As a teenager growing up around Frederick, Maryland, Becky Selzer, Engr ’15 (MS), got hooked on spy shows like Alias and devoured cybercrime books like The Cuckoo’s Egg. “I was always drawn to high-stakes missions,” she laughs.
That intrigue led her to an internship at age 17 through a gifted and talented program—unknowingly setting her on a path toward cybersecurity. “Honestly, I didn’t even know what computer science was back then,” Selzer says. “But I liked math, I liked solving puzzles—and it turned out I was pretty good at this.”
Today, Selzer serves as senior principal architect for IT at United Airlines, where she helps advise the technology organization on cybersecurity strategy across the company’s sprawling digital operations. “It’s analyzing data, helping people understand how to prioritize different cybersecurity risks, and finding the best ways to make our systems more secure,” she says.
“It’s analyzing data, helping people understand how to prioritize different cybersecurity risks, and finding the best ways to make our systems more secure.”
–Becky Selzer
Selzer joined United more than a decade ago, following early work in the U.S. intelligence community that began with her teenage internships. Her first year at United was a banner one: She helped start the company’s public vulnerability disclosure program and helped steer a high-profile internal investigation effort. That performance earned her a United 100 award, the airline’s top employee honor.
Over time, Selzer managed areas including application security and vulnerability management and started the aviation cybersecurity and threat intelligence programs at United. During the pandemic, as the airline made major cuts, Selzer stepped up to support multiple cybersecurity teams simultaneously. “We were in survival mode, just trying to keep the lights on,” she recalls. She was then selected as chief of staff for United’s chief digital officer, supporting the technology organization’s strategic efforts.
While working full time, Selzer earned her master’s in computer science in 2015 through Johns Hopkins’ Engineering for Professionals program. One class in particular—a deep dive into federal cybersecurity standards—turned out to be unexpectedly useful for her work. “Writing a 70-page paper on NIST standards was certainly challenging for me,” she says, “but I was surprised to learn how valuable that knowledge has been in my career.”
Selzer has championed women in tech and development programs for the next generation throughout her career. She recently wrapped up a term as chief of staff for United’s Women in Technology group and previously helped shape programs for interns, apprentices, and early-career hires. She also volunteers with cybersecurity conferences including Hak4Kidz and the Chicago-based Blue Team Con, where she focuses on expanding access for students and nonprofits. “I want fewer girls to be in the situation I was at 16, not even knowing computer science was an option,” she says.
— KATIE PEARCE
Illustration by Joe Kimmel