Name: Mason Northrop
Job title/role: CDM test engineer
Work location: McLean, VA
Time at Booz Allen: 1 year
Helping government agencies respond to increased security threats is no small task. We asked Mason Northrop, test engineer on Booz Allen’s Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM) team, about how he’s helping make a difference in the cybersecurity space and why Booz Allen is the place to do it.
How did you get started in your field?
I graduated from Penn State last year with a degree in security and risk analysis–intelligence analysis & modeling. My goal was to do work that has a positive impact on the world, but I wasn’t sure how to accomplish that. The world is a big place. I came to Booz Allen because I knew they worked with a wide variety of government clients, and I was fortunate to land on a project that supports not just one government agency, but thirteen.
Why did you join Booz Allen?
The endless possibilities. As somebody right out of college, my only certainty was that I wanted a job making the world a better place. I knew that no matter what project I ended up on, I would be helping.
I knew I made the right decision after I understood the scope of the CDM program, and how our solution helps increase overall cybersecurity posture of the Federal Government. The sheer size of the CDM program never ceases to amaze me. We help strengthen the networks of 13 of the largest federal agencies that make up roughly 80 percent of the .gov enterprise cyber networks.
Tell us more about the project you’re working on.
My work focuses on learning the ins and outs of our solution and demonstrating functionality after deployment. Like every contract, we have exhaustive lists of requirements, and it’s my team’s job to prove our solution meets those requirements for each client. Every day is like a puzzle. I play a part in ensuring the CDM tools are functioning properly and create test cases that confirm we’re meeting our contractual obligations.
What is one of your most memorable moments at Booz Allen so far?
One of our team members was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year. We continually hold fundraising events for him, and it is amazing to see the whole team rally together.
How has Booz Allen empowered you and your career?
I’ve learned so much at Booz Allen. The internal training resources help boost my resume and skills to be a better contributor to my team. We work with state of the art cyber tools, and I get to learn them all. My team and leadership are also amazing. They regularly get me involved in new opportunities on the project and are always available to answer questions and give advice about any situation.
