Notes from the President: National Cyber Defense Competition IV

AFA members, Congressional Staff members, Civic leaders, DOCA members, The Air Force Association’s CyberPatriot (CP), the nation’s largest high school cyber defense competition, begins a new round of competition (CP-IV) this fall. It is promising to be even bigger and better than the highly successful CP-III, and I appreciate your support in promoting it.

Nearly 200 teams have already registered for CP-IV. California, Texas, and amazingly Hawaii are out in front with 24 teams each. A special thanks to the good work of Nora Ruebrook and the entire team in Hawaii for their superb work in setting the standard for team recruitment!

A complete state-by-state list of current registrations is here: http://www.uscyberpatriot.org/CP4/CP%20IV%20Documents/CP%20IV-Coach_reg.pdf.

Although registration opened just two months ago, we lack only Alaska, Connecticut, Kansas, Maine, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wyoming in having CP-IV registered teams in every state! My personal thanks go to everyone who has brought us this far this fast.

As schools move into their summer breaks, I ask that you continue to promote this important program at every opportunity. I ask you to contact the high school principal in your community to tell him or her CyberPatriot is a proven STEM-enhancing learning tool. I ask you to visit with school district officials to tell them of the thousands of dollars in scholarships the winning teams were awarded by Northrop Grumman in CP-III. And I ask you to visit with your local high school science, math, or technology teacher to tell them of the internships (and jobs) CyberPatriot alumni are already receiving. CyberPatriot works, and all high schools in America will benefit from participating in it. It is important to contact these people now, so their teams can benefit from the full CyberPatriot season as it kicks off in September.

Our full recruiting materials are available here: http://www.uscyberpatriot.org/CP4/CP%20IV%20Documents/Forms/AllItems.aspx.  Our CyberPatriot program office (info@uscyberpatriot.org) is happy to answer questions you might have or to provide written materials. Also, please take a look at (and pass to your friends and associates) the following two excellent recruiting videos that describe this exciting competition:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1fXjlqXIEU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA6JgKazMvw

Although we are proud to be the organization behind this innovative program, CyberPatriot is not about just the Air Force Association. It is about addressing a matter of critical importance to our nation: Stimulating our bright young people to become part of the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics workforce the United States of America desperately needs. With your help we will reach many thousands of youth this year with exactly that message.

We extend our great thanks to Northrop Grumman for being the generous Presenting Sponsor of CyberPatriot, and to Founding Partners SAIC and CIAS. We also owe thanks to our Strategic Partners, AT&T, the Air Force Research Laboratory, Boeing, General Dynamics, Microsoft, and Raytheon for their partnership in helping CyberPatriot grow.

Registration for CyberPatriot IV closes October 8th. Please pass the word!

Mike

Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association