When Jacob Mireles returned home from deployment in Afghanistan and Kuwait last year, he quickly applied to Project QUEST for Rackspace's Open Cloud Academy cyber security track in Information Technology. During the training he ran into financial issues and Project QUEST assisted with a portion of the mortgage and utilities. He went on to successfully complete the program and soon after graduation, was hired by IP Secure where he now works as a Security Control Assessor, testing risks attributable to software and hardware systems.

When asked if he could have completed the training without the help of Project QUEST, Mireles (in photo second from left), said simply, "No."

Over the last four years, more than 550 students have graduated from the Open Cloud Academy, with 72% now employed in IT. With special boot camps like "Linux for Ladies" or the cyber security track in which Mireles participated, QUEST is helping feed local demand for local talent. Said Deborah Carter, senior director of the Open Cloud Academy, "San Antonio has the second-largest cyber security industry in the country, only following Washington DC." She went on to note that Rackspace "looks forward to continued collaboration with Project QUEST."

Rackspace's Open Cloud Academy Celebrates Four Years, KENS Channel 5

Project Quest and Rackspace Train Local Veterans for Cyber Security Jobs, La Prensa San Antonio

Project Quest & Rackspace Collaborate to Train Veterans for Cyber Security Jobs, NowCastSA

Training Vets to Work in Cyber Security, KTSA

Rackspace's Cloud School Adds Cybersecurity Track, Enrolls Veterans, San Antonio Business Journal

Open Cloud Academy Launches Cybersecurity Program for Veterans, Silicon Hills

Linux for Ladies, Rackspace Aims to Bring More Women Into IT, Exconomy