An alumnus helps guide the next generation of cyber talent
Cybersecurity and federal government information technology expert S. Raschid Muller, PhD, ’10, ’12, ’13 has come full circle with University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC). Muller studied at UMGC as an adult learner himself and has served as an adjunct professor in the School of Cybersecurity and Information Technology at UMGC since 2016. Beyond the classroom, he also helps learners navigate career opportunities in cybersecurity and intelligence-related fields.
“UMGC played a key role in helping me make the transition from human intelligence for military operations into cybersecurity and signals intelligence. Because of that experience, I see part of my responsibility now as opening doors for others,” Muller said. “One of the most rewarding parts of teaching is seeing students make that transition into the field. I know what they are capable of. So far, I’ve helped five or six students I taught move into intelligence-related roles.”
Muller, a U.S. Navy veteran, has an extensive and decorated professional background, including leadership roles and assignments in the Department of Defense. He also holds degrees from multiple universities, including three from UMGC. He first enrolled in 2009, earning a bachelor’s degree before returning in 2010 to join the university’s newly launched graduate cybersecurity program. He graduated in 2012 with a Master of Science in Cybersecurity and again the following year with a Master of Business Administration.
“As a lieutenant commander, I retrained and went back to UMUC, now UMGC. The Navy paid for me to join the first cohort of the graduate cybersecurity program,” Muller said. “I graduated in 2012, not long after the program launched in 2010, and then stayed for an additional year to earn my MBA. That was really how I pivoted into cybersecurity.”
S. Raschid Muller, PhD, ’10, ’12, ’13 Adjunct Professor, Cybersecurity and UMGC Alumni Association Advisory Board President
A career pivot through education
For Muller, UMGC aligned well with his military career and professional goals. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Muller was drawn to UMGC’s presence in the Maryland-Washington, D.C., region, an area heavily influenced by intelligence and federal agencies. Just as important was UMGC’s longstanding commitment to educating military learners. While technology has expanded access to education in recent years, Muller said location mattered as much as reputation.
As a learner, Muller took UMGC classes on site at the University of Maryland, College Park. He remembers walking around campus, studying in the library and taking exams in person—experiences he enjoyed and that also give him a strong appreciation for how much UMGC’s infrastructure has evolved.
“UMGC made sense for me because I was living in Maryland and stationed at the naval base in Washington, D.C., and the University System of Maryland offered strong educational opportunities in a region shaped by many intelligence agencies. UMGC also had a long history of serving military learners, both here and abroad, so it felt like a natural fit,” Muller said.
Staying connected through service
In the years since, Muller has remained involved with UMGC. He teaches 15 to 18 credits a year as an adjunct professor. And when his busy schedule allows, he mentors those around him. He is also president of the 2025–2027 UMGC Alumni Advisory Board. In that role, he helps guide initiatives focused on engagement, networking, volunteerism, and lifelong connection for UMGC alumni worldwide.
Being involved matters to Muller because he believes UMGC’s military connection is not merely ceremonial or symbolic. He explained that UMGC seeks to understand military learners and develop services that address their needs. That genuine connection, he said, is evident in how UMGC responds to deployments, government shutdowns, overseas operations, and changing global conditions.
“What stands out to me is that UMGC is serious about serving the military,” Muller said. “The university adjusts, pivots, and supports service members wherever they are, and that level of commitment is a big reason I have stayed connected to it.”
That “wherever they are” focus is something Muller said he sees UMGC purposefully building into its infrastructure. It is an investment in connectivity and flexibility that he says starts at the very top, with UMGC President Gregory W. Fowler, PhD. Muller pointed to what he sees as the university’s emphasis on flexibility and technology infrastructure.
“President Fowler puts money into the infrastructure to make sure students have the connectivity to do their work wherever they are,” said Muller. “That level of flexibility gives students what they need to achieve their mission, and I’ll do whatever I can to support that.”
S. Raschid Muller, PhD, ’10, ’12, ’13 Adjunct Professor, Cybersecurity and UMGC Alumni Association Advisory Board President
Helping the next generation enter the field
For learners interested in cybersecurity careers, Muller recommends thinking bigger about the field and more strategically about how to enter it. While some may view cybersecurity as a narrow technical specialty, Muller said it is deeply connected to infrastructure at the local, city, state, and federal levels. That broader view, he said, may help students look beyond the private sector and consider whether structured public-service career paths may be the right fit.
“That’s what we’re here for, to train the next generation of cyber professionals. When students ask how to get involved, I tell them to look at the broader picture and understand what cybersecurity is and how it is embedded in U.S. infrastructure,” Muller said.
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Learn more about cybersecurity in action at UMGC, and register for events and webinars throughout the month at www.umgc.edu/cyberaware.
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