CyberPatriot V’s All Service Division Completes First Round of Competition

CyberPatriot V – National High School Cyber Defense Competition has completed the first round of competition for its All Service Division, which consists of teams from Junior ROTC, Civil Air Patrol and the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps. During Friday and Saturday, November 2 – 3, competitors were scored on how well they strengthened their assigned simulated computer systems by finding and fixing security issues. The round was also the inaugural run of the new CyberPatriot Competition System (CCS), a new cyber training model. For the first time teams could receive real-time feedback of their scores along with a report of the scored problems they correctly solved.

More than 350 CyberPatriot teams competed online from the United States and as far away as the Department of Defense Dependents Schools in Germany, Japan, and Korea. Civil Air Patrol’s (CAP) Iredell Composite Squadron, from Statesville, North Carolina, was the first team to compete at 9:00 am, Friday morning. Misawa Air Base, Japan’s Robert D. Edgren High School’s Junior ROTC unit was the final team to compete on the system. 

This new system allows for more detailed feedback to the competitors that will enhance the educational value of the competition. Each year we work to advance the experience of our competitors. We think these capabilities in the new system will be a true asset in the preliminary rounds and further help develop career- and college-ready young adults. 

(More about CyberPatriot is available at www.uscyberpatriot.org.)

National High School Cyber Security Competition Draws 1,200+ Teams, Reaches All 50 States

AFA's CyberPatriot–the National High School Cyber Defense Competition--has drawn 1,225 teams as registration official closed last week. The competition has teams representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Department of Defense Dependent Schools in both Europe and the Pacific, and Canada.

CyberPatriot is the nation’s largest and fastest growing high school cyber security challenge. Its unique structure provides students hands-on learning while competing virtually against their peers and introduces many to the idea of cyber security as a profession. CyberPatriot helps to prepare college- and career-ready students with not just technical skills, but also invaluable experience in teamwork, leadership, and critical-thinking.

CyberPatriot also offers support and technical expertise from industry leaders, including CyberPatriot’s presenting sponsor the Northrop Grumman Foundation.

"We simply must attract more bright young students to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and we believe we have hit on a unique way of doing that through an exciting high school cyber competition,” said Bernie Skoch, CyberPatriot Commissioner. “CyberPatriot is a great opportunity, with its reach, to promote STEM education and careers to today's youth in America. It's an amazing competition that is accessible to all, especially the many disadvantaged youth, giving participants a new venue for academic and personal growth."

Students of LAUSD assemble at the computer center at Cal Poly for a briefing

Teams are now gearing up for the first preliminary online round of competition, which begins November 2 for the All Service Division and November 16 for the Open Division. The competition is powered by SAIC’s CyberNEXS, which allows hundreds of teams across the country to compete at one time. Once the preliminaries begin, teams compete online to identify and solve vulnerabilities in simulated computer networks. The top teams compete again in two additional online rounds to determine 26 finalist teams who win all-expenses-paid trips to Washington, D.C. and the National Finals Competition in Washington, D.C. in March 2013.

See if your local high school, CAP or Sea Cadet unit is represented CyberPatriot V Registration >>
 
Make sure you follow CyberPatriot throughout the year!

New CyberPatriot Video! Registration for CPIV Now Open!

CyberPatriot, is gearing up for its new season! Registration for CyberPatriot IV is now open, inviting students from ALL U.S. high schools or accredited home school programs to participate in this exciting competition while space is still available. (Registration ends October 8, 2011.)

 

CyberPatriot was created to inspire high school students toward careers in cyber security or other science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. It offers valuable skills for students, providing hands-on learning about technology and cyber defense, emphasizing teamwork and leadership, and exercising skills in problem-solving and critical thinking. But most importantly, it’s fun!

Pass this on to your local schools, and start forming teams in your area today! LEARN MORE!

Governor of New Jersey Recognizes CyberPatriot Champions

CyberPatriot III officially ended April 1, where the top scorers of each division were annoucned and awarded. But the winners continue to get recognized throughout their home states.

Governor Chris Christie, of New Jersey, congratulated “Team Mantrap” of Red Bank Regional High School on Twitter yesterday for being crowned the CyberPatriot III Open Division National Champions.

Out of an original 186 Open Division registrants, “Team Mantrap” (Mantrap is an industrial term in cyber security parlance) was the top scorer in their division, which was comprised of students from public, private, parochial and home schools not associated with any military organization (i.e., Junior ROTC and Civil Air Patrol).

“Congrats to team Mantrap at Red Bank Regional High for becoming CyberPatriot III national champions,” the governor said via Twitter, April 14, 2011. “Keep up the good work.”

To read more about “Team Mantrap,” click here.

Registration for CyberPatriot IV is now open! For more information, check out www.uscyberpatriot.org.

CyberFutures Conference!

AFA's newest conference is now only three weeks away!

The CyberFutures Conference and Technology Exposition is to be held march 31 - April 1, at the Gaylord National Hotel in National Harbor, Maryland -- just minutes from downtown D.C.

We have a great line-up, with an acclaimed author, the Google VP, former presidential advisers, and military leadership all going to be present.

AFA’s CyberFutures Conference boasts some of the nation’s top IT and cyber leaders from industry, government and the military. Speakers will share their thoughts and strategies for managing the pronounced new challenges the cyber domain presents to every organization. Attendees will learn about the risks and vulnerabilities associated with operating in a cyber world full of hackers and technological complexities, as well as how to mitigate those risks.

Here's a sneak peek at some of our speakers:
Richard A. Clarke, author of a #1 New York Times bestseller and the 2010 novel Cyber War, will be among the conference’s speakers. Having served the last three presidents as a senior White House advisor, Clarke is an internationally-recognized expert on security, including homeland security, national security, cyber security and counterterrorism.

Melissa Hathaway, a senior advisor at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center, served as Director of the Joint Interagency Cyber Task Force in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence under the Bush Administration. Under the Obama Administration, Hathaway was named the Acting Senior Director for Cyberspace in the National Security Council.

Vinton Cerf is the vice president and Chief Internet Evangelist for Google. Widely known as a "Father of the Internet," he is the co-designer with Robert Kahn of the basic architecture of the Internet.

Gordon Snow is the assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Cyber-crime Division. As part of the FBI’s top cyber division, Snow is on the front lines of federal efforts to prevent cyber crime, espionage and potential online terrorist activity.
In a panel discussion, military leadership from different branches will discuss challenges associated with defending the military network.

For a full list of speakers, go here.

As part of CyberFutures, AFA has teamed up with RecruitMilitary to produce a career fair on April 1, where leading aerospace/defense firms will recruit for cyber tech openings. The career fair will be free, and open to all - veterans and non-veterans - who are interested in careers in cyber technology and related fields.

In conjunction with the conference, CyberPatriot III, AFA’s national high school cyber defense competition, will be conducting its championship round for this year’s challenge. After six exciting months of preliminary rounds, the competition will culminate on April 1 with an award banquet for top winners in each division.

Register now at http://registration.afa.org/events/cb2011reghome.aspx!

2011 Annual Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando

Earlier this week, we announced our 27th Annual Air Warfare Symposium, to be held in Orlando, Florida. Our winter symposium has a great list of speakers already scheduled, so don't forget to plan early for the opportunity to explore air warfare with senior Air Force leadership.

This year's Air Warfare Symposium and Technology Exposition will be Feb. 17 – 18, at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel. Scheduled speakers include the top echelon in Air Force leadership, including Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley, Chief of Staff of the Air Force General Norton A. Schwartz and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James A. Roy. The symposium will include topics and discussions that adhere to this year’s theme, “Resetting the Force for the Future.”

Scheduled Speakers:

* Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley
* Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, Chief of Staff of the Air Force
* Gen. Duncan J. McNabb, Commander, U.S. Transportation Command
* Gen. William M. Fraser, Commander, Air Combat Command
* Gen. Craig McKinley, Chief, National Guard Bureau
* Gen. Donald J. Hoffman, Commander, Air Force Materiel Command
* Gen Gary L. North, Commander, Pacific Air Forces
* Gen Edward A. Rice, Commander, Air Education and Training Command
* Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James Roy
* Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner, Chief of Air Force Reserve
* Lt. Gen. Harry Wyatt, Director, Air National Guard

Exhibits highlighting aerospace technology and education, sponsored by leading aerospace companies, will be on display as part of the Technology Exposition.

The Symposium will also be held in conjunction with the semifinals of the All Service Division of CyberPatriot, AFA’s education initiative designed to increase students’ awareness in cyber security and technology. Results from this round of competition will determine which six teams compete for the Commander-in-Chief Cup and scholarships at the finals on April 1 – 2 in Washington, D.C.

Over the next few weeks, look for additional speakers, upcoming scheduling specifics and other information updates at www.AFA.org.