Alumni Profile: Alex Gibson ’96

Alex Gibson ’96 serves as Co-Founder & Principal of GS Consulting — a cybersecurity and software development firm providing services to the Department of Defense. He is also a member of the Loyola Blakefield Board of Trustees and serves as Chair of the Enrollment Management Committee. After graduating from Loyola, Alex earned a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering at Bucknell University. He and his wife Caitlin currently reside in Ruxton with their five children: Owen (13), Wes (12), Jake (9), Foster (7), and Zeke (3). We recently had the opportunity to catch up with Alex to learn more about his Loyola experience and his continued involvement with the school.

In what ways have you remained tied to Loyola over the years?

I've remained connected through seeing, emailing, and texting friends from the Class of ‘96. I see local acquaintances in some of the surrounding years, as a parent, through outside activities, and through the Board of Trustees. I've really had positive experiences through all my interactions with fellow Dons over the last 25 years.

What are some of the experiences that stand out from your time as a student?

I remember spending a lot of time in the old cafeteria and on the old outdoor basketball courts during free periods. That free period time was very memorable in just being a young middle and high school kid. The school rules and policies were tough but fair, and the faculty and staff created an environment that was somewhat stress-free, which made for a great experience on a daily basis. I played a couple of years of soccer in high school and played lacrosse throughout. Coming to Loyola, I was new to team sports, and I really appreciate the platform given by the sports programs in that if you had passion and were willing to work hard, then you were given the opportunity to grow as an athlete and a teammate.

Where did your studies take you after graduation?

I attended Bucknell University and felt very prepared to begin my college career as an engineering student and athlete (lacrosse). Although managing the two may have been tough, I never really felt that the jump to an environment like that was too big based on the preparation Loyola provided. Prior to my time at Loyola, I did not play enough team sports to feel that sports would be part of my path, and I did not appear to be on a path towards a college engineering program, so I give a lot of credit to Loyola in helping me build skills to succeed in those areas.

As the parent of a current Loyola Don (and with another entering this fall), how has this experience helped connect you to your own time at Loyola?

I can appreciate what Loyola does for boys and young men as a parent where I was not able to see this as a student. I look back at some of the missteps while learning to become an adult, and I'm happy to see how Loyola handles and understands these things in developing young men. In my experience, the technical profession has been a meritocracy, and I feel that Loyola fosters the same type of environment. No one’s fate is predestined, and every student can make their mark in a way they choose. I’m eager to witness this from a parent perspective as my boys progress through Loyola.

Is there a teacher, coach, or mentor who had a special impact on you?

It’s hard to identify just one. Looking back, I have so much more of an appreciation for how teachers and coaches at the school embrace the fact that outside of what is being taught, their support of developing young men through the good and bad is very fair and level-headed.

How has your role as a Trustee brought you closer to the mission of the school?

A big objective of Loyola’s Jesuit education is developing men for others, so serving on the Board allows me to give back to the organization that is a big part of my story. I enjoy being on the Board and witnessing the different perspectives and meeting fellow alumni across decades. In many ways, I feel fortunate that my profession also aligns with some exciting programming and career choices to which today’s students have access.