Protecting the Digital Future
The Future Kings Cyber’s Future Program, powered by HSOC Cyber, prepares middle and high school students from underserved communities to launch meaningful careers in cybersecurity. Through immersive, "learning as work" and guided mentorship, students build a strong technical foundation and develop the confidence to succeed in real work environments.
After completing Cyber’s Future, participants advance to the nationally recognized HSOC Cyber Skills-First Internship Program, where they transition from learning fundamentals to applying their skills in live, work-based cybersecurity projects.
These experiences mirror professional Security Operations Center (SOC) environments and expose students to multiple cybersecurity roles.
Each learner graduates with proven technical expertise, applied certification experience, a professional digital portfolio, and well-developed presentation, organizational, and interpersonal skills. Combined with ethical leadership training, these capabilities reflect the exact traits sought by today’s cybersecurity employers and government agencies.
Program Pathways
Cyber’s Future offers three progressive pathwaysto success:
Certification Track – Students earn industry credentials that align with Department of Defense (DoD 8140) and NICE Cyber Workforce Framework roles.
Club Track – Reinforces classroom learning through team challenges, cyber competitions, and peer collaboration.
Skills-First Internship Experience – A paid or mentored internship where students apply their learning in HSOC’s live pre-production labs and document their work for college and career portfolios.
Core Certifications
The program focuses on the four certifications most valued by employers and federal workforce frameworks:
CompTIA Network+ – Foundation of network design, operations, and troubleshooting.
CompTIA Security+ – DoD-approved baseline cybersecurity certification.
CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) – Defensive operations, incident detection, and response.
CompTIA PenTest+ – Ethical hacking and vulnerability assessment in real-world lab environments.
These certifications collectively prepare students for roles such as Junior SOC Analyst, Network Technician, Cyber Defense Analyst, and Entry-Level Penetration Tester.
Program Goals
To equip students with the skills, knowledge, and experience needed to thrive in one of today’s most in-demand fields.
Equip students with the technical skills, certifications, and professional mindset needed to thrive in one of today’s most in-demand and mission-critical career fields — cybersecurity.
Build career readiness through hands-on projects, mentorship, and real work experiences aligned with the HSOC Cyber Skills-First Internship model.
Develop problem-solving, analytical, and communication abilities essential for protecting and defending digital systems and networks.
Bridge the gap between classroom learning and workforce opportunity by engaging students in authentic, work-based cybersecurity challenges.
Empower young men of color to become confident, certified, and employable cybersecurity professionals who demonstrate leadership, teamwork, and ethical responsibility.
Meet Our Instructor
Dr. Wesley “Doc Wes” Phillips serves as the CEO of HSOC Cyber and the primary Subject Matter Expert and curriculum designer for the Cyber’s Future Program. With more than 20 years of elite cybersecurity leadership, he has served as Acting CISO, SOC Manager, and Cyber Program Manager for the U.S. Department of Defense. Dr. Phillips currently holds an active government security clearance and is a graduate of the National Security Agency’s TSCM Program. He's also a disabled U.S. Marine Corps veteran and former Special Agent, where he conducted countless global Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM) missions in support of national-security operations.