Christian Vaca

Adjunct Professor of Computer Information Technology

Christian A. Vaca is an Information Technology professional and cybersecurity engineer with over 20 years of combined military and civilian experience in the Department of Defense and private sectors. His expertise spans network security, cloud infrastructure, endpoint protection, and secure systems design. As an adjunct professor, he integrates his industry background into hands-on, lab-driven instruction that bridges academic theory and professional application. Christian is dedicated to mentoring the next generation of cybersecurity professionals and fostering ethical, resilient, and security-minded leaders.

Education

  • M.S., Cybersecurity Engineering, University of San Diego – 2023–2025 (4.0 GPA)
  • B.A., Computer Information Technology, Emphasis in Cybersecurity, Minor in Organizational Leadership, Point Loma Nazarene University – 2020–2021, Summa Cum Laude (3.981 GPA)
  • A.S., Cybersecurity, MiraCosta College – 2018–2020, President’s List (4.0 GPA)
  • A.A., Liberal Arts, Emphasis in Social and Behavioral Sciences, MiraCosta College – 2018–2020, President’s List (4.0 GPA)
  • Certifications: CompTIA Security+, CySA+, Security Analytics Professional (CSAP), IT Fundamentals

Courses Taught

  • Network+ - CIT 3014 (Network Architectures and Configuration Options)
  • Cloud+ - CIT 3074 (Cloud Computing and Infrastructure Management)

Experience in Field

  • Information Security Administrator at Cibus
  • Adjunct Professor, Computer Information Technology, Point Loma Nazarene University, 2025 - Present
  • Adjunct Professor, School of Engineering, University San Diego
  • Associate Cybersecurity Engineer at Tillster, Inc.
  • Service Technician for the County of San Diego
  • Helicopter Mechanic in the United States Marine Corps

Professional and Community Involvement

  • Faculty mentor for cybersecurity and IT certification preparation (Security+, CySA+)
  • Contributor to departmental curriculum reviews to align coursework with the NIST/NICE Framework
  • Active member of the (ISC)² and CompTIA Professional Network
  • Volunteer cybersecurity awareness speaker for community organizations and student groups

Awards and Honors

  • Summa Cum Laude graduate, Point Loma Nazarene University
  • President’s List honoree, MiraCosta College
  • 4.0 GPA distinction, University of San Diego (Graduate Program)

Dissertations, Presentations, and Publications

Publications

  • “Enhancing Security Monitoring with Wazuh: A Framework for Automated Incident Response” – Academic paper (University of San Diego, 2025)

Presentations and Talks

  • “Bridging Academic and Real-World Cybersecurity Practices” – Faculty Colloquium, University of San Diego (2024)
  • “Secure Network Design in the Era of Cloud Computing” – Guest Lecture, University of San Diego (2025)
  • “Integrating Open-Source SIEM Tools for Small-Scale Enterprises” – La Villa Hackers Village, DefCon (2024)