With skills gained at the University of North Georgia (UNG), 1st Lt. Joseph Peterka, '17, is part of a six-person team helping modernize the Army's human resources systems.
Peterka was UNG's first Cyber Leader Development Program graduate and the first UNG recipient of the C1 (cyber) Army Skill Identifier.
When first approached by an Army captain about being part of the group leading the implementation of the Integrated Personnel and Pay System at Human Resources Command, Peterka was not sure if he would have a chance at being selected. But he went for the position based at Fort Knox, Kentucky, anyway.
The Dacula, Georgia, native said he believed his degree in computer science and minor in Russian from UNG helped him stand out and land the spot, as the majority of his team has skills in a foreign language. Information security is the highest priority in his current job, and he said "UNG gave me the skills needed for every role I've been in as part of the Army." Now one of his main responsibilities is effective communication with others who do not have the same technical expertise.
"I need to be able to communicate where I'm at with this project so everyone can understand," Peterka said.
Though he is the lowest in rank on his current team, Peterka led soldiers earlier in his Army career. One of them taught him a valuable lesson.
"You need to go the extra mile for your subordinates to make sure their needs are taken care of," Peterka said. "If you take care of them, they'll take care of you."
Peterka has also realized the value of both follow-up and follow-through.
"That way everyone is always on the same sheet of music," Peterka said.
