Martin and Michael Roberts, alumni of the University of Central Florida (UCF), continue to play an active role in supporting the university’s cybersecurity competition teams after graduation. The identical twins are known for their achievements as members of Hack@UCF, UCF’s Collegiate Cyber Defense Club, and now contribute by mentoring current students.
Both brothers have translated their collegiate experiences into careers focused on protecting critical infrastructure. Martin leads security engineering at Fountain, a workforce management company, while Michael manages cybersecurity efforts at Abbott Diabetes Care.
Michael said his ongoing interest in cybersecurity is rooted in its broader impact: “I stayed interested in cybersecurity because it was also about safeguarding people, privacy and trust. That sense of purpose in protecting people is what has kept me motivated. I am now responsible for protecting medical devices, some of the technology people most rely on in their everyday lives.”
Their time at UCF helped define their career paths. Through Hack@UCF, they gained technical skills and participated in national competitions. In 2019, Lockheed Martin contributed to the creation of the Innovation Cyber Lab at UCF’s Engineering I building—a dedicated practice space that supports student teams.
“UCF gave us the space to experiment, to fail and to grow. The university’s investment in cybersecurity infrastructure and student-led initiatives made it possible for us to compete — and win — on a national level,” Michael said. “Not every university is willing to dedicate space and resources for a team to compete, so I am grateful to UCF for doing so.”
The brothers also credited Tom Nedorost, Hack@UCF’s faculty advisor since its founding in 2013, with supporting students’ growth through coaching and mentorship.
“UCF participating in these competitions is only possible because of the dedication from our team’s faculty advisor, Dr. Nedorost,” Martin said. “These competitions helped me advance my skillset, gain real-world experience and make connections across the industry.”
Now working professionally, Michael continues his involvement by recruiting other Hack@UCF alumni at Abbott Diabetes Care. He noted that former competitors bring both technical expertise and teamwork skills: “They’ve been battle-tested in competitions, but they also know how to work in teams, communicate risk and adapt quickly,” he said. “They know how to follow a playbook and how to innovate when a playbook doesn’t work. It’s difficult to teach that initiative and resourcefulness, so we look to hire those who already have it.”
Both brothers remain engaged with UCF as alumni mentors.
“It’s important to stay involved in this way, and I recommend this to more alumni,” Martin said. He stressed that hands-on experiences like cyber competitions are essential for students aiming for success beyond academics: “The students that excel are the ones that dedicate the most time to bettering themselves and the people around them,” he said.
Michael echoed this commitment: “I will continue to give back to the program and help it improve, and I hope more alumni do the same.” He remains optimistic about Hack@UCF’s future: “Our best days of C3 aren’t behind us; they are in front of us,” he said.
