Zane Gittins ✧ ’18 B.S. Computer Science ✧ ’20 M.S. Computer Science
By Pamela Dean
Zane Gittins, a cyber security expert and CSUCI alum, has been fascinated by computers
since he was a boy playing video games. His passion for technology grew even further
at the age of 12, when his parents enrolled him in a UCLA computer science summer
boot camp.
“At camp, they taught us the fundamentals of coding and I was hooked,” Gittins said.
“I’ve always enjoyed building things and coding felt like the perfect blend of creativity
and science.”
Gittins grew up in El Segundo and graduated from El Segundo High. He chose CSUCI because
of its proximity to home, its small class sizes, and the opportunity for direct interaction
with professors.
“CSUCI was close enough to family, but still far enough for me to gain some independence,”
said Gittins. “I also knew it would give me the chance to interact with my professors
and really build relationships with them, and that ended up being the case. Those
relationships led to internships that helped kick off my career.”
Gittins earned his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a minor in Mathematics
in 2018, followed by a Master of Science in Computer Science in 2020. He credits two
professors, Professor of Computer Science Michael Soltys and Computer Science lecturer
Kevin Scrivnor, with having the greatest impact on his academic and professional development.
Scrivnor, who ran the University’s Cyber Security Club, sparked Gittins' interest
in the rapidly growing field. Additionally, Soltys helped Gittins secure a cyber security
internship at Haas Automation, which eventually led to a full-time position with the
Oxnard-based company after graduation.
When Gittins was ready for a change, Soltys helped connect him to Camarillo-based
Meissner Filtration Products. Today, Gittins is an information technology security
manager overseeing cyber security for the organization’s entire global operation,
with a small team of people reporting to him.
“Meissner has been an amazing place for my professional growth,” Gittins shared. “They
truly invest in the development of their employees, and our team is encouraged to
keep learning and improving.”
For example, he and his co-workers had the opportunity to attend the prestigious DEFCON
Cyber Security Conference in Las Vegas last August. There, they competed in the “CTRL+ALT+DETECT”
security challenge, where they secured second place among over 100 teams.
“That was really exciting,” said Gittins. “We are planning on competing again this
summer and maybe even taking first place.”