Chase Brannen: A Record Breaking Journey in Cybersecurity

Marion “Chase” Brannen is a student at Buckeye Hills Career Center who is making significant accomplishments in the field of cybersecurity. Hailing from South Gallia High School, Chase is not only excelling in his studies but also setting records in the cybersecurity program at Buckeye Hills.

Achievements and Credentials

Chase has earned an impressive collection of 109 industry-recognized credential points, far surpassing the 12 points required to graduate from a Career and Technical Education (CTE) program in Ohio.

An industry-recognized credential serves as a symbol of achievement that showcases an individual’s qualifications and expertise. They are a valuable asset in the job market that highlights one’s knowledge and skills to potential employers. They can come in different forms, such as certifications, certificates, and licenses.

The former record for the highest number of industry credential points achieved by a student at Buckeye Hills Career Center was 71 points in 2024.

One of the recent industry credentials Chase earned is the highly respected CompTIA CySA+ (Cybersecurity Analyst) certification, which is known for its rigorous standards. CompTIA (the Computing Technology Industry Association) states that CySA+ “proves certified professionals have the skills required for high-stakes cybersecurity analysis.”

“I had to memorize many various acronyms, learn completely new concepts that I hadn’t encountered before, and learn new procedures for tasks I had been doing differently,” Chase shared about his preparation for the CySA+ exam.

In addition to his CySA+ certification, Chase also holds four other CompTIA certifications (IT Fundamentals, A+, Network+, and Security+), two Cisco certifications (Cisco Certified Support Technician in Networking and Cybersecurity), an AI certification, and numerous certifications from EC-Council, Microsoft, Certiport, Google, and FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency).

Competitive Success

In addition to his academic accomplishments at Buckeye Hills Career Center, Chase’s talents have also been recognized on a national stage. In Spring of 2024, he secured fourth place in the Windows Server Administration competition at the Business Professionals of America (BPA) National Leadership Conference as a high school junior. Competing against some of the brightest students in the country, Chase demonstrated exceptional proficiency in managing and troubleshooting server environments, a critical skill in today’s technology-driven world.

“I remember when Chase qualified for the second round of testing at Nationals in Chicago,” Shaun Northup, BHCC Cybersecurity Instructor shared. “We sat down together to review some advanced scenarios in Windows Server Administration. I told Chase, ‘These are some concepts and situations you probably haven’t encountered before.’ Within just a few minutes, Chase was not only grasping the new material but was already explaining back to me how the concepts applied to the scenarios we were discussing. That’s when it really clicked for me—Chase wasn’t just memorizing information; he was thinking critically and making meaningful connections. It was clear he had developed the kind of deep understanding and problem-solving ability that sets a true cybersecurity professional apart.”

Chase has received an invitation to the 2025 BPA National Convention, scheduled for this May in Orlando, Florida. This recognition comes after he secured 1st place in Information Technology Concepts and 3rd place in Server Administration Using Microsoft at the Ohio BPA State Leadership Conference, which took place in early March 2025.

Professional Experience & Future Aspirations

In a further testament to his growing expertise and dedication, Chase has recently been hired as an IT intern at Buckeye Hills Career Center. Working closely with Tim McWilliams, BHCC Director of IT, Chase is gaining valuable hands-on experience in the field. This role not only allows him to apply his classroom knowledge to real-world scenarios but also offers him the opportunity to learn from a seasoned professional in the industry.

When asked about his future aspirations, Chase shared that his long-term career goals include continuing to learn and to advance through higher rungs of cybersecurity as a Cybersecurity Engineer or SOC (Security Operations Center) Analyst.

Personal Reflections

“The teachers and instructors here at Buckeye Hills pushed me to keep earning more credentials, and they provided me with opportunities that I probably wouldn’t have had if it wasn’t for them,” Chase shared when asked about his experience at Buckeye Hills.

“I hope to inspire other students by showing them that you don’t have to only earn the 12 credential points to graduate then stop. When I started as a junior here, I thought it would be impossible for me to even reach 70, let alone over 100.”

When asked what he would tell another student considering the Cybersecurity program at BHCC, Chase shared, “I would tell them there is a lot of growth and opportunity available through the cybersecurity program. You just have to work for it and not expect it to be handed to you.”

Buckeye Hills Career Center Superintendent Jamie Nash shared, “I have been involved in career technical education and workforce training for over 31 years, and I have never seen a student achieve as many industry credentials in such a short time as Chase has. In addition to his success, Chase continues representing the award-winning Buckeye Hills Career Center at local, state, and national competitions. His accomplishments have made him one of the top cybersecurity students in the country.”

Cybersecurity at Buckeye Hills Career Center

The Cybersecurity program at Buckeye Hills Career Center is a two-year program that students begin their junior year of high school. Students receive a basic information technology foundation, that includes security of network infrastructure, security network systems, and the prevention, detection, and mitigation of common vulnerabilities and attacks.

For students entering the program in fall of 2025, courses include Networking, Fundamentals of Operating Systems, Cybersecurity, Cyber Defense & Reinforcement, Application of Artificial Intelligence, and an Information Technology Capstone.

Training is constantly evolving, enabling students to enter this rapidly growing field.

“Our program stays current by continuously updating our curriculum to align with industry standards and emerging threats,” Instructor Shaun Northup shared.

Students from the Cybersecurity program have qualified to attend the BPA National Leadership Convention every year since the program’s inception with the exception of the program’s inaugural year, 2019.

“Two main skills students need to succeed in Cybersecurity are problem-solving skills and attention to detail,” Instructor Northup shared. “Combine those skills with a solid understanding of network fundamentals, which we will help them learn, and they could very well could have a successful career in Cybersecurity ahead of them.”