Akshat Dharmesh Patel
Senior IT Security and Support Specialist
IT Security, Compliance, and Support Services
- Vulnerability Management & Threat Remediation
- Security Compliance & Internal Audits
- System Hardening & Secure Data Handling
- IT Support & End-User Assistance
Akshat Patel joined the Maryland Athletics IT team in the summer of 2024 as an Information Security and IT Support Intern before transitioning into his current full-time role as Senior IT Security and Support Specialist. In this role, he focuses on strengthening the Athletics’ security posture by reviewing vulnerability scan reports, validating findings through manual testing, and remediating risks using industry best practices to ensure data confidentiality, integrity, and availability remain intact.
Besides security operations, Akshat supports day-to-day IT service requests, conducts internal security audits, and assists with ensuring regulatory compliance across Athletics systems.
Akshat holds a Master of Engineering in Cybersecurity from the University of Maryland, where he gained hands-on experience in threat detection, incident response, and secure infrastructure design - skills he now applies to support Maryland Athletics’ mission securely and efficiently.
When he’s not buried in certifications or around his computer, Akshat enjoys long walks, cycling, and playing badminton. He also has a keen interest in the Indian stock market and spends time analyzing trends for swing trades.