• Home
  • News
  • ACES Faculty Feature: John McGahagan

News Story

ACES Faculty Feature: John McGahagan

John McGahagan is an engineering leader and adjunct faculty member in the ACES program, where he has taught for the past five years. In addition to his teaching role, he has overseen several student research projects over the last two years, helping students tackle real-world cybersecurity challenges through hands-on inquiry and mentorship.

A lifelong Marylander, McGahagan knows the state well. Outside of his professional work, he enjoys hiking with his dog, rock climbing, running, and experimenting with new recipes, an adventurous mix that mirrors his curiosity-driven approach to both learning and leadership.


An Academic Path Shaped by Challenge and Exploration

McGahagan’s educational journey began at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he earned his undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering. Drawn to the field by its rigor, he embraced the challenge and intentionally tailored his coursework and internships toward computer science–related areas, including software engineering and computer security.


From Software Engineering to Advanced Research

Following graduation, McGahagan began his career at Booz Allen Hamilton as a software engineer, working on web and enterprise applications. He later transitioned to Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, where he developed a deeper focus on computer security and analytical problem-solving.

Throughout this period, he continued his formal education part-time, earning a master’s degree in Systems Engineering and a PhD in Reliability Engineering from the University of Maryland. More recently, his professional work has expanded into the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence.


Industry Impact and Work in Artificial Intelligence

McGahagan served as a Senior Software Engineering Manager at Microsoft, joining the company in May 2021. He was involved early in the Azure OpenAI Service, contributing to efforts to build, scale, and secure AI services in the cloud.

While the work was often challenging, he found it deeply rewarding to see the systems his team built enable Microsoft and its customers at a global scale. Although artificial intelligence has already transformed many industries, McGahagan views its long-term impact as still unfolding, with critical questions yet to be answered.


A Longstanding Interest in Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity has remained a consistent thread throughout McGahagan’s career. His initial exposure to the field as an undergraduate sparked his interest, though his understanding at the time was limited. After graduation, hands-on professional experience and additional coursework helped him build a stronger technical foundation.

Early in his career, his work focused on vulnerability analysis and reverse engineering. Over time, his interests shifted toward network security from an analyst’s perspective and eventually toward integrating machine learning techniques into cybersecurity applications.


Teaching and Mentoring in the ACES Program

McGahagan has been teaching HACS408M since 2021 and describes teaching and mentoring students as among the most rewarding aspects of his career. He values working with students who are genuinely engaged and excited about cybersecurity topics.

In addition to teaching, overseeing student research projects has been particularly fulfilling. Returning to campus, he says, is always a reminder of how much the university has evolved, and how energized students are about emerging technologies and research.


Advice for Students Navigating Technology Careers

Drawing on his own experiences, McGahagan encourages students to focus on truly mastering course material rather than simply earning high grades. While grades matter, he emphasizes that deep conceptual understanding is what proves valuable over the long term.

He also advises students to approach internships and early career opportunities with an open mind. Nearly any experience can be worthwhile if it provides meaningful learning and transferable skills. In fast-moving technology fields, staying forward-looking and adaptable can offer a significant advantage.

For students considering graduate school, McGahagan recommends getting involved in research as an undergraduate. Working closely with faculty early on can help students identify meaningful research topics and build skills essential for success in master’s or PhD programs.


Lessons Learned Along the Way

Reflecting on his own career, McGahagan says he wishes he had better appreciated earlier the importance of deep understanding and adaptability. Careers rarely follow a straight or prescribed path, and being open to change, while committing to continuous learning, makes navigating those pivots far more manageable and rewarding.


Published February 9, 2026