Cover Letter

12760 Pegasus Dr
Orlando, FL, 32816

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory
11100 Johns Hopkins Rd
Laurel, MD, 20723

February 23, 2026

Dear Ms. Frohman,

I am writing to apply for the open position as a Reverse Engineer/Cyber Capability Engineer, which I found advertised online. The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory has long been acknowledged as a leading force in our country’s defense and research communities, and I find your institution’s commitment to continued learning and problem-solving to be admirable and very much in line with my own goals and aspirations. I would be honored to have the opportunity to work with such distinguished experts in the field as Ms. Gregg and Mr. Yuan on solving some of the most important security problems in our country.

During my time enrolled in UCF’s bachelor’s of science in information technology program, I have gained skills and experience that I believe would make me a perfect fit for this position. Through my coursework, I have reached proficiency in several of the most used programming languages in the modern day, including but not limited to Python, C, and C++. Outside of my coursework, I have become heavily involved with UCF’s acclaimed collegiate cyber defense club, Hack@UCF, through which I have gained valuable experience with tools such as the Windows Sysinternals Suite and Wireshark, as well as an understanding of Unix and Linux-based operating systems.

My hands-on experience includes the 2025 Horse Plinko Cyber Defense Challenge, hosted by Hack@UCF, during which my team and I successfully kept our assigned machines and services up and running for over four hours amidst sustained assault from members of UCF’s nationally recognized cyber competition team. I have also been trusted with the responsibility of training and onboarding new hires at several previous positions, including in retail and warehouse environments. These experiences have given me valuable practical experience in teamwork and leadership in fast-paced work environments, where effective communication between team members is of the utmost importance.

I am enthusiastic about joining your team and greatly look forward to applying my knowledge towards solving complex cybersecurity problems alongside some of the brightest minds in the country. I welcome the opportunity to speak with you further about my qualifications for this position. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
image Liam Martin