Ryan Johnson

Ryan Johnson, a Baltimore native, has long held a passion for security and tech. With a background in Criminal Justice, Ryan previously worked at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) / Homeland Security, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Prior to enrolling at Per Scholas, Ryan participated in Diversity Cyber Council's 30-day digital bootcamp, offered on-site at Atlanta's Westside Works, where he pursued the CompTIA IT Fundamentals+ certification. After obtaining the certification, Ryan wanted to further advance his knowledge in Information Technology and discovered Per Scholas' program at Westside Works, which offered the CompTIA A+ certification he was seeking to obtain next. He noticed many employers were posting jobs citing the need for CompTIA A+ credentialed staff, and he enrolled in Per Scholas' IT Support course to pursue this.

Ryan finished second in his class and obtained the certification on his first attempt. Per Scholas' Business Solutions Team connected Ryan with TEKsystems – a vital employer partner and internationally renowned IT solutions firm – and advocated for his consistent work ethic and technical acumen. Within two months of graduating, he interviewed and launched a career with TEKsystems as an installer of uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, which he described as a great entry point into the IT field.

Ryan credits the program, his amazing instructors, and the professional development offered by Per Scholas' staff as "a blessing". He stated the program is more than a 12-week course to get your certification. "Instead, they mold you, help you along, and prepare you to go out to get your first tech job."

He also credits the Per Scholas program's design and the care and attention devoted to the steps taken after completing a course. "Other programs just don't have the support in finding a job like Per Scholas has. It was more of 'here's your certification' and so you hope you can land a job…unlike the meaningful partnerships that Per Scholas actually has."

Ryan's Per Scholas journey is not over yet. He plans to continue developing critical skills and certifications to advance in IT, particularly in Cybersecurity. "Cybersecurity was a big need during my time at TSA. Safeguarding America is a driving factor for me, and I'm hoping I can gain the knowledge needed to get me in the door to being a greater asset to our government and that department."

Ryan has applied to the Per Scholas Cybersecurity program and plans to obtain the CompTIA CySA+ (Security) certification upon completion.