What does it take to become a cyber professional in a field increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence (AI)? What skills should the future workforce be building? How can Old Dominion University help give students a leg up when it finally comes time to send out job applications?
These are just some of the questions Hampton Roads middle and high school students had for faculty, industry professionals and Old Dominion University cybersecurity students at the 10th annual Summer Cyber Camp. This summer, it was renamed CyberAI Camp to highlight how the program has adapted to give campers more hands-on experience with AI tools alongside key cybersecurity topics like computer forensics, cryptography and network security. These are the skills and tools the campers will need in the future.
“AI is a tool, just like the internet,” said Charles Kirkpatrick, camp director and a senior lecturer in the School of Cybersecurity. “It’s a tool these students must learn to use responsibly. It is the biggest change in history without question, and these students are in the middle of it. It’s changing everything we do, and our cybersecurity program has to change with evolving technology.”
Every activity was designed to mirror real challenges and scenarios cybersecurity professionals face. Campers intercepted radio signals and visited the David F. Harnage Computer and Data Center to experience firsthand the kinds of technology they can work with in the cyber field. They learned about AI bots and how they can be influenced and heard from industry professionals and current students about education and career pathways.
“It’s honestly not what I expected at all,” said Hamza Rezk, a rising junior at Norview High School in Norfolk. “The camp has opened up a new path I can go down.”
Hamza came into the camp with the idea that he would pursue a career in aerospace engineering. What he learned at CyberAI Camp was how cybersecurity intersects with that path and how it can help open more doors in the future.
“The electronic world is advancing at an exponential rate,” he said. “We need people to protect important data.”
Aubrey Herrernan, a rising senior at Lakeland High School in Suffolk, said the camp served as a great refresher for her before starting a cybersecurity course. It also provided her the opportunity to connect with current University students and faculty to get their perspectives on the industry and how she can start planning for her future.
“I’m really excited to use what I’ve learned here and take it into my class,” Aubrey said.
By introducing students to cybersecurity early, CyberAICamp helped turn curiosity into skills, confidence and a clearer path toward future careers. The experience reflects the University’s commitment to transformational education and applied learning that prepares students to meet real-world challenges. By connecting young people with an evolving industry and the people working in it, the camp is helping build the next generation of thinkers, creators and doers who can move cybersecurity and the region forward.