Deegan David
Cybersecurity Professional + Developer
About Me
I’m a cybersecurity engineering student studying at Florida Polytechnic University. Ever since I was young, I have loved computers. Whether programming or learning how they work from the ground up, it has always been a subject that I have loved. Most of my hobbies fall under cybersecurity, but I also believe it’s important to stay active; most recently, I have picked up rock climbing in my free time. Moving back to cyber, I often participate in capture the flag (CTF) competitions with the cybersecurity team at Florida Polytech. These competitions practice learning how to exploit poorly designed systems to “capture a flag”. While these competitions are primarily offensive, understanding the flaws in a system gives you the knowledge to be able to properly secure systems in your control.
Career Goals
I have a goal of being a lead cybersecurity engineer; I enjoy working with large systems and making sure all of the different pieces fall into place properly. I am currently working towards getting more certifications in the field, although I currently have Ethical Hacking Essentials (EHE)v1 and Network Defense Essentials (NDE)v1. While I have a few other smaller certifications, they are more generalized and more focused on computer science than Cybersecurity. I would say one of the best skills is learning quickly and improvising in new situations. This is an essential skill in an ever-evolving cybersecurity situation; software is always changing, and bad actors are always getting smarter. I actively participate in Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions with the cybersecurity club at Florida Polytechnic. These competitions help me learn how different cybersecurity attacks work, along with the vulnerabilities needed for them to happen. Knowing how bad actors will target systems allows me to have a larger foresight on how to protect systems that I am responsible for. Another thing that has helped me gain knowledge in the field is having a “homelab”. In my homelab, I have enterprise gear and software that I play around with to learn how they work independently and as a system. I say play around with it because I enjoy it, but I really try to emulate professional environments to better prepare myself for my future endeavors. My homelab is publicly facing the internet, which allows me to learn about how to protect systems that are connected openly. This also allowed me to use my homelab for other, more recreational projects, like the server hosting this portfolio site. I also self-host a password manager, cloud storage (similar to iCloud for photos and just general storage), and a video streaming platform for my Blu-ray collection. All of the skills learned in setting up and maintaining this lab have significantly improved my understanding of commercial server environments.
Resume
Here is my education, work experience, & some skills I've got.
Experience
Ancorp
Engineering Intern
June 2024 - August 2025
During my internship at Ancorp, I gained hands-on experience in drafting and modeling complex high-vacuum chambers, applying advanced CAD techniques to support precision engineering projects. I also took on a leadership role in the design of a custom chamber for a major national laboratory, working to balance technical requirements with practical manufacturability. This experience strengthened my skills in vacuum technology, collaborative design, and delivering solutions for high-level research applications.
Education
Florida Polytechnic University
B.A. of Science in Cybersecurity Engineering
August 2025 - May 2029
While studying at Florida Polytechnic, I learned how to apply engineering concepts in a cybersecurity setting. In addition, I regularly competed with the cybersecurity club. We did everything from CTF competitions to defense-oriented events.
Hernando High School
High School Diploma
August 2022 - May 2025
At Hernando High School, I did many computer-oriented classes. In these classes, I learned HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Python. While only high school level classes, these classes built a good foundation for my future education.
Skills & Expertise
Selected Tools
Selected Projects
Selected Projects I Have Worked On.
DeeganDavid.com
Deegandavid.com is a portfolio webpage designed using a rust based backend.