Erick Miyares, a current cyberpsychology PhD student at Capitol Technology University, has been recognized as a 2023 Pat Tillman Scholar.
The Pat Tillman Foundation, in honor of the legacy of fallen soldier Pat Tillman, identifies remarkable military service members, veterans, and spouses, and empowers them through academic scholarships, lifelong leadership development opportunities, and a diverse, global community of high-performing mentors and peers. Tillman Scholars make an impact as leaders of action in the fields of healthcare, business, public service, STEM, education, and the humanities.
Miyares is a former military service member, having served with the Marine Corps in 1991, remaining in the reserves until 1997, and then transferring into the U.S. Army. As a highly accomplished former special operator and intelligence professional, he has 29 years of combined service within the military and earned two degrees in cybersecurity during his training and deployment periods.
His time with the military helped to inspire his current career focus in cyberpsychology. Having lost two teammates to suicide in 2019, he wants to bring light to not only the physical, but mental toll of military service. He has become an advocate for suicide prevention and mental health for all individuals, especially those who serve. In his cyberpsychology studies, his research examines the factors involved in cognitive fatigue and mental health deterioration in cyber operators. His aim is to find ways to improve mental resiliency and reduce the cognitive workload for high-assurance military operators. Miyares credits his education with Capitol Tech in helping him achieve his goals. “Through my studies, I have been able to delve into the unique challenges cyberspace operators face, the human factors that contribute to their performance, and the potential interventions and programs that can be developed to address these issues. The program has given me the confidence and ability to explore emerging technologies and contribute to advancing the cyberspace operations community within national security.”
Previously, Miyares was awarded the 2023 National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship. This highly competitive fellowship is offered by the Department of Defense (DoD) through the Office of the Under Secretary for Research and Engineering and the military services, and promotes education in science and engineering disciplines relevant to the Defense mission. Within the NDSEG fellowship, he will be able to expand his research in operational cyberpsychology with the specific focus of improving cognition in cyberspace operations.
The Capitol Tech Cyberpsychology program was developed to address the growing need for professionals in this expanding field. The program is chaired by Dr. Mary Aiken, world-leading expert in cyberpsychology. Scholars in this field of study combine expertise from areas such as computer science, criminology, industry, policymaking, the law, and the behavioral sciences to create a new frontier of knowledge that deals with pertinent questions in our tech-driven world.
Capitol Technology University is extremely proud of its students and alumni, and excited for their great accomplishments and the impact they will have on innovating our society.
For more information about the Capitol Technology University Cyberpsychology program, visit our website.