Tyler Bullard’s Path to IT Education and Cybersecurity

Just a few years ago, Tyler Bullard’s life looked very different. Before joining the faculty at Cape Fear Community College, Bullard worked as an arborist in the forestry industry and spent years working outdoors until a workplace accident in 2020 changed the direction of his career.

The accident led to months of recovery at a neurological and spinal cord injury facility in Atlanta. For nine months, Bullard worked to regain function and adjust to a new reality.

“It taught me a lot,” Bullard said. “I learned a lot about perseverance through pain, and it set me up to succeed when I got back home.”

Rebuilding After Injury

When he returned home, Bullard knew he needed to find a different career path. He had always enjoyed computers and problem-solving.

“I love doing puzzles and piecing together things with bits of information,” he said. “That’s kind of the way my mind works.”

In 2022, Bullard enrolled in CFCC’s Information Technology program and knew he had found the right fit.

“I loved the college location here, and all my teachers were wonderful, great advisors,” he said. “It was an awesome experience.”

Bullard began working as a tutor in the Learning Lab before transitioning into a work-study role tutoring students in the Information Technology department.

In 2024, he graduated with an associate degree in information technology and a diploma in software development. Today, he is continuing his education at UNCW, where he is pursuing a bachelor’s degree with a concentration in cybersecurity and a minor in data science.

Stepping into the Classroom as an Instructor

Bullard began teaching part-time in spring 2025 before joining the department full-time this past fall. This year marked the completion of his first academic year as an instructor.

For Bullard, teaching at the same college where he was recently a student provides a unique perspective.

“I kind of understand what the students are going through,” he said. “I’m willing to work with students, and it’s not so black-and-white,” he said.

That approach has resonated with students, earning him positive feedback throughout his first year in the classroom.

Staying Connected to the Field

Outside of teaching, Bullard remains active in the cybersecurity field. At UNCW, he participates in cyber defense competitions where teams work to secure simulated computer networks against threats. He has also helped revive CFCC’s Cybersecurity Club, which welcomed new members this past semester.

Recently, Bullard partnered with a fellow CFCC alumnus to launch Cape Fear Cybersecurity Consultation, a business focused on helping small- and medium-sized businesses strengthen their cybersecurity practices.

Still, it is teaching that continues to energize him the most.

“It’s exciting to see incoming students get interested in the field and to watch that moment when something clicks as I’m explaining how things work in practice,” Bullard said. “I’m sold on this as a career.”

To learn more about CFCC’s Information Technology program, visit cfcc.edu/information-technology. To learn more about CFCC’s Cyber Crime Technology program, visit cfcc.edu/cyber-crime-technology.