Curiosity is Key to Understanding the Future of Cybersecurity
Jordan Johnson ‘26 believes in continually learning, challenging himself and making the most of every opportunity. Case in point: Johnson spent the summer working as a cybersecurity risk intern for Amazon at the Fortune 100 company’s headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. Looking back, he says that it was one of the most “unique and transformative experiences” of his Le Moyne career to date.
A New Jersey native, Johnson was part of the Amazon Web Services team charged with ensuring that its cloud services are secure and in compliance with the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program, otherwise known as FedRAMP. The cybersecurity major and risk management and insurance minor contributed to risk analysis and security control assessments, assisted in real-time monitoring and compliance automation initiatives, and enhanced his understanding of FedRAMP, continuous authorization, and large-scale cloud security. Beyond that, he also learned about Amazon’s leadership principles, which include “customer obsession,” “learn to be curious” and “deliver results.”
Johnson says that he could not imagine a better time to immerse himself in the cybersecurity field, as AI and machine learning are changing the way business is done across industries. His work at Amazon reinforced for him how critical it is to innovate and grow. As he expanded his network and put many of the lessons he learned in the classroom into practice, Johnson grew more confident in himself and in his capacity to manage uncertainty and ambiguity.
“It was an amazing experience,” he says. “I’m grateful for the incredible opportunity to have worked alongside many industry leaders in cloud security and compliance.”
Looking forward, Johnson hopes to serve as a bridge between the technical and nontechnical sides of cybersecurity, so that the business stakeholders have a clear understanding of how it is impacting their work. He offered this advice to other Dolphins:
Continue to be curious, and when you find something that captures your attention, don’t be afraid to pursue it.”
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Inspired by His Story?
Jordan is a resident adviser, member of the men’s track and cross country team, and president of the Cybersecurity Club. He is also a 2025 Ignite Fellow. The Ignite Fellowship gives students the opportunity to engage in transformative, hands-on experiences, such as internships and research opportunities, without having to worry about the financial costs that sometimes come along with them. We're grateful to the generous alumni whose support makes the fellowship possible.
