Solomon Karchefsky, IT Specialist (Cyber Security)
Education: University at Buffalo SUNY, B.S. Computer Science 2013 | University at Buffalo SUNY, M.S. Management Information Systems 2015
Joined the FERC: Full-time, June 2015
What do you enjoy about working for the Commission?
“The idea of continuing a family tradition of public service was (and still is) very important to me as I was coming out of graduate school. FERC was an appealing option because I would be able to simultaneously serve my country while applying my technical knowledge for an office that very much has a ‘startup’ mentality - fostering creativity and innovation.”
Tell us about the project you are currently working on?
“I am currently tracking international standardization efforts in cybersecurity, researching practices for industrial control systems device security, and assisting my team in providing cybersecurity expertise to private industry. My favorite part about my job is that I never know what each day is going to bring. I don't focus on only one area of IT and cybersecurity—working for FERC requires that I be able to learn and apply knowledge from several areas on a frequent basis.”
What advice do you have for jobseekers interested in a career with FERC?
“Focus on developing a federal employment resume, which can differ wildly from their private sector equivalents. Also, keep diversifying your experience! This applies to domain experience that is directly relevant to your field, and also to activities like volunteerism and extracurricular that show hiring officials more about you as a person!”