Most Promising Engineer, Master’s Degree - Military

With cyber security now a fundamental and ever more important pillar of America’s defense strategy, the role played by Captain Flavio Marroquin in the U.S. Airforce is more critical than ever in keeping our nation safe.

As the Chief of Training for the Cyberspace Wing of the 67th Operations Support Squadron, Captain Marroquin oversees operational training standardization across cyber operations for over 2,000 Airmen, civilians, and contract employees.

As part of his extensive duties, he has supervised hybrid cloud-based training migration enabling cyber simulators, facilitated Hunt training events with realistic threat actors for cyber operators to refine their skills, and revamped instructional systems development and instructor methodology courses.

Born in Los Angeles to Guatemalan immigrant parents who spoke no English, Captain Marroquin became interested in computers after his brother introduced him to computer-based video games as a teen. He soon became fascinated not only with the games’ software but with the computer hardware that the games operated on. Soon he was helping his brother build a computer from parts and saving money to upgrade his graphics card.

He enlisted in the Air Force as a logistician immediately after high school and was soon deployed overseas in support of Gulf War operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and New Dawn.

While serving, he took advantage of the opportunity to complete his B.S. degree in Computer and Information Science, and later a Master’s in Cybersecurity.

Captain Marroquin quickly stood out at the Air Force Information Network Mission Assurance Center, where he helped detect network outages and prevent downtime at bases globally.  Acting as a supervisor to 10 airmen and 22 contractors, his achievements in this role earned his team distinction as the 2015 DoD Chief Information Officer’s Team of the Year Award.

Commissioned as an officer in 2016, Captain Marroquin was soon sent off to South Korea during high tensions to oversee the cybersecurity program for an Air Operations Center shared with the South Korean Air Force.

He was recognized for his community involvement with the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal for helping Hispanic children who came from non-English speaking households. In addition to the work with Big Brothers Big Sisters that earned him that honor, he has also been volunteering at local food banks and Habitat for Humanity.

Captain Marroquin is currently pursuing a second Masters degree in International Relations with a focus in Latin America in hopes of becoming a Foreign Area Officer.

An avid fitness enthusiast who completed the grueling Great Wall Marathon in China in 2017 in addition to Air Force and Army marathons, he maintains an active lifestyle with mountain biking, weight lifting, and hopes to recover from injury and complete his eighth full marathon next year