Kai Mackall

Cybersecurity Graduate Student

WORK EXPERIENCE & PROJECTS

Tennessee Technological University | Cookeville, TN | May 2021 - Aug 2021
Cybersecurity Research Intern
●​​ Conducted cybersecurity risk analysis across 16 critical infrastructure sectors, identifying compliance gaps and mitigation strategies
●​ Mapped key frameworks (NIST, FISMA, CMMC) to enterprise use cases, optimizing security controls

Cybersecurity Blog & Website | Oct 2025 - Present
●​ Designed and maintained a secure, version-controlled website using Hugo, GitHub Pages, and Git submodules for theme management
●​ Configured DNS, HTTPS, and CI/CD automation for reliable deployments using Bash scripting and GitHub Actions
●​ Deployed a modular site architecture supporting separate portfolio and blog subdomains

Cybersecurity Homelab | May 2021 - Present
●​ Built and maintained a multi-VM lab (Kali, Security Onion, REMnux) simulating enterprise environments
●​ Provided Tier 1–2 style IT support by diagnosing and resolving 25+ hardware, software, and OS issues; perform regular updates and document resolutions
●​ Configured and tested IDS/IPS tools for network traffic analysis and performance improvement

Software Engineering Project – VR Experience | Dec 2022 - May 2023
●​ Collaborated in a 5-person Agile team to design, code, and deploy a Unity-based VR application
●​ Led technical documentation, QA testing, and post-sprint bug resolution cycles
●​ Coordinated feedback integration with faculty and company stakeholders

IT Security Project – Simulated Enterprise Network | Sep 2021 – Dec 2021
●​ Collaborated with a teammate to configure and maintain a multi-OS web server environment using Windows 10, Windows Server 2016, and Debian
●​ Created and managed Active Directory users/groups, applying access control policies to secure system resources
●​ Configured and tested pfSense firewall rules to control network traffic and protect against unauthorized access
●​ Maintained a detailed changelog documenting config changes, troubleshooting steps, and system updates

EDUCATION

Western Governors University, Expected Jan 2026
M.S. in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance
GPA: Pass/Fail system (all courses passed)

Tennessee Technological University, May 2023
B.S. in Computer Science, Cybersecurity and Information Assurance Concentration
GPA (Inclusive Combined): 3.66/4.0 — Cum Laude

SKILLS

Web Management & Content Support: Hugo · WordPress (basic) · HTML · CSS · PHP (basic) · W3C Accessibility & Semantic Standards · Website Testing & Troubleshooting
Technical & IT Support: Windows · Linux · macOS · Ticketing Systems (ServiceNow, Jira) · User Issue Resolution · DNS & Domain Management · Cloudflare
Tools & Platforms: GitHub Pages · SearchStax (familiar) · Image Editing (Photoshop, basic) · Microsoft 365 · Google Workspace
Security & Site Reliability: Firewall & VPN Configuration · Website Security Practices · Basic Penetration Testing · Log & Uptime Monitoring
Communication & Collaboration: Customer Service · Technical Documentation · Cross-Team Coordination · Clear Written & Verbal Communication

CERTIFICATIONS

CompTIA CySA+ | Expires 2028 →
ISC2 CC | Expires 2027 →
CompTIA PenTest+ | Expected Nov 2025

COMPETITION EXPERIENCE

National Cyber League Competition – Individual Games | Spring 2021 - Spring 2025
●​ Ranked in the top 5% nationally in Spring 2025 season
●​ Solved real-world IT challenges in web app exploitation, network traffic analysis, and log analysis
●​ Developed strong analytical, troubleshooting, and documentation skills under timed conditions
●​ Spring 2025 Score Report →