When Patrick Curry G’26 began exploring graduate programs in cybersecurity, he was looking for more than a credential. As a working professional, veteran, and parent, he needed a program that was well organized, supportive, and designed for real life. He found that at Bay Path University and the MS in Cybersecurity.
From the very first step, Patrick says Bay Path stood out.
“The engagement and support during the application process really set Bay Path apart,” Patrick shared. “My admissions counselor clearly explained timelines, requirements, and options, and Student Financial Services walked me through how to apply my GI Bill benefits. It was organized, efficient, and showed me early on that Bay Path is focused on enabling students.”
That early experience set the tone for the rest of his time in the MS in Cybersecurity program.
Balancing graduate coursework with family life requires discipline and flexibility. With three children under the age of eight and a spouse running a private psychology practice, Patrick had to be intentional about his time. “Online learning works when you protect your schedule,” he said. “For me, that meant studying from 4:30 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. a few days a week. It wasn’t easy, but Bay Path’s structure made it possible to stay consistent.”
What made the program especially impactful for Patrick was its emphasis on applying cybersecurity concepts to real-world decision-making. One of the most challenging projects he completed was a Business Continuity Plan for a hypothetical robotics company with multiple facilities and strict regulatory requirements. “There wasn’t a perfect answer—and that was the point,” he explained. “The project forced me to balance business objectives, legal requirements, and incident response priorities. It showed me how cybersecurity fits into the bigger picture.”
That perspective translated directly into Patrick’s internship at CyberTrust Massachusetts, where he works in threat hunting and incident response. While the program didn’t attempt to teach every emerging tool in depth, Patrick says it gave him something far more valuable.
“Bay Path taught me how to teach myself,” he said. “I knew how to research, write technically, and learn new tools quickly. That confidence made a huge difference once I was in a real-world environment.”
During his internship, Patrick gained hands-on experience using Managed Detection and Response (MDR) platforms to identify, investigate, and mitigate threats across client systems. In one instance, he applied skills from his Digital Forensics coursework to investigate a suspicious document flagged by security software, tracing its origins and determining that it posed no ongoing risk. “Being able to protect systems without disrupting operations is where I really started to feel like an analyst,” Patrick said.
He credits Bay Path with preparing him for a highly competitive field by encouraging curiosity, initiative, and critical thinking—qualities employers look for in cybersecurity professionals.
“If cybersecurity isn’t your job yet, make it your hobby,” Patrick advises current students. “Build things, break things, investigate suspicious activity, and document what you learn. Those experiences matter, and Bay Path prepares you to talk about them with confidence.”
Working at CyberTrust Massachusetts has also given Patrick a front-row seat to the evolving cybersecurity landscape across the Commonwealth, from municipal systems to statewide infrastructure. It’s reinforced his understanding of cybersecurity as both a technical discipline and a leadership responsibility.
Looking ahead, Patrick is especially excited by the growing role of artificial intelligence in cybersecurity—and the continued need for human judgment.
“AI can identify patterns incredibly fast, but people still make the decisions,” he said. “Bay Path prepared me to understand risk, explain it clearly, and help organizations make informed choices.”
For Patrick, earning his MS in Cybersecurity from Bay Path University represents a turning point: “I spent most of my career as an Army logistician. This degree opened a career path that felt completely inaccessible just 18 months ago,” he reflected. “Bay Path didn’t just give me technical skills—it gave me a new professional future.”
