U.S. Air Force Eagle to APL-UW Husky
In Allan’s words, “I arrived at APL on a Hail Mary.”
Before joining the APL team, Allan Cortez served in the United States Air Force in 2017 after completing his bachelor’s degree in his home state of California. Allan joined the Air Force as an Information Technology Specialist. He was assigned to Alabama, where he completed his enlistment contract. During his time as an IT Specialist, Allan served as a server administrator and backend supporter for tier 2 and tier 3 support.
He began his transition into the civilian sector in 2020 — and that’s when his Hail Mary came into play. He sent an email to the APL in hopes on an internship opportunity that would provide him exposure, a potential paid position, and relocation to Washington.
Meet Allan Cortez
Major
Information Systems and Cyber Security
How I came to APL-UW
I arrived at APL on a hail Mary. With the goal of getting an internship and move to Washington for family, I reached out to the APL and was linked with a fellow veteran. Upon completing the internship, I was offered a position as the Security Department as the ISSO.
Who helped me along the way
An Air Force retiree, Benjamin Adams, was my mentor through my mentorship. He’s the Facility Security Officer of APL. He spoke the military language and helped me transition from the Air Force to the civilian world.
Describe APL in one word
Ever-changing
After sending his email, Allan was linked with Benjamin Adams, Facility Security Officer of APL and retired Air Force Senior Master Sergeant. Together, they worked a training plan for Allan’s internship at the APL, which was endorsed by the DOD SkillBridge program. Allan relocated to Washington, enjoyed his internship, and was offered a position in APL’s Security Department as the Information System Security Officer (ISSO).
Now, Allan’s work is essential to the APL-UW team. As the ISSO, Allan is responsible for the support of classified information. His research and direct support is critical for helping Principal Investigators (PI) and other users execute their missions.
If you’re like Allan and think APL-UW might be a good fit, we’d love to hear from you, even if the right job for you isn’t open yet. We are proud of our US Navy heritage, and seek opportunities to support transitioning service members from any branch of the Department of Defense. From creating a customized internship experience, to identifying valuable skills and experience gained in the military, we want to help you see your path forward in the civilian sector! Visit our Connect page to reach out.