The Unsung Hero Behind Team Atlanta’s AI Cyber Challenge Victory
Every winning team has its unsung hero — and for Team Atlanta, that person was Elijah Mastinu.
While students, faculty, and alumni from Georgia Tech’s School of Cybersecurity and Privacy (SCP) competed in the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s AI Cyber Challenge (AIxCC), Mastinu worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure their path to victory ran smoothly.
Mastinu joined SCP in September 2023 as a temporary staff member and quickly proved himself indispensable. By March 2024, he had been promoted to administrative operations coordinator, a full-time role that placed him at the center of the school’s day-to-day operations.
“Elijah represents the best of both SCP and Georgia Tech,” said Jan Morian, SCP school administrative officer. “He is driven, enthusiastic, thoughtful, and committed to excellence. His work ethic and character exemplify Georgia Tech’s values every day. Elijah makes it his mission to find solutions, act with integrity, and provide excellent service to our students, faculty, and colleagues across campus.”
When Team Atlanta traveled to Las Vegas for AIxCC, Mastinu handled every logistical detail — flights, hotel rooms, meals, transportation, and even the team’s first-place trophy — allowing the group to stay focused on competing.
During the five-day event, he often worked late into the night, coordinating schedules and troubleshooting challenges. It’s uncommon for an academic staff member to travel with faculty and students, but Mastinu’s presence quickly proved invaluable before, during, and after the trip.
The thought and care he brings to his work stand out to both his colleagues and supervisors.
“Elijah goes above and beyond to ensure that those he supports have the information, guidance, and resources needed to carry out Georgia Tech’s mission,” said Regina Anderson, SCP administrative manager II.
“He is eager to learn new things and looks for ways to streamline processes and improve efficiency for the entire admin team. His energy is infectious, and he always has a very positive can-do attitude. He is an integral part of the team, and his work ethic makes us all look good.”
That same dedication earned him the College’s Ruthie Book Outstanding Staff Team Member Award earlier this year and a place in Georgia Tech’s 2024 ASPIRE Leadership Program.
Even with a full workload, Mastinu continues to invest in his professional growth. He is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at Kennesaw State University through the University System of Georgia Tuition Assistance Program (TAP).
