UConn Student Launches Cybersecurity Firm for Small Business

Justin Fargo, a 19-year-old University of Connecticut student, has launched a cybersecurity and compliance firm to help small- and medium-sized businesses become U.S. Government contractors. His Griswold-based company, Ironhead, has already served about 10 clients, ranging from machine shops to construction firms.

Fargo, who has completed four internships at defense contractor Lockheed Martin, says his work simplifies a complex process. "I pay a lot of attention to detail and explain to my clients what is needed in 'human' language," he says. He reviews government cybersecurity requirements, documents compliance gaps, and then clients can work with their IT providers to make changes. Fargo states there are typically more than 100 requirements to meet for government clearance.

From Family Tech Support to Founder

Fargo traces his interest in technology to age three, recalling playing with his grandfather's computer. He attended Windham Technical High School, where he won first place in Lockheed Martin's CYBERQUEST competition against other Connecticut high school students. He also took third place nationally in a SkillsUSA Technical Computer Applications competition.

He credits his family's entrepreneurial background-both grandfathers owned businesses-and a former teacher, Ron Boling, for giving him the confidence to start his company. Fargo is currently majoring in economics but has applied to transfer to UConn's School of Business.

A Practical Solution for Small Contractors

One client is Advanced Enclosure Consulting in Charlotte, North Carolina. CEO Charlie O'Connor needed National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) approval to protect controlled, unclassified information for Department of Defense contracts. O'Connor's son, a UConn student, recommended Fargo, calling him "the smartest guy I know."

O'Connor says hiring a large cybersecurity firm would have been cost-prohibitive. "Justin did a great job. He delivered everything on time, and his deliverables were easy to understand," O'Connor stated. He notes that companies are recruiting young people who have a natural predisposition for the fast-moving field of cybersecurity.

Addressing a Professional Shortage

Professor Stephen Fitzgerald, academic director of the Analytics and Information Management (AIM) program at UConn's School of Business, says students with Fargo's skills are in high demand. "There is a massive shortage of security professionals, and the opportunity for information security-related roles is only increasing," Fitzgerald says.

He adds that understanding technology risk is a key focus of the AIM major, as technology serves as the backbone of most businesses but also creates vulnerability. Fargo himself says his internships at Lockheed Martin helped him understand customer needs and how the business world works, pairing that perspective with his technical knowledge.

Fargo, who is also an avid motorcyclist and fisherman, encourages other students not to wait. "I really think people should know that just because you’re a college student and you have a lot of obligations, you can still take risks," he says.