ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Air Force Association today announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) renewed their support for CyberPatriot, the National Youth Cyber Education Program, as a Cyber Diamond sponsor. For the second consecutive year, DHS has sponsored CyberPatriot in its mission to stimulate youth interest in STEM and educate students on the importance of cyber security.

"The Department of Homeland Security is proud to partner with the Air Force Association to encourage digital citizenry and inspire and avail opportunities related to cybersecurity to middle and high school students," said Robin "Montana" Williams, Chief, Cybersecurity Education & Awareness Branch, Department of Homeland Security. "CyberPatriot is a foundational part of a national effort to increase awareness, education, and professional development of a nation's citizens to enhance our ability to protect our economic and national security against an evolving and sophisticate threat that has put our data, finances, personally identifiable information, intellectual property, and health information at risk. The participants in CyberPatriot today, are our leaders of tomorrow and will provide solutions to protect our nation for years to come."

The Department of Homeland Security is the lead government agency that works to ensure a homeland that is safe, secure, and resilient against terrorism and other hazards, including securing critical digital infrastructure and information systems.

"We are extremely grateful for the continued support from DHS," said CyberPatriot National Commissioner Bernie Skoch. "We look forward to working with DHS to continue reaching a diverse population of youth around the world. CyberPatriot is able to grow the next generation of cybersecurity experts that our country needs as a part of our national workforce and to attract American youth to STEM education and careers."

The 2014-2015 CyberPatriot National Defense Competition registered 2,175 teams from all 50 States, a 40 percent increase in total registrations from the previous year. CyberPatriot greatly expanded its reach in recent years with the unveiling of a middle school division in the competition in 2013, a successful summer pilot of AFA CyberCamps in 2014, and an anticipated launch of the Elementary School Cyber Education Initiative later this year. CyberPatriot also extended its competition this year to the United Kingdom, under the name CyberCenturion. In partnership with Cyber Security Challenge UK and Northrop Grumman, the UK's competition is now underway.

CyberPatriot, the nation's largest and fastest growing youth cyber education program, is AFA's flagship STEM program dedicated to strengthening cyber skills among American youth. Students in the program also gain valuable knowledge from the expertise of CyberPatriot's many supporters, including the Northrop Grumman Foundation, CyberPatriot's presenting sponsor. Other program sponsors include Cyber Diamond sponsors AT&T Federal and the AT&T Foundation, Cisco, Microsoft, USA Today, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense; Cyber Gold sponsors URS, Riverside Research, Splunk, and Symantec; and Cyber Silver sponsors Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Leidos, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, and University of Maryland University College.

For more information about CyberPatriot, please visit www.uscyberpatriot.org. Information is also available from the CyberPatriot staff at info@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 95,000. Visit AFA at www.afa.org.

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SOURCE Air Force Association

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