USD Magazine Spring 2026

The veterans center plays a practical and personal role in his life — helping coordinate his VA education benefits and housing allowance, while also offering mentorship, networking lunches and a place to connect. “You can always knock on their door, and they’re there for you,” he said. That welcoming feeling extends across Alcalá Park. “At USD, the professors genuinely care, and every conversation feels meaningful. Even on days I don’t have class, I still want to be on campus,” he said. Kurdi hopes to convert a summer internship at American Express into a full time cybersecurity role after he graduates in December. After that, he wants to earn advanced certifications and eventually pursue a PhD. His long-term goal is to launch his own cyber consulting firm. “I don’t want to stop,” he said. “Even when I’m working full time, I want to keep learning.”

Kurdi taught himself English through music and movies, and got a scholarship to American University in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. When the U.S. military returned to Iraq, he left college to work as a translator for U.S. forces fighting ISIS, using his Arabic, Kurdish and English language skills. That paved the way for him to immigrate to the U.S. in 2019. When he first arrived, the nonprofit No One Left Behind helped him settle into his new life. He soon enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving for four years as an infantryman, mostly at Camp Pendleton, with a tour in Japan. Today, he volunteers with No One Left Behind, supporting newly arrived Iraqi immigrants as they begin their own transitions. After finishing his undergraduate degree online, he knew a master’s in cybersecurity engineering was next — and he didn’t want to leave San Diego. Now

30, Kurdi brings his perspectives shaped by war, immigration and military service to his grad program and the larger USD community. “I think my life experience helps me a lot in grad school. I’ve worked in high-pressure environments, I’ve been in combat zones, I’ve had to adapt to new cultures and start over from scratch,” said Kurdi. “Because of that, in some situations I’m the mentor, but I’m always learning.” On campus, Kurdi has embraced a range of opportunities. Through USD Outdoor Adventures, he has gone camping and rock climbing — experiences he’d never tried before despite his love for outdoor activities. And he’s also a regular at Graduate Life’s biweekly bagel breakfasts. “I’ve made so many friends there,” he said. “Law students, MBAs, people from all over the world. We sit down, have coffee and just talk.”

Azad Kurdi

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