From the Classroom to APTA: How Christ Gouala Broke Into Cybersecurity in D.C.

When Christ Gouala arrived in Washington, D.C., he was a Computer Science major with a clear goal and an open question: could he land an internship that would give him real, technical IT experience before his final year at Frostburg State University?

By the time the program ended, he had built more than 20 web pages for a national transportation association, worked hands-on in cybersecurity and interviewed the people who protect public transit systems from digital attack.

A rising senior set to graduate in Spring 2027, Christ interned in the IT department at the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) through The Washington Center's (TWC) Academic Internship Program. Working across three supervisors and nearly every corner of the department, he got a crash course in what an IT career actually looks like. We sat down with him to talk about the projects and the summer that made his path clearer. 

Tell us about your internship at APTA and a project that stood out. 

My internship was with the American Public Transportation Association, working in the IT department. Because I reported to three different supervisors, my day-to-day was really diverse and hands-on. I did front-end and back-end development, network tasks, cybersecurity work, and IT help desk support, so no two days looked quite the same. The project I am proudest of was building more than 20 web pages for APTA's main website. Seeing something I built go live on a real organization's site, and not a class assignment, made all the difference. 

What skills and networking opportunities did you gain? 

On the technical side, I got hands-on experience with SIEM software, similar to Splunk, using it to track threats and vulnerabilities, and I worked with audit records, system logs, and penetration testing results. My supervisors, Jeremy Rueter, Marc Osman, and Hai Tran, trusted me with administrative access to nearly every tool I touched, which is rare for an intern and taught me a lot. On the development side, I strengthened my JavaScript, SQL, and PHP. 

The networking was just as valuable. I got to connect with and interview industry leaders like Joel D. Waugh, VP of Cybersecurity at Metro, and Tim Coogan, Director and CISO of Cybersecurity at the Regional Transportation District. Hearing how they built their careers taught me things I could not have picked up on my own. 

What were you concerned about when applying to TWC, and how did you overcome those concerns? 

My biggest worry going in was whether I would land an internship directly related to IT. I was open to non-IT roles if they would help me build professional soft skills, but I really wanted the technical experience, and fortunately the stars aligned and I got the IT internship at APTA. 

My other concern was the cost of living in D.C., especially food and transportation. A few things really helped: APTA fully covered my commute, which took a huge weight off my shoulders, having an Aldi nearby kept groceries affordable, and the office frequently provided meals. 

How did your scholarships support this experience? 

I was fortunate to receive two scholarships, a full program scholarship and the State of Maryland (DET) scholarship. Together they made attending the program in D.C. financially possible, and just as importantly, they let me focus fully on the internship instead of worrying about how to pay for the summer. 

What was your most exciting experience at TWC? 

A few experiences really stand out. Visiting the Metro Integrated Command Center (MICC) was incredible, seeing firsthand what it takes to protect public transportation, both physically and digitally, and watching all the real-time transit camera feeds. I also got to visit the Pentagon alongside other APTA interns, which I will never forget. 

On a different note, my roommate Maxwell Giek and I explored the Hillwood Estate. The Russian art collection and the Japanese garden were beautiful, and we captured some great photos together. 

What clarity has this experience given you? 

Christ came to D.C. wanting one thing above all: real technical experience before his final year. He left with more than that, a portfolio of live work, hands-on exposure to cybersecurity, and a network of transit-industry leaders who took the time to share how they built their careers. Internships deliver the highest career value of any work-based learning experience. 

Our Academic Internship Program places you at the center of Washington, D.C., in an organization where your work matters, your network is built through direct relationships and your professional direction becomes concrete. Learn more about the Academic Internship Program and apply today.

About the Author

For 50 years, The Washington Center has been the largest experiential learning program in Washington, D.C. We've helped more than 70,000 students and young professionals transform their academic pursuits into rewarding careers through internships, immersive seminars and professional development programs. We aim to empower every participant to secure a better future for themselves, while connecting employers with emerging talent.

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