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Ian Anspaugh is a recent graduate of the George Mason Cyber Security Engineering (CYSE) Department and his education is already paying off. Just seven months into his job with the Marine Forces Cyberspace Command, supervisors praise Anspaugh. “Your dedication to cyber training has been nothing short of impressive,” wrote a supervisor recently in an employee review. “Completing over 300 immersive lab modules, along with thoughtful feedback, is more than just hard work, it's real impact. You’ve helped shape a training environment that benefits the entire community.”
Anspaugh, who completed the Bachelor's to Accelerated Master's in CYSE and got another master’s degree in Digital Forensics in 2024, explained that while waiting for his top secret security clearance to come through—a process that routinely takes about a year—he threw himself into training. Once his clearance goes through, he’ll be a Security Operations Center analyst.
He followed an older brother into the field and says that as a teenager, he enjoyed fiddling with technology. He said, “I always liked computers, playing around, working with file systems, playing games. I did Cyber Patriots in high school.”
At George Mason, Anspaugh attributed a close relationship with advisor Peggy Brouse as key to his success. It’s a relationship that started with a wrong turn. “I accidentally walked into her office when I was supposed to be seeing someone else. Despite being an advisor in the Honors College she said she could help me and the rest is history.”
Brouse, a professor in Systems Engineering and Operations Research and professor and associate chair of undergraduate studies in the Department of Cyber Security Engineering, had nothing but praise for the once-wayward student, who would ultimately serve as her graduate teaching assistant. “He did a great job, both in reviewing and grading assignments and mentoring the students in classes,” she said. “While he was here, I was happy to write several recommendation letters for him.”
At George Mason he received the CYSE MS Outstanding Achievement Award in 2023 and the Department of Defense Cyber Scholarship Program, among other accolades.
Brouse added, “We all have students we fondly remember. I will always count Ian at the top of my list. He is an amazing young man, and I am fortunate to be part of his academic journey.”