Ord '23

Cyber Operations (BS)

Nathan Ord was inspired to attend Dakota State University by his high school counselor, Andrew Franklin, in Elburn, Ill.

“He first told me about DSU after he had recently visited,” Ord said. “He told me about the growing cybersecurity program and the comfortable campus size, all of which had me intrigued.”

After Ord graduated high school in 2018, he attended community college for two years to complete his general requirements. He is now earning his bachelor’s degree in Cyber Operations and master’s in Computer Science at Dakota State.

“I appreciate the growth mindset and comradery everyone seems to have,” Ord said of DSU. “This leads to a great learning environment and strong personal development in and out of the classroom.”

Since transferring to DSU, Ord has become involved on campus. He started by joining DSU Esports. He is the social media coordinator, sending out tweets and running live streams, among other things.

“Esports is a constantly evolving landscape that also has a plethora of possibilities,” he said. “It’s not just gaming as some may think, as there is management, scheduling, public relations, team building, and much more involved.”

Additionally, Ord is the president of the Student Senate, where he and fellow students look for ways to make the campus a better place.

He recommends all students get involved with something. “Barring anything else, showing that you are a good all-around person and have soft skills looks great on a résumé,” he said. “Besides that, being a college student to me means being a part of the campus and community.”

There are over 35 student-run clubs, as well as institutional organizations, academic teams, and honor societies for students to participate in. “But if one doesn’t fit, you can make your own as well,” Ord added.

Cyber Operations (BS)

Master of Science in Computer Science (MSCS)