Carter Rahn, a 2025 NMU information assurance/cyber defense grad with a concentration in computer science, secured a position as a virtualization systems engineer with Fortune 500 company Ally in Detroit. In his position, he oversees extensive virtual environments, designs and maintains systems that support critical business functions, and ensures that systems run smoothly.
My role also involves capacity planning, disaster recovery considerations, automation improvements, and collaborating with other engineering teams to implement infrastructure changes safely,” Rahn said. “It is equal parts architecture, troubleshooting, and forward planning. When systems run smoothly, it means thousands of users and critical applications can operate without disruption.'
Hailing from New Baltimore, Mich., Rahn originally started working for the NMU Help Desk as a student. Driven by his interest in computer science, he cultivated skills at his job as well as in the classroom, which helped him to acquire a role at Ally.
For Rahn, NMU shaped his outlook and drive to achieve his goals, forcing him to step out of his comfort zone and take pride in his work.
“The hands-on technical labs at NMU were huge for me,” he said. “Building environments from scratch, configuring servers, working with networking concepts and diving into cybersecurity fundamentals created a strong systems-level understanding. Virtualization engineering requires knowing how everything connects under the hood, and NMU helped build that foundation.
“Equally important were the problem-solving expectations. Professors pushed us to figure things out instead of waiting for answers. That mindset translates directly into enterprise engineering. In production environments, you cannot panic. You analyze, test, verify and resolve.”
Rahn attributes his success to several faculty members, mentioning that many pushed him and other students to be intentional about their work, apply classroom teaching to real-world scenarios, and be persistent in times of uncertainty.
The foundation Rahn built at NMU continues to guide him in high-pressure enterprise environments where precision and reliability are essential. He reflected on his student experience, stating that moments outside of the classroom were often as important as those within it.
“My experience at NMU shaped me socially just as much as academically. The friendships I built there are still part of my life today. Some of my closest friends came from late night study sessions, campus events, and spontaneous trips around Marquette. Those shared experiences created bonds that lasted well beyond graduation. I also stay connected with professors who invested in me, and that mentorship still means a lot.
“One lesson I carry with me is the importance of taking care of the environment around you. Living and studying in Marquette makes that impossible to ignore. When you are surrounded by forests, trails, and Lake Superior, you learn quickly that respect for nature is not optional. It becomes part of your routine and your mindset.”
For more information about NMU's Information Assurance/Cyber Defense program, go to: https://nmu.edu/business/cyberdefense.