Army Veteran and Pasco First Responder Earns Cybersecurity Degree, Honors

Kipper Connell Jr. holds many titles: U.S. Army veteran, firefighter/paramedic, driver/engineer for Pasco County (FL) Fire Rescue, husband, father, and now, college graduate. 

Not only did he cross the commencement stage on May 7, but he also graduated cum laude from Saint Leo University with a Bachelor of Science in cybersecurity and earned the College of Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Data Science (CARDS) Dean’s Award for Excellence along the way. 

Connell was surprised that he won the honor, which he received at the April 3 Celebration of Academic Excellence, especially after hearing his fellow award-winners’ bios. “There were some amazing students achieving incredible things, and I felt truly blessed that the CARDS college felt I deserved such a high honor,” he said. 

Earning his bachelor’s degree in a tech field and claiming the top honor didn’t come easy. He’s worked for Pasco County Fire Rescue for about eight years and recently was promoted to driver/engineer, while attending Saint Leo.

“Our shifts are 24 hours on, 48 hours off, and that meant that often I was having to head straight to campus after getting off work in the morning or heading to work as soon as I was out of class. There were several times that the hard shift or busy night took a toll on me, but I was motivated about the education and driven to succeed. Regardless of how tired or hurt I was, I wanted and needed to be in that classroom.” 

Cybersecurity and being a first responder may sound like two totally different jobs, but Connell said he finds some similarities. “My mindset was: My job is most often the worst day of someone’s life — experiencing the emergency of a loved one or one themselves. So, it was important that I not only do my job with integrity, but also always strive to keep training and learning new skills. Taking that mindset into cybersecurity was no different.”

Securing digital data is integral to people’s and companies’ livelihoods, he noted, and “working to be better and learn new skills could be the difference one day in preventing disaster or mitigating risks.”

Serving His Country

Connell served in the Army for six and a half years, ending his career as an infantry squad leader. He led a seven-man team in Afghanistan which performed many roles including as a personal security detachment for VIPs and delegates, as a Quick Reaction Force, and as training instructors for local military as well as patrolling throughout the province. 

The U.S. Department Veterans Affairs touted Saint Leo as an excellent university for veterans and military personnel, he said. “They said that the school provided great resources for veterans,” Connell said. “I utilized the Veterans Student Lounge throughout my time at Saint Leo. It was great to have a community here of other veterans.” 

Connell said he chose Saint Leo because of the size of the University, the community, and its proximity to his home in Land O’ Lakes. “The size and community within the school allowed me to really get to know my instructors and receive great mentorship and feedback from them,” he said. “I don’t feel like that would have been possible at another school where I would have just been a nameless face in the crowd.”

Life at Leo

Being an adult learner, first responder, and a husband and father didn’t stop Connell from being involved at the University. He was the inaugural president of the Epsilon Pi Epsilon International Honor Society for computer sciences. And in his junior year, he was a member of the PenTest Club. Students in the club come together to learn about pen testing — ethical hacking — and some participate in Capture the Flag competitions, too. 

Before selecting cybersecurity as his major, Connell researched the job market and fast-growing industries. With help from the VA, he took tests to show his strengths compared to what he was interested in learning. “Cybersecurity stood out because of my interest in threat assessment and mitigation, which I specialized in while serving in the military,” he said. “It was only a small adjustment to shift that focus into the cyber world.”

Support Team

Connell found support for his pursuit of a college degree at home, at work, and at the University. “My wife and my children were instrumental in my school career here,” he said of Saint Leo. “. . .  Giving me the time to do schoolwork and study. My wife encouraged me at my most stressful times and was always understanding of the time demand that allowed me to be a successful student.” 

At the university, Connell found encouragement from the CARDS faculty members. Katrina Weicht, computer information systems instructor, asked him to assist with the first international computer science honor society. “Her help both inside and outside of the classroom was inspiring,” Connell said. “Her passion for helping the Computer Science Department at Saint Leo expand and making connections within the community made our experience worthwhile.”

Dr. Ed Santiago, assistant professor of computer science, also was supportive. “He was always giving us ideas, looking at resumes, helping with projects, and offering guidance,” Connell said. “He added a personal touch to the educational experience I don’t think I would have gotten at any other school.”

What’s Next

Connell recently began an internship with SOFWERX in Tampa. He said he would like to see what opportunities the internship provides. “Ideally, I would like to stay working for Pasco County within the IT or cybersecurity field.

“I enjoy the ever-evolving aspect of cybersecurity,” Connell continued. “It is not a field that will go stagnant. Cyber threats are always evolving, and just as rapidly we see new technology emerging. This means the field will always be rewarding.”