David Langus Rodriguez

What inspired you to pursue your area of research?

I had my first encounter with the internet at 11 years old. I was in a classroom, when a newly made friend turned to me and asked if I wanted to play computer games. I agreed and envisioned him pulling out a game disk from his backpack. However, to my surprise he pushed my chair away from my computer and took control of the keyboard. Suddenly, the whole screen was filled with small icons of games that we could start playing with a single click. As an immigrant encountering the internet for the first time, this was magical. That singular moment ignited within me a burning curiosity, compelling me to unravel the complexity of this fascinating field. Today, through cybersecurity I am able to study and get a very deep understanding of the systems that make this magic work.

Why do you think Lincoln Laboratory is a good fit for you?

Lincoln Laboratory is a perfect fit for me because it has incredible people that love teaching new things; as a recent graduate, this is something I put a lot of value into. At the Laboratory, I am not only able to use the career development resources to take classes and, currently, work toward a master’s degree, but I am also learning something new every day from the people I work with. This fact helps me become a better engineer every day.

What is a goal you would like to accomplish in your lifetime?

One of my goals is to earn a PhD degree in order to become an expert at one particular technological niche while having a broad understanding of the computer engineering field with a special focus on cybersecurity. I would also like to apply this knowledge to make an impact in people’s lives, which Lincoln Laboratory makes possible by furthering our national cybersecurity capabilities.