Speaker: Benjamin Gregory
Can you introduce yourself, and tell us a bit about you professionally?
Benjamin Gregory: Hello there. ACI Learning Tech Academy, staff members and colleagues. My name is Benjamin Gregory and I am a new teaching assistant with the Dallas learning Hub or Dallas Tech Academy in Irving, Texas. And I just completed the ACI CUSSP and also the security program as well as having passed the ISC SQUARED CISSP exam and working to get my certification. I'm currently an associate of ISC Squared and I've been doing and dealing with technology for more years, more decades, more centuries than I care to elaborate on. started when I was five years old in kindergarten back before computers really started to come out. starting with the big Macintosh and big floppy disks. First Windows computer was DOS 3.x and first family computer was Windows 95 that I had broken and had to learn to fix. And from there on it's been downhill learning how to break and fix computers and technology and just continuing to grow in my technology understanding. I am a US Air Force veteran. and I look to continue growing and advancing my knowledge in technology, but I also plan to combine it with psychology and possibly turn it into a forensic science utilizing technology to understand the human mind. But it, it's all about where God sends me. He says, go, I say yes, sir. Uh so, yeah. I also have a bachelor's degree in psychology and a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies with a minor in psychology and courses in IT and military science. And I got that from the University of Texas at Arlington, as well as several associate degrees and certifications.
Tell us a little about you, personally!
Benjamin Gregory: As I said, I'm a US Air Force veteran. I'm also in my free time active in the American Legion and Disabled American Veterans Organization. I also enjoy reading different literatures and watching TV, and movies. But sometimes it's nice to just kick back and listen to some good old classic music. One of my favorites to relax to is Kenny G Love, good old smooth jazz. I am, as stated in the previous video, I am a Christian and I do stay active in my local church and sharing my testimony and my beliefs with others. I am blessed to have skills and resources and knowledge about computers and technology as well as psychology. And it's all by the grace of God.
Why did you choose ACI Learning for this next step in your career journey?
Benjamin Gregory: I chose ACI Learning for this next step in my career journey because I had attended ACI and I wanted to give back, I wanted to share with others the knowledge and skills that I have acquired as well as acquire knowledge and skills from fellow colleagues and even students themselves working together. We tend to become a collective library of knowledge and skills and resources far beyond what we could be and far definitely far beyond what I could be by myself. So I figured what better place to start than as a teaching assistant and then potentially an adjunct instructor or full time instructor depending upon where God sends me. There's many opportunities out there and I can't foresee in 100 accuracy what tomorrow is going to bring. But I do know what today is gonna be filled with and that's passion and love for my fellow man for the gifts and skills that God provided me and the ability to collaborate with others and teach others what I can.
What got you into your field and how do you think your passion for what you do will transform what you will do here at ACI?
Benjamin Gregory: What got me into my field, as I've mentioned before is growing up having to learn how to fix things I've broken. Thankfully, it was majority technology and it just got me intrigued in how things work and how things connect and how things relate. And from there just continue to grow from DOS 3.X to 95 to 98, millennium E, XP, VISTA, 7, 10, 11. Servers 2003, 2008, 2008 R2 cloud computing, virtual environments, just a whole wide range of technology. And we're getting ready to hit into the realm of artificial intelligence and technology is gonna continue to grow and I have a passion to grow with it and to not only grow with it but to help others grow with it. And I can safely say that as far as transforming what I will do with ACI is hopefully I can teach those in ACI both colleagues and students and staff alike and learn from them as well and continue to help when I can to excel ACI and who knows, take what I've learned at ACI and help elsewhere. It, it's not a one stop shop. Life doesn't stop with just one place. And so wherever the future takes me, I'm gonna take what I've learned and share it with others.
Tell us a quirky fun fact about you or your life!
Benjamin Gregory: Fun fact. I live in Cowboy State but I am not a Cowboys fan. I'm a San Francisco 49ers fan, red and gold till I'm dead and cold. But in the off season, I'm a fan of just relaxing, enjoying life one day at a time, one moment at a time and thing or like if more specifically where God will take me. I go to movies, I spend time with friends and family. I also enjoy to just sit back and read, play video games. Another quirky fun fact about me unless it deals with artistic components or music, not a big fan of Apple because as the old adage goes, the fall of man began with an apple and all it took was one bite. That's not my choke, but I run with it. I'm a very big Microsoft Windows Android type person. It's not to say I don't know how to work with Apple products. I also do enjoy working with Linux and UNIX based products as they were the foundation eons ago of what we know today. And so I, I deal with a lot of different technological components, but just not a big fan of Apple. I also do not like when people say, well, Apple doesn't give viruses or Mac doesn't get, don't even bring that to my attention. That will get my, see, my eyes already twitching. On all seriousness though. when I'm not having fun dealing with technology, I'm having fun reading, watching TV, watching movies and just enjoying life and if you're not enjoying life, you're not doing it right. Life is to be savored, enjoyed and give thanks to God for.
Finally, is there anything else you want to say?
Benjamin Gregory: Thank you for the opportunity to share a little bit about myself. look forward to getting to know as many of you as possible along the way and life is partly about networking, getting to know others, linking up, sharing resources, helping each other out. And if there's any way that I can be of help, I'm based out of Dallas. So reach out and let's learn together, let's grow together, let's share together, let's help others to walk behind us cause I always like to find a way to bring somebody under my wing to take my place because I'm constantly on the move.
