William Cathey: Building Dashboards, Skills and a Cyber Career
Meet William Cathey
William Cathey will graduate from Louisiana State University in December 2025 with a degree in Information Systems and Decision Science. He holds a Network+ certification, is preparing for Security+ by December, and is working toward Splunk Power User certification. By the time he graduates, William will have logged one year and eight months in LSU’s student-run Security Operations Center (SOC). In that time, he has investigated more than 2,960 events, confirmed 32 true positives and maintained an average audit score of 4.36.
Discovering a Passion for Cybersecurity
Born and raised in Baton Rouge, William brings discipline and drive to his work. In high school, he competed at the state level in powerlifting, placing fourth in his division. He is also a car enthusiast, passionate about racing and building.
William chose cybersecurity because it challenges his problem-solving skills and keeps him engaged with new technologies. He thrives in an environment where constant learning is essential, and he values the excitement of working in a field that changes daily.
Memorable SOC Experience
Among the nearly 3,000 events William investigated, one stands out. A failed login attempt from outside the U.S. at first appeared suspicious. By cross-referencing publicly available information, even finding the user’s Instagram post that placed them in the country at the time, William was able to confirm the activity was legitimate. Though not the most technical case, it was memorable because it showed how open-source intelligence could validate an investigation and resolve an event without escalation.
What He Enjoys Most
William enjoys finding efficient ways to improve SOC workflows. He designed dashboards to compile relevant data for recurring event types, making investigations faster and more user-friendly for himself and his peers. This creativity and initiative reflect the spirit of TekStream’s LONI SOC program, where students are encouraged to think critically and develop new approaches to security challenges.
Skills Learned in the SOC
William has gained deep technical and professional skills during his SOC experience, including:
- Using SIEM tools like Splunk ES and SOAR to detect and investigate threats
- Applying incident response processes from triage to containment
- Communicating effectively with analysts, engineers, and managers
- Connecting indicators across IDS, firewall, endpoint, and domain logs to uncover attack patterns
- Following SOC playbooks, escalation procedures, and compliance standards with operational discipline
Looking Ahead
After graduation, William plans to begin his career as a SOC Analyst. He prefers a remote role with standard daytime hours but he is open to relocation and flexible opportunities. His goal is to continue applying his technical skills, problem-solving mindset and leadership qualities to protect organizations from evolving threats.
Advice to Future Students
William encourages students interested in cybersecurity to take on difficult events and push themselves beyond their comfort zones. “Work hard to stand out,” he says. “Focus on the harder events that force you to grow.”
Learn more about TekStream’s Workforce Development / Student SOC program and how it equips students like William for real-world cybersecurity roles. For a broader perspective on public-sector strategies, explore TekStream’s Whole of State Security guide.