Amanda Theel is the Strategic Cybersecurity Analysis and Research (SCAR) Group Leader. In this position, she directs the Strategic Security Sciences (SSS/S3) Division’s ongoing research into cybersecurity development. Along with coordinating with multiple groups across the Lab for innovative cybersecurity solutions, she supports student advancement through the CyberForce Competition^TM.

Determined, organized, and competitive as a child, Amanda always saw herself taking on a leadership role when she grew up.However, she majored in business and her first step into cybersecurity came as a happy accident. ​“I accidentally signed up for the wrong class,” she recalls, ​“thinking the computer introduction course was more basic for business learners.” But when the instructor expected her to drop out, Amanda took that as a challenge and stayed on, coming to enjoy and excel in computer technology.

Through her ongoing work in cybersecurity at Argonne, Amanda has discovered the large impact that cybersecurity plays in all areas of life. ​“Tell me a field and I can tell you how it could be impacted by cybersecurity,” she explains. ​“Do you use a computer? Do you have a smart phone? Do you use the internet? Do you drink water from the faucet? Do you buy items at the grocery store? All these basic necessities require some level of cybersecurity.” The multidisciplinary nature of cybersecurity has led to Amanda assisting departments across the Lab.

Amanda’s favorite part of her work for Argonne is getting to meet and work with so many different people. ​“The people I work with are amazing. Not only do I get to work with some of the smartest people on the planet, but I also get to call them friends,” she says. She also appreciates the opportunity to learn about different topics outside of her primary focus in cybersecurity. ​“I would never have been able to become so multi-disciplined if it weren’t for the Laboratory,” she says.

Amanda also enjoys volunteering to mentor undergraduate interns at the Lab, something she has done every year since 2014. Two of her past interns have since become full-time employees at Argonne, and they in turn mentor their own students. ​“My goal as a mentor is to help them grow as a person. The science will be there in the end, but it’s what they learn about themselves throughout the summer that makes the most impactful experience for all of us,” she says. This year, she mentored one student for the virtual summer internships. ​“The virtual element was something to adapt to, but overall, my student was a rock star,” she says.

In addition to mentoring students, Amanda leads the Department of Energy’s annual CyberForce competition, a multi-lab Department of Energy (DOE) competition where college students tackle hands-on cyber challenges to win the national title. With cybersecurity professionals being in high demand – the country will need to fill around 3.5 million positions by 2021 – the CyberForce Competition is crucial in building the next generation of cybersecurity leaders. ​“The CyberForce Competition is such a unique opportunity for me to work with many different people around the Laboratory,” she says.

Due to her significant contributions across Argonne National Laboratory, Amanda has earned much praise from colleagues and students alike. In fact, this year, she received the prestigious University of Chicago Board of Governors Award Pinnacle of Education. ​“It is hard to believe the impact you make until you write it down. I’m so grateful for leaders above me who see the value in continuing to build the STEM pipeline,” she says. Amanda encourages students curious about STEM to be brave and try it out; even if they decide they don’t like the field, experiencing it firsthand can help them in their journey. ​“Remember, school sets a foundation but there is so much more to learn,” she advises youth. ​“Explore, ask questions, and most importantly, follow your dreams.”