Boeing Joins AFA's Youth Cybersecurity Competition as Strategic Sponsor

ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 1, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Air Force Association (AFA) today announced that The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) has joined AFA's aerospace education initiative CyberPatriot, adding even more momentum to the nation's largest and fastest growing youth cyber challenge.

CyberPatriot provides high school students with hands-on learning about the cybersecurity field, along with an opportunity to win college scholarship money and an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C. The competition has teams of high school students from across the nation compete in games to defend computer systems from simulated cyber attacks. It combines online education and preliminary competition rounds delivered over the Internet, proceeding to in-person finals held in conjunction with AFA National Symposia.

In this two-track competition, teams have registered from public, private, parochial and home schools in the Open Division and JROTC units of all Services and Civil Air Patrol squadrons filled the All-Service Division. More than 660 teams will be competing in this year's challenge.

Boeing is one of the leading aerospace and defense corporations in the world and the largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft combined. Boeing, which has a long tradition of aerospace leadership and innovation, will be a strategic sponsor, offering expertise and financial support to the program.

"The CyberPatriot program encourages young people to explore the ever evolving cyber realm," said Steve Oswald, Vice President and General Manager of Boeing Intelligence and Security Systems. "This upcoming generation is the most technologically advanced of any before it; they take current technologies for granted and will demand continuous improvement in cyber performance and security. They will be critical to our future success in the global cyber arena and I am honored to be part of this important program that encourages their involvement."

"Boeing has demonstrated great innovation in technology globally," said Mike Dunn, AFA's President and CEO. "We are grateful to have their support as a strategic sponsor of CyberPatriot and their help in making a significant impact on the future of cybersecurity."

"We are deeply grateful for Boeing's support of CyberPatriot," said Bernie Skoch, CyberPatriot Commissioner. "There is no better investment for corporate America than America's future, and Boeing is investing in just that with their support of CyberPatriot. Through their generosity, we can now reach more high school students and excite them about science and technology.  Boeing is making America stronger."

CyberPatriot is presented by Northrop Grumman, with founding partners SAIC and the CIAS at the University of Texas-San Antonio.

The AFA is a 501(C)(3), nonprofit organization promoting public understanding of aerospace power and the pivotal role it plays in the security of the nation. AFA has over 200 chapters nationally and internationally representing 120,000 members. Visit AFA  www.AFA.org.

SOURCE Air Force Association