No Result
View All Results
Reserve & National Guard
SUBSCRIBE FREE
No Result
View All Results
Reserve & National Guard
SUBSCRIBE FREE
Reserve & National Guard

General encourages women to explore IT career fields

Bianca Strzalkowski
by Bianca Strzalkowski
January 24, 2020
Brig. Gen. Stefanie Horvath (center) is pinned by her wife Christy and her mother Catherine during her promotion ceremony to brigadier general. Photo by Sgt. Sydney Mariette.

Brig. Gen. Stefanie Horvath (center) is pinned by her wife Christy and her mother Catherine during her promotion ceremony to brigadier general. Photo by Sgt. Sydney Mariette.

A soldier says women are one Google search away from a new career field.  

Brig. Gen. Stefanie Horvath was initially introduced to the idea of building a career in technology after seeing her mother, Catherine, work her way from secretary to IT director at Minot State University.  

“She triggered an idea to do technology because I really hadn’t thought about it while I was at college. It would strike me after college that this is something I liked — I really liked databases, I liked figuring out formulas in Excel, so I took just a little small class — I think it was Office 97 at the time,” she said. “… I found out the Minnesota Army National Guard regional training institute was looking to do automation training and just because of those classes I took, then that was it. My role into technology has not been one of formal education, it’s been one of practitioner and experiential.  

Horvath is pinned with the rank brigadier general by her wife Christy and her mother Catherine in July 2019 in Rosemount, Minnesota.

Horvath, who is the second woman to attain the rank of brigadier general in Minnesota Army National Guard history, enlisted in 1989 in the North Dakota National Guard while she was still in high school. In her youth, she was playing the French horn and performing in orchestras while she figured out who she was and what she wanted to do, though, she says she always knew she would serve.   

“I knew I kind of wanted to serve; the services were appealing for whatever sense of adventures, way to learn, way to kind of expand, and then of course, a way to pay for college. I was really interested in a way to pay for college,” she explained. 

After enlisting, Horvath pursued a commissioning but admits the requirements of opera performances and the officer basic course competed with one another. But she also says there were women leaders who inspired her unknowingly. 

“I have to admit there were some really awesome female officers in North Dakota. Many who have now gone on to great and wonderful things. … They were quietly serving professionals and yet, they were mentors without being told they were mentors. So, yeah, there were some great female officers who were great examples. I think at the time, I was young and just trying to figure out who the heck I was and what I was trying to do,” she said. 

Horvath with her family after her promotion ceremony for the Minnesota National Guard. Photo by Sgt. Sydney Mariette.

Making the case for informal learning 

Computer and information technology occupations are projected to grow by 12% through 2028, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with an annual median wage of $86,320 — nearly triple other industries. Because of her own success with hands-on learning, Horvath is an advocate of informal education programs. 

“There are so many interesting online educational opportunities, from YouTube videos to CYBRARY — an amazing, online institute that will teach you every programming language, everything you need to know to be a SOC analyst; there are so many opportunities that women can just try out and see if they like it and if they like it, great keep going; and if they don’t like it, then that’s OK too and try something else,” she explained. 

She adds that women, in particular, have skills that make a great fit for IT. 

“The thing is that sometimes women don’t believe they have amazing logic and analysis skills, and that really is at the heart of programming. Programming is very logical; you know there’s input, there’s processing and there’s output. And women have tremendous logic and they can bring that sort of competency or cognitive ability to logical thinking,” she said. “Technology is so much more than sitting in front of a computer and writing a thousand lines of code.” 

For women looking to explore this career path, Horvath recommends connecting with women-in-tech clubs and associations along with platforms like GitHub. 

Read comments
Tags: Brig. Gen. Stefanie HorvathBureau of Labor StatisticsCYBRARYGitHubinformation technologyITMinnesota Army National GuardMinot State UniversityNorth Dakota National Guard
Bianca Strzalkowski

Bianca Strzalkowski

Bianca Strzalkowski has more than 10 years of experience in storytelling. Her portfolio includes interviews with former Secretary of Defense Gen. James Mattis, Air Force Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown, “Shark Tank” CEO Daymond John, and countless elected and military leaders. Bianca holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and journalism. She resides near Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, with her husband and two children. She is a member of the Military Reporters & Editors Association.

Related Posts

Reserve airman named First Sergeant of the Year for bridging leadership shortfalls 

by Maggie BenZvi
2 weeks ago
0
first sergeant of the year

When Senior Master Sgt. Mercedes Suber stepped up to bridge a first sergeant shortfall in the Air Force Reserve’s 512th...

Read more

Veteran student juggling act: Balancing school, work, and life 

by U.S. Military Publishing, LLC
1 month ago
0
veteran student

There’s no such thing as a traditional veteran student. Every vet that steps into a classroom in the real world...

Read more

Army Reserve’s critical role in restoring the Army’s Caisson Detachment

by U.S. Military Publishing, LLC
1 month ago
0
U.S. Army Reserve Maj. (Dr.) Moira Roberts examines Perseus, one of the horses in the U.S. Army's Caisson Detachment. Roberts, an equine veterinarian, was part of the team brought to Virginia in 2024 to oversee the care and treatment of the horses. Photo by Russell Toof

From charging into battle, to transporting supplies and personnel, horses have played a key role in the Army’s history. As...

Read more

Ohio Air Guard recruiter hits enlistment milestone with 700th recruit

by Hans Muller
1 month ago
0
air guard recruiter

Over the past decade, military enlistments have trended downward, but you can’t blame Ohio Air National Guard Master Sgt. Todd...

Read more

Harter: ‘Historically unprecedented responsibility’ to deliver combat-ready soldiers

by Bianca Strzalkowski
2 months ago
0
Lt. Gen. Robert Harter speaks with soldiers at the Pentagon. Photo by Trish Alegre-Smith

The Chief of Army Reserve (CAR) said his mantra when speaking to active-duty soldiers is “you go, we go.” The...

Read more

Connecticut NG promotes state’s first female command chief warrant officer

by Kari Williams
2 months ago
0
Connecticut National Guard appoints first female Command Chief Warrant Officer

Stephanie Richard joined the Connecticut National Guard more than three decades ago for the education benefits. Since then, she has...

Read more

Let's get social

The RNG Drill

News delivered directly to your inbox

Let's connect!

ABOUT US

  • OUR STORY
  • OUR TEAM
  • OUR WRITERS

MAGAZINE

  • GET PRINT
  • GET DIGITAL
  • GET THE NEWSLETTER

ADVERTISE

  • GET OUR MEDIA KIT
  • CFC/NONPROFITS

SUBMISSIONS

  • SUBMIT YOUR STORY
  • PITCH US

Never miss out on the latest stories.

© 2023 Reserve & National Guard by U.S. Military Publishing. Privacy Policy | Terms | Site by Swiss Commerce

Thank you for your interest in The Reserve & National Guard Magazine!

Thank you for your interest in The Reserve & National Guard Magazine!

No Result
View All Results
  • NEWS
  • YOUR CAREER
    • UNIT TRAINING
    • DEPLOYMENT
    • PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
    • RECRUITING & RETENTION
    • ENTREPRENEUR
    • TRANSITION
  • EDUCATION
  • MILITARY LIFE
    • MILITARY SPOUSES
    • MILITARY KIDS
    • PARENTING
  • OFF DUTY
    • ENTERTAINMENT
    • TRAVEL
  • HEALTH
    • FITNESS
    • MEDICINE
    • MENTAL HEALTH
  • SPORTS
  • OPINION
  • HISTORY
  • MONEY
    • PERSONAL FINANCE
    • BENEFITS
  • GET THE MAGAZINE
    • PRINT MAGAZINES
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINES
    • GET THE NEWSLETTER
  • ABOUT US
    • MEET OUR TEAM
    • OUR AUTHORS
    • ADVERTISE WITH US
    • SUBMIT YOUR STORY
    • PITCH US
    • CONTACT

© 2024 Reserve & National Guard by U.S. Military Publishing. Site by SCBW

No Result
View All Results
  • NEWS
  • YOUR CAREER
    • UNIT TRAINING
    • DEPLOYMENT
    • PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
    • RECRUITING & RETENTION
    • ENTREPRENEUR
    • TRANSITION
  • EDUCATION
  • MILITARY LIFE
    • MILITARY SPOUSES
    • MILITARY KIDS
    • PARENTING
  • OFF DUTY
    • ENTERTAINMENT
    • TRAVEL
  • HEALTH
    • FITNESS
    • MEDICINE
    • MENTAL HEALTH
  • SPORTS
  • OPINION
  • HISTORY
  • MONEY
    • PERSONAL FINANCE
    • BENEFITS
  • GET THE MAGAZINE
    • PRINT MAGAZINES
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINES
    • GET THE NEWSLETTER
  • ABOUT US
    • MEET OUR TEAM
    • OUR AUTHORS
    • ADVERTISE WITH US
    • SUBMIT YOUR STORY
    • PITCH US
    • CONTACT

© 2024 Reserve & National Guard by U.S. Military Publishing. Site by SCBW