National High School Cyber Defense Competition at 300 Teams

Registration Underway for Cyber Security Education Initiative

ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The registration deadline is approaching October 8th to sign up for the nation's premier high school cyber defense competition, CyberPatriot III.

With over 300 total teams in 45 states already organizing teams, word is getting out to high school educators across the country. Teams have registered from public, private, parochial, and home schools in many states in the competition's Open Division.  Additionally, Junior ROTC units of all Services and Civil Air Patrol squadrons are rapidly filling the All Service Division in the two-track competition.

"Some educators haven't heard about this great opportunity for their students, so we're trying to get the word out in time to allow teams to compete this academic year in our unique online nationwide competition," said Bernie Skoch, CyberPatriot Commissioner. "To join, a high school teacher signs up and identifies five bright students for a fun, hands-on learning opportunity. The top teams win a trip to Washington, D.C. and opportunities for scholarships.  I'd urge any high school educator to take a look at www.uscyberpatriot.org."

CyberPatriot, presented by Northrop Grumman, is a one-of-a-kind national cyber security competition produced by the Air Force Association (AFA), a nonprofit organization headquartered near Washington, D.C. The registration deadline is October 8, 2010.

Teams of five, with an approved coach (generally a teacher) leading them, learn to defend a computer network from real-life computer threat scenarios. In the fall, hundreds of teams across the nation will square off online, using special software and programs provided by CyberPatriot, to competitively solve vulnerabilities in their network. The top teams then compete again in a series of online rounds to determine finalists for an all-expenses-paid trip to the nation's capital and the Championship Round at the Gaylord National Convention Center, in conjunction with AFA's Cyber Futures Conference and Technology Exposition in April of 2011.

Any high school can field a team for the Open Division, while JROTC units from any Service or Civil Air Patrol are also eligible to field teams in the All Service Division. The educational experience and materials are identical for students in either division.

"Cyber security is growing in importance, and will be an important career path," said Skoch, a retired Air Force brigadier general. "CyberPatriot gives young people an inside look at an exciting field, and could lead to more options for a college educational track."

Coaches can learn more about CyberPatriot and sign up at www.uscyberpatriot.org.  Information is also available from the CyberPatriot staff at [email protected].

SOURCE Air Force Association