Full Stack Software Engineer, Security & Trust Architect
I'm Travis "Mac" McCoy — a full-stack software engineer with a background that doesn't fit neatly into any one box. I build systems that protect people, anticipate misuse, and make technology feel safer, more human, and more honest.
But the path here wasn't linear. It wasn't clean. And it definitely wasn't boring.
This page is the long version — the version for people who want to understand not just what I build, but why I build it.
I started my academic life in the Philosophy–Pre‑Law discipline at Ohio University, studying ethics, logic, political theory, comparative religion, international studies, and foreign languages. I was fascinated by how people make decisions, how systems shape behavior, and how power structures can either protect or harm.
Before that, I spent my junior and senior years of high school taking 72 quarter hours of college coursework at Wright State University — English Composition, a three‑term deep dive into Western Civilization (with an emphasis on nomadic pastoralists and cultural drift), and enough psychology courses to become Vice President of the Psychology Society. I captained the Scholastic Team, appeared on WHIO's High Q five times, competed in Ohio Mock Trial as an attorney, and led a JETS engineering team.
Then life took a turn.
I spent years working in manufacturing — GTI Greenville Technology, KitchenAid/Whirlpool, and Tastemorr Basic Grain — learning quality control, defect logging, inventory systems, and the reality that a single missed defect could cost $10,000 per minute on the Honda line. That pressure taught me precision, accountability, and the value of systems that don't fail silently.
Those lessons would matter later.
Trigger Warning
This section discusses my time working in a prison environment. No graphic detail, but the reality of the work is included.
From 2017 to 2024, I served as a Senior Correctional Officer (COV) with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. It was the hardest job I've ever had — physically, mentally, and ethically.
I supervised housing units of 200+ people, maintained flawless accountability records, and served as an on‑scene Incident Commander for emergencies. I learned to read group dynamics, identify early signs of conflict, and make decisions under pressure that affected hundreds of lives.
And I witnessed things that stay with you:
You don't walk away from that unchanged.
I learned to:
This wasn't theoretical.
This was real‑time threat modeling, behavioral analysis, and risk mitigation under conditions most people will never experience.
And it shaped my entire philosophy around security, privacy, trust, harm reduction, ethical system design, and user protection.
Because I've seen what happens when systems fail the people inside them.
In 2025, I made a decision that changed everything.
At my peak, I weighed 524 pounds. I was exhausted, stressed, and carrying the weight of years spent in high‑stakes environments. With the help of a doctor and nutritionist, I committed to a lower‑carb, sustainable eating plan and started going to the gym 4–5 days a week.
As of my last weigh‑in, I'm at 420 pounds — over a hundred pounds down, with more to go.
This isn't a "before and after" story.
It's a during story. A process. A commitment.
At the same time, I pivoted into tech full‑time.
I completed the Software Engineering Immersive at General Assembly, built multiple full‑stack applications, and rediscovered the part of myself that loves systems, logic, and building things that make people's lives easier.
I founded Sites by Mac, joined VolunQueer as a Junior Developer and Security/Privacy contributor, and began shaping my long‑term path toward Security Architecture, Trust & Safety, and organizational governance.
Because I've seen what happens when systems are designed without thinking about:
I'm the engineer who looks at a single form field and thinks:
"How could this be abused? How do we prevent that? How do we protect the user? How do we protect the organization? And how do we do it without making the experience worse?"
My background in corrections, philosophy, manufacturing, and engineering all converge here.
I build systems that:
This is the work I'm meant to be doing.
Systems fail the vulnerable first. I design to prevent that.
Collect less. Store less. Expose less.
Every feature is a potential attack surface.
If your platform excludes people, it's broken.
Stability is contagious.
People trust what they understand.
Professionally, personally, physically — I'm always in motion.
Next.js, TypeScript, TailwindCSS, Jest • October 2025
Django, PostgreSQL, Python, Bootstrap • August 2025 | Team Lead
Django, PostgreSQL, React, TypeScript • Pre-launch (In Development)
Django, PostgreSQL, React • Under Construction
MERN Stack, JWT Auth, MongoDB • September 2025
Django, HTML5, CSS3, SQLite
Below is the full suite of tools I'm building or planning — each one rooted in a real problem I've witnessed.
A tool to surface community events, free meals, LGBTQ+ meetups, and local resources without relying on algorithms or social media silos.
Why: Community shouldn't require detective work.
A QR‑based silent auction system for schools, theaters, and nonprofits.
Why: Small organizations deserve powerful tools that don't drain their budget.
A modern, audit‑ready equipment checkout and tracking system.
Why: Lost equipment is a financial, operational, and security risk.
A community‑contributed database of scams, fraud tactics, and prevention strategies.
Why: Education is the strongest defense against exploitation.
A gentle, gamified self‑care companion featuring my axolotl mascot.
Why: Mental health tools should feel supportive, not clinical.
Raffles, ticketing, donor tracking, sponsor visibility, analytics.
Why: Grassroots fundraising deserves modern infrastructure.
Privacy‑first symptom trackers, triage assistants, and patient prep tools.
Why: Better patient data → better outcomes.
Many families face a moment where a parent can no longer manage their finances or medical decisions. And suddenly, adult children discover they legally can't access accounts, make payments, request statements, talk to providers, manage benefits, or intervene in emergencies — without the right paperwork.
This is overwhelming even in the best circumstances — and devastating in the worst.
My mom lost her apartment after an "online boyfriend" scammer convinced her to hand over financial information. She couldn't pay rent. She was confused, embarrassed, and vulnerable — and I was suddenly responsible for everything.
My fiancée is living a parallel version of this with her mother: a care facility that doesn't communicate clearly, financial decisions piling up, and the emotional weight of becoming the decision‑maker for someone who once made decisions for her.
Different families. Same problem.
A legal aid bridge that:
Not legal advice — just clarity, structure, and connection.
Because families deserve support. Because elder law shouldn't be a mystery. Because dignity matters — for aging parents and the children who suddenly become caregivers.
Every project I build has the same DNA:
I don't build apps.
I build systems that protect people.
And that's the work I'm here to do.
Remote (Portland, OR) • November 2025–Present
Huntsville, TX • August 2017–November 2024 (7 years)
Greenville, OH • March 2015–June 2017
Greenville, OH • September 2012–January 2015
Coldwater, OH • November 2010–August 2012
General Assembly • New York, NY • August 2025
Ohio University • Athens, OH • 2010
Wright State University • Celina, OH • 2009
Celina High School • Celina, OH • 2009
Self-Directed Learning • 2023–Present
Senior Instructional Team Member • General Assembly
Instructional mentor and professional reference
Instructional Team Member • General Assembly
Instructional mentor and professional reference