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Alumni Success Story: William Hand '14

William Hand remembers meals in the TFS dining hall. As a boarding student, Hand shared his evening meals with other boarders, but there was something unique about those meals. “When we sat down for dinner, and there were 12 cultures represented around the same table,” said Hand. For Hand, this is what TFS was all about. 

“The biggest impact the boarding experience had on me was the cultural and international exposure that it offered,” he said. “A lot of people don’t get to see other cultures, norms, or how people speak and act.” But for Hand, life at TFS was all about interacting with people from all over the world and learning their languages. Through that, he gained a unique perspective that he carried with him into his life. 

In 2014, after graduating from TFS, Hand pursued a degree in cybersecurity and leadership at the University of North Georgia, and he enlisted in the Army. “I was a cadet in the ROTC program at UNG,” he said. “It was a full-time commitment while I was there.” In August 2019, Hand graduated from UNG and was commissioned as an officer in the Georgia National Guard. His mobilizations range from training with the Moroccan military, working with international groups when Sweden joined NATO, and offering humanitarian aid during hurricane and COVID relief efforts.

Through the cultural experiences Hand had at TFS, he felt prepared for international work with the military. He was ready to interact with different cultures throughout the world. Today, Hand is a First Lieutenant in the GA ANG, serving as a field artillery officer. As a civilian, Hand is a senior cybersecurity operations engineer with a CISSP certification.

In his free time, Hand enjoys many outdoor activities, especially hiking. “I go hiking whenever I can,” he said. Hand likes to stay busy. He started a business creating leather goods. And most recently, he married the love of his life, Serena.