AFA's CyberPatriot Program Receives Support from the Department of Homeland Security

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 8, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Air Force Association's CyberPatriot program announced today a new sponsorship from the Department of Homeland Security at the Cyber Diamond level. With the support of DHS, CyberPatriot will continue its growth as the National Youth Cyber Education Program.

Registration for the sixth CyberPatriot competition season closes on October 10, 2013. With over 1,200 teams registered in all fifty states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada, and DoD schools in Japan, South Korea, Germany, and Italy, CyberPatriot VI is shaping up to be another season of growth and excitement. This season of the CyberPatriot National Cyber Defense Competition will also serve as a pilot program for 100 middle school teams to test their cyber skills.

"Thanks to the support of the Department of Homeland Security and our other sponsors, CyberPatriot continues to extend the reach of its program to new schools and regions across the country," said Bernie Skoch, CyberPatriot Commissioner. "We are committed to increasing the diversity of our teams by focusing our recruitment efforts on females and underrepresented minorities. The mission of our program is to inspire our younger generations to explore cybersecurity and STEM fields in their academic and professional careers, and we look forward to working with DHS to continue our efforts."

"We understand that one of the key security challenges facing leaders now and into the future will be training a robust workforce with the technical skills to protect the nation's infrastructure," said Mr. Robin "Montana" Williams, Branch Chief – Cybersecurity Education & Awareness at US Department of Homeland Security. "DHS is committed to helping students succeed in school, their careers, and in life. With that in mind, we are pleased to provide the assistance to contribute to the excitement and momentum of CyberPatriot as it makes a significant and positive impact on the future of cybersecurity."

CyberPatriot is presented by the Northrop Grumman Foundation, with founding partners SAIC and the CIAS at the University of Texas-San Antonio. Other sponsors include Cyber Diamond Sponsors AT&T Federal, Cisco, Microsoft, Raytheon, and USA Today; Cyber Gold Sponsors URS, Splunk, and Symantec; and Cyber Silver Sponsors Air Force Research Laboratory, Embry-Riddle University, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, and University of Maryland University College.

More information is available at www.uscyberpatriot.org or from the CyberPatriot staff at [email protected]. Be sure to register your team before the October 10^th deadline to be a part of CyberPatriot VI!

The Air Force Association is a non-profit, independent, professional military and aerospace education association. Our mission is to promote a dominant United States Air Force and a strong national defense, and to honor Airmen and our Air Force Heritage. To accomplish this, we:

• EDUCATE the public on the critical need for unmatched aerospace power and a technically superior workforce to ensure U.S. national security.
• ADVOCATE for aerospace power and STEM education.
• SUPPORT the Total Air Force family and promote aerospace education.

AFA has 200 chapters nationally and internationally representing more than 100,000 members. Visit AFA at www.afa.org.

SOURCE Air Force Association