Our Program
STEM-Powered. Mission-Focused.
Training U.S. 11th–12th graders as Cybersecurity Engineering Cadets through ISAUnited’s hands-on labs, real-world scenarios, and expert mentorship.
Our Story
Founded by Arthur Chavez, President of the Institute of Security Architecture United (ISAUnited.org), A nonprofit outreach program training future cyber architects & engineers through hands-on labs and ISAUnited mentorship. The cybersecurity engineering Cadet Academy was created with one clear mission.
To inspire and develop the next generation of cybersecurity engineers, architects, and technical defenders.
Background
After more than 20 years working in cybersecurity, Arthur Chavez recognized a critical gap:
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There were very few cybersecurity architects trained with real-world, enterprise-level skills.
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Cybersecurity engineering was often considered an afterthought rather than a formal discipline.
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College degree programs in cybersecurity engineering were scarce, and degrees in cybersecurity architecture did not even exist.
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Student programs specializing in cybersecurity were extremely limited, leaving talented youth without a clear pathway into the field.
Seeing these gaps firsthand, Arthur knew the industry needed a new solution.
Not another general technology course.
Not another theoretical cybersecurity program.
The Problem We Solve
Today’s cybersecurity threats are growing faster than the industry can keep up.
Yet the technical pipeline — the engineers and architects who build and defend critical systems — is dangerously thin.
The Cybersecurity Engineering Academy tackles three core problems:
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Lack of Cybersecurity Engineers and Architects:
There is a shortage of technical defenders who can design, build, and secure complex systems and networks. -
Lack of Formal Cybersecurity Engineering and Architecture Degrees:
Most universities offer general cybersecurity programs, but almost none offer true cyber engineering or cyber architecture degrees. -
Lack of Early Student Development Programs:
There are very few programs that introduce cybersecurity engineering principles to high school or early college students, creating a missed opportunity to prepare future experts early.
Our Mission
To build, educate, and empower the future cybersecurity workforce through a clear, disciplined, and practical curriculum — rooted in engineering excellence, security-by-design, and technical mastery.
We are not just training students.
We are engineering future leaders who will design, build, and defend the critical digital infrastructure of tomorrow.