From NOVA to NNSA, this student is putting people first in cybersecurity

Siddartha Shakya believes that there's more to cybersecurity than just hacking. The George Mason University Bachelor's to Accelerated Master's Applied Science student spent his summer interning with the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), and now he’s even more confident in the importance of balancing humans and machines.

After graduating from high school, Shakya took a two-year gap before starting his studies at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA). Both financially and mentally, Shakya said he wasn't ready for college. But after working a few unfulfilling jobs, he knew it was time to go back.

"I always remember being the tech kid in my family: helping my parents set up their computers, teaching them how to navigate websites, and things like that," he said. Part of that role included protecting them from online scams. "I decided I wanted to go into a field where I could help prevent scams, so no families have to go through that."

Shakya transferred to George Mason through the ADVANCE Program after earning his associate of applied science in cybersecurity. During his time at both schools, Shakya worked to fill out his resume and develop his skills. He dove into the world of cyber competitions with the National Cyber League, U.S. Cyber Games, and PatriotHacks, among others.

He completed multiple certifications through the Computing Technology Industry Association and was named a 2025 ISACA Greater Washington DC Chapter Scholar, Cyber Ready Professionals Consortium Cohort 3 Scholar, and CrowdStrike × Cyber Skyline Mentee. And he made sure to give back through volunteering opportunities like the College of Engineering and Computing's Spring into STEM.

"I was constantly looking for ways to learn, gain experience, help other people, and get involved where I could," he said.

The one thing missing? A paid internship. Through the U.S. Cyber Games, Shakya connected with the U.S. Department of Energy Scholars Program, earning a spot in the summer 2026 cohort and an internship with the NNSA.

Shakya has worked on two main projects. The first is a full assessment of the NNSA's Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management Hub, combing through documentation for outdated policy, practice, or information. The second is piloting NetRise: a software supply chain security program. Specifically, he's cataloging what artificial intelligence (AI) systems are being used across the organization and whether they comply with the NNSA's cybersecurity policies.

"There's a big push toward AI use, and with that comes a push for transparency and making sure all software aligns with our mission and security standards," Shakya explained.

Getting hands-on with so many different AI tools is something Shakya hopes can be applied to his coursework and future career, particularly because he's planning a future in federal work. "People think cybersecurity is all about hacking," he said. "But it's also about communication. If you can't communicate clearly about the tools, what to use, and how to use them, then there are going to be mistakes and delays."

That person-first approach was a revelation for Shakya. As evidenced by his long resume of team-based cyber competitions and his enjoyment of the course IT 343 IT Project Management, "I like to work in teams, I like talking to people. I always want a balance of technical work and people-facing work."

And taking an authentic, person-first approach is also his best advice for fellow students. "Network, meet people, and be yourself," he said. "I know there's an urge to over-prepare for interviews, but people crave authenticity. Practice, but don't read off a script."