CyberPatriot Announces Open Division Finalists

ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- After four months of competing in preliminary rounds, 12 teams of high school students have surpassed hundreds of their peers, advancing to the National Finals Competition of the nation's largest and fastest growing high school cyber defense competition – CyberPatriot IV!

CyberPatriot, an education initiative established by the Air Force Association, is a one-of-a-kind cyber defense competition designed to inspire students to consider science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields in their studies. In addition, it teaches today's youth how to become the next generation of cyber defenders while providing them hands-on learning about cyber security. The Northrop Grumman Foundation is the Presenting Sponsor for CyberPatriot IV.

In this two-track competition, teams have registered from public, private, parochial and home schools in the Open Division, and Junior ROTC units of all Services and Civil Air Patrol squadrons filled the All Service Division. In all, more than 1,000 teams registered to participate this year, representing all 50 states, U.S. Department of Defense Dependent Schools in Europe and the Pacific, and Canada.

During their third and final round of competition, held on January 27-28, 2012, Open Division teams eagerly defended their simulated "networks of computers," continuing to build knowledge on improving computer systems and strengthening security features. The teams' scores were based on how quickly and effectively they established and maintained secure networks.

Congratulations to the following advancing Open Division teams:

• LAUSD's Franklin High School
  Los Angeles, CA
• Palos Verdes Peninsula High School
  Rolling Hills Estates, CA
• MIT Lincoln Laboratory
  Lexington, MA
• Monroe Career and Technical Institute
  Bartonsville, PA
• Alamo Academies
  San Antonio, TX
• Marshall Academy
  Falls Church, VA
• Joel E. Ferris High School
  Spokane, WA
• John R. Rogers High School, Team 1
  Spokane, WA
• John R. Rogers High School, Team 2
  Spokane, WA
• John R. Rogers High School, Team 3
  Spokane, WA
• Lewis and Clark High School
  Spokane, WA
• North Central High School
  Spokane, WA

The Open Division began with more than 400 teams registered. After two energetic rounds of competition, 41 teams advanced to Round 3. Now, the group has been narrowed to 12, and each team will receive all-expenses-paid trips to the CyberPatriot National Finals Competition held in the Washington, D.C. area, March 22 -24, 2012, where teams will compete face to face and defend virtual networks from a professional aggressor team.

The top teams from each division will be announced at an awards banquet following as the final event of this year's competition.

CyberPatriot also benefits from the expertise of its industry sponsors, with the Northrop Grumman Foundation not only serving as presenting sponsor, but providing internships and scholarship money to the winning teams to help groom tomorrow's workforce. In addition, founding partners SAIC and the CIAS at the University of Texas-San Antonio continue to be great contributors to the competition.

For more information about CyberPatriot, go to www.uscyberpatriot.org.

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 108,000 members.  Visit AFA on the internet at www.afa.org.

SOURCE Air Force Association