Alumni Spotlight Shane Croy
How did CBSI prepare you for this career opportunity?
Alumnus Shane Croy graduated from Embry-Riddle’s Prescott Campus in 2016 with a B.S. in Global Security and Intelligence Studies. He is now a Government SAP Security Manager for the United States Space Force. Shane says that looking back, the part of his education that stands out to him most is how, “the unique curriculum and knowledge shared from my professors really had a profound effect on how I think and lead today.” How do you usually describe what you do day to day as a security manager? I use my knowledge and experience in the security space to protect the Space Force’s state-of-the-art technology from near-peer adversaries. As near-peer adversaries develop capabilities to attack or counter U.S. interests, the U.S. Space Force must work diligently to provide uncompromised technology to support America’s warfighters. What first drew you to Global Security & Intelligence Studies at Embry-Riddle, and what made that program the right fit for you? I was finishing my enlistment with the Marines when a friend told me about Embry-Riddle. I wanted to continue serving and defending my country in my civilian career and felt the GSIS program was the perfect fit for me. What did the transition from Embry-Riddle graduate to working in national security look like early in your career? Graduating from Embry-Riddle was just the beginning of this stage of my journey, and the move into national security required a lengthy vetting process. During that time, I worked as a manager for a private security company. The knowledge gained and the prestige of Embry-Riddle as an institution opened both of those doors for me. When I was asked early on to create a threat briefing for military personnel going overseas to a high-threat country, I was able to lean heavily on my experience at Embry-Riddle to outperform other entry-level coworkers at the time.
Many of the assignments I remember doing are exact tasks I’ve had to accomplish in the workforce. Even the coursework that was not directly related served as effective thought exercises that contributed to my success in other areas. Specifically, my capstone project was highly focused on real-world applications and truly gave me the confidence to volunteer for securing highly sensitive construction projects early on in my career. For students interested in national security, intelligence or space-related careers, what should they be doing now to prepare? Stay out of trouble, learn to manage your time well and be willing to move anywhere to start your journey. Additionally, always work to improve the security environment you’re in, no matter where you end up, and your leadership will take notice. This and always working to improve yourself, through on-the-job training and available courses, will almost guarantee a meaningful career.
The unique curriculum and knowledge shared from my professors really had a profound effect on how I think and lead today.”
2025-2026 Annual Report | 11
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