BEN CRENSHAW
Mesquite
Summary
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bencrenshaw/
EdTech education leader, curriculum architect, and practitioner-instructor specializing in the design and delivery of Outcome-Based Education (OBE) and Work-Based Learning (WBL) frameworks. Backed by a Master of Science in Cybersecurity and eight years of enterprise threat analysis at Oracle, I designed and deployed hands-on instructional tracks to empower diverse learners. By mapping course competencies directly to the NIST/NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework, I shepherd students from zero-baseline digital literacy into high-paying roles like SOC Analyst I, while preparing them for industry certification tracks. I drive institutional scalability and student career readiness through a core pedagogical philosophy: "Learn once, apply many times."
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Head of Cybersecurity and AI Education
Work ED
Mesquite, NV
02.2021 - 06.2026
- Developed and led national, standards-aligned cybersecurity and AI instructional curricula deployed across secondary and postsecondary systems.
- Mapped all core course competencies directly to the NIST and NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Frameworks, verifying that technical tracks accurately address entry-level enterprise job requirements.
- Engineered multi-tiered work-based learning pathways—including cyber range threat simulations and live-fire laboratories—to teach students the exact command-line interface, data parsing, and diagnostic tools used by industry practitioners.
- Coached students in professional development, strategic networking, and interview preparation to actively secure career placement in high-paying entry-level technical roles, including Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst I positions.
- Engineered and executed comprehensive train-the-trainer ecosystems, delivering asynchronous and synchronous instructional guides that improved teacher delivery success rates across diverse geographic districts.
- Translated complex, emerging technologies into structured lesson plans, written guides, and repeatable learning formats to ensure full state and district programmatic compliance.
UT Cybersecurity Program Director & Lead Faculty
Canyons Technical Education Center (CTEC)
Sandy, UT
08.2019 - 08.2023
- Created and deployed the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Foundations of Cybersecurity program, achieving an 85% industry certification attainment rate among diverse student populations by designing inclusive instructional strategies and hands-on laboratory environments.
- Collaborated with state and district leadership and corporate advisory boards to align course competencies with workforce demands and college pathways, establishing a scalable model for technical education.
- Mentored fellow faculty and coached peers in the effective delivery of technical content by integrating live-fire threat simulations and open-source intelligence exercises into standard academic environments.
- Governed program compliance with state CTE standards while acting as the primary subject matter expert for continuous curriculum improvement.
Senior Vulnerability Analyst
Oracle Corporation
Lehi, UT
08.2014 - 01.2023
- Designed and delivered advanced technical training programs and documentation for enterprise teams, reducing internal security vulnerabilities through the application of adult learning principles and knowledge management repositories.
- Translated complex security data into actionable strategic intelligence, presenting risk mitigation strategies directly to executive leadership by building cross-functional partnerships across globally dispersed divisions.
- Developed operational tracking systems to measure project outcomes and streamline problem-solving workflows for internal stakeholders.
Education
Master of Science - Cybersecurity and Information Assurance
Western Governors University
Salt Lake City, UTBachelor of Science - Information Technology - Security
Western Governors University
Salt Lake City, UTSkills
- Academic Program Leadership
- Curriculum Architecture
- Workforce Development
- Instructional Design
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) Education
- Cybersecurity Education
- Faculty Leadership and Mentorship
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Continuing Education
- Corporate Enablement
- Program Compliance and Governance
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Flexible and adaptable
- Dependable and responsible
Certification
- Registered Career and Technical Education (CTE) Educator, State of Utah
- Over 20 Industry Certifications (Including CompTIA Security+, Network+, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Cisco credentials)
- TraceLabs Senior Coach
- Amateur Radio Technician License
PUBLICATIONS AND THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
- Author: Teaching Cyber: Building the Bridge Between Education and Industry
- Author: They Hack Minds (Focusing on digital self-defense and the psychology of modern scams)
- Mentor: U.S. Cyber Games Pipeline Program
- Career Ambassador: National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE)
- Coach: TraceLabs Search Party Capture The Flag (Open Source Intelligence for Missing Persons)
ACCOLADES
- National Cyber Teacher of the Year Nominee
- Teach Cyber Teacher of the Year
- ACTE Teacher of the Year - IT Division
Affiliations
- International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC2)
- Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA)
- Information Systems Security Association (ISSA)
- Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE)
- Toastmasters
- Project Management Institute
- Utah Grand Lodge
- Utah Scottish Rite
Timeline
Head of Cybersecurity and AI Education
Work ED
02.2021 - 06.2026
UT Cybersecurity Program Director & Lead Faculty
Canyons Technical Education Center (CTEC)
08.2019 - 08.2023
Senior Vulnerability Analyst
Oracle Corporation
08.2014 - 01.2023
Master of Science - Cybersecurity and Information Assurance
Western Governors University
Bachelor of Science - Information Technology - Security
Western Governors University