From Military Intelligence to Student Leadership: DJ Ouk, BAS CO ’28, ASUA Student Senator
INFOSCI STUDENT PROFILE
DJ Ouk, a Bachelor of Applied Science in Cyber Operations student, is the College of Information Science senator in the Associated Students of the University of Arizona senate.
Photo by Michael McKisson.
Cyber operations has a very diverse cadre of professors and lecturers, some of whom had similar backgrounds to mine. It has made it very easy for me to build professional relationships with them and discuss topics they already have knowledge and experience in.
A first-generation American whose parents came to the United States as refugees from Cambodia, DJ Ouk is originally from Monterey, California. He came to Tucson by way of Phoenix and military service in Army Special Operations intelligence. Pursuing a BAS in Cyber Operations (now Bachelor of Science in Cyber Operations), Ouk is a member of the W.A. Franke Honors College as well as an Intelligence Community Center of Academic Excellence Scholar and Department of War Cyber Service Academy Scholar. At the College of Information Science, he brings his signals intelligence background and commitment to building community to his role as InfoSci's ASUA student senator.
What brought you to the University of Arizona to study cyber operations?
My family moved to Phoenix while I was active duty and I knew U of A had a top-ranked cyber program that was also NSA-CAE designated, so it made the most sense for me to come to Arizona.
DJ Ouk conducts a pre-combat check before a field exercise during his service in Army Special Operations.
Photo courtesy DJ Ouk.
With your military background in signals intelligence, why are you pursuing a cyber operations degree?
It sounds counterintuitive but I’m not actually planning on going into cybersecurity as a career field despite my major. My professional background is in signals intelligence (SIGINT), but because there is significant overlap between SIGINT and cyber operations, I wanted to have a strong foundational knowledge of cyber so I could be a better SIGINTer when I return to that field after graduation.
What do you like best about the Bachelor's in Cyber Operations program?
Definitely the faculty. Cyber operations has a very diverse cadre of professors and lecturers, some of whom had similar backgrounds to mine. It has made it very easy for me to build professional relationships with them and discuss topics they already have knowledge and experience in.
What has been your biggest challenge at the College of Information Science, and how have you overcome that challenge?
Connecting with students within the college itself has been somewhat difficult. Most of my close friends whom I spend time with outside of class are not InfoSci. It can feel like a clique-y and introverted student body, which is difficult for me as a transfer student who has only been here for a year. Running for and becoming the ASUA InfoSci senator has certainly helped put my face out there to the student body, but also getting involved with clubs last year and just chatting with students in class has helped overcome those social hurdles.
What has been your biggest challenge outside of college?
Navigating the post-graduation job market. Finding employment to do the type of job I want is very competitive with many barriers to entry and highly selective overall, especially with federal agencies like the National Security Agency. If it wasn’t for my prior intel background and Department of War Cyber Service Academy scholarship, my stress level would be way higher thinking about my future after U of A.
DJ Ouk enjoys the view of the Bavarian Alps at the Eagle's Nest in Germany.
Photo courtesy DJ Ouk.
Tell us about your job experience and aspirations.
Prior to U of A, I was active duty in the military. I served in an Army Special Operations intelligence organization in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, before moving to Tucson. My goal is to work for a federal agency as a civilian and do similar work to what I did previously, but in the Washington, DC/Maryland/Virginia region.
As the college’s ASUA senator, what’s your vision for making the college better?
As an Associated Students of the University of Arizona (ASUA) senator my job is to represent and advocate for the College of Information Science student body, and to act as a liaison between the university administration and students when it comes to coordinating events and publishing policy. My vision for the college is to better connect us with our alumni network so that our students can have those networking opportunities in the job market, and to have an increased student presence for on-campus events now that there has been a larger push towards in-person cyber classes for the college.
What other student organizations or other extracurricular activities are you involved with?
Aside from ASUA, I’m also an active member of the W.A. Franke Honors College Sunrise Scholars, which is an Asian American- and Pacific Islander-focused cultural organization, and most recently joined the Vietnamese Student Association (VSA) this semester. For me, it’s all about finding my community and that’s exactly what I get from these clubs.
Outside of school, what are your hobbies?
Fitness is a big part of my life, so physical activities make up the bulk of my hobbies. I go to the gym religiously, hike with the Ramblers club, camp with my friends and travel to the coast for surfing and diving. At night I enjoy going out to the bars, where on Thursdays and Friday’s you’ll often find me doing karaoke. When the skies are clear I’ll take my Nikon out to do astrophotography.
Graduation day (2022) for DJ Ouk at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center in Monterey, California.
Photo courtesy DJ Ouk.
What does the InfoSci experience mean for you?
The InfoSci experience to me means being a part of the larger university and InfoSci community and learning the skills necessary to enter my career field. InfoSci is a unique niche that’s separate from the Colleges of Science and Engineering, with our own networks and subcultures despite sharing many similarities. As is the case with cyber operations, gaining both hands-on experience and academics is part of the InfoSci experience.
What advice do you have for prospective InfoSci students?
Get involved, network, chase opportunities any chance you get and get out of your comfort zone. You never know what path life will take or what people you’ll end up meeting along the way, but those opportunities might very well be the ones that set you up for the rest of your life. You don’t want to be the one to miss out on a potential career milestone or life-changing events because of complacency or fear of uncertainty.
Where can InfoSci students get in touch with you?
My ASUA Senate office hours are:
- Monday, Wednesday and Friday: VETS Center from 2-3:30 p.m.
- Tuesday and Thursday: Either the VETS Center or ASUA Office from 2-3 p.m.
I’m also happy to meet students at other times.
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