Student Profile
Jessica Moore
Division Chief, Strategic Communications & Global Engagement , Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS)
U.S. Army
Class of 2024
“Graduating from the NYU MS in Cybersecurity Risk and Strategy program has fundamentally transformed how I approach the topic of cybersecurity.”
As Strategic Communications Division Chief for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), a civilian federal law enforcement agency within the U.S. Department of the Navy, Jessica Moore oversees the Office of Global Engagement, whose mission is to forge alliances with global partners to combat transnational threats. “It’s a role that demands cultural sensitivity, emotional intelligence, and a deep understanding of the human factors at play,” she said, a skillset she traces back to her undergraduate forensic psychology, criminal justice, and theater classes at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
That cross-disciplinary training, however, needed time to marinate. First, having lived through the events of 9/11 as a New Yorker, Moore, a first-generation immigrant, felt the call to enlist in the U.S. military. “I remember watching the horror unfold on that fateful day, feeling a mix of shock, anger, and an overwhelming sense that I had to do something. It lit a fire in me that still burns to this day.”
A decade in the Army underscored Moore’s determination to make a difference. She recalled, “While serving in the military and later as a private sector professional, I saw firsthand how much we needed more women in leadership roles, regardless of the field but especially in law enforcement and national security. Women bring a unique perspective to the table. We approach problems differently, often with a level of emotional intelligence that can be game-changing. As I progressed in my career, I found myself drawn to cases involving national security and threats to our homeland.” She joined NCIS in 2014 as a special agent.
As threats to cybersecurity have proliferated and her responsibilities increased, Moore sought out the NYU MSCRS program, especially because of its accessibility to individuals without a cyber background. “The program’s interdisciplinary approach, combining technology, law, and policy, fosters progressive thinking and a proactive stance towards cyber matters—something I find most useful in a federal law enforcement environment. I feel better equipped to lead and coordinate cyber defense efforts within my agency and across sectors.”
Moore considers the MSCRS program “a one-of-a-kind learning environment,” bringing together a diverse group of professionals from around the world. “Graduating from the NYU MS in Cybersecurity Risk and Strategy program has fundamentally transformed how I approach the topic of cybersecurity. The program has encouraged me to think about cyber issues through a future-focused and innovative lens. I appreciated most how the program integrates systems thinking, emphasizing the interconnectedness of cyber threats and defenses, which helped me understand and anticipate the complex cyber challenges we face as a society.”