ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Air Force Association today announced that the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) renewed its support for CyberPatriot, the National Youth Cyber Education Program, as a Cyber Silver sponsor.  For the fourth consecutive year, UMUC has sponsored CyberPatriot in its mission to stimulate youth interest in STEM and educate students on the importance of cybersecurity.

"CyberPatriot is a pipeline-building initiative that is having significant impact," said Dr. Greg von Lehmen, Assistant to the President for Cybersecurity at University of Maryland University College (UMUC). "The university is committed to supporting it not only through the sponsorship but in a number of other ways, including the participation of our faculty as judges in the competitions."

UMUC offers more than 90 degrees and certificates through the doctoral level in both online and face-to-face formats. Its offerings include bachelor's degrees in computer science, cybersecurity management & policy, investigative forensics, computers & network security, software development & security, and master's degrees in cybersecurity, cybersecurity management & policy, and digital forensics & cyber investigation. UMUC is a NSA/DHS National Center of Excellence for Information Assurance and Cyber Defense Education and a DC3 National Center of Digital Forensic Academic Excellence. UMUC has a worldwide student population exceeding 80,000, placing it among the largest universities in the nation.

"We are extremely grateful for the continued support from UMUC," said CyberPatriot National Commissioner Bernie Skoch. "We look forward to working with UMUC to continue promoting cybersecurity education to a diverse population of youth around the world.  Universities like UMUC allow the next generation of cybersecurity experts that our country needs as a part of our national workforce to thrive."

The 2015-2016 CyberPatriot National Defense Competition registered 3,379 teams from all 50 States, a 55% percent increase in total registrations from the previous year. Additionally, the 2016 AFA CyberCamp program hosted 83 camps and the Elementary School Cyber Education Initiative reached over 30,000 students in its inaugural year. CyberPatriot also began its second international partnership, working with the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) to launch CyberTitan: A Canadian National Cyber Defence Challenge for High Schools.

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,  the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense; Cyber Gold sponsors Facebook, Riverside Research, Splunk, and Symantec; and Cyber Silver sponsors Air Force Reserve, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Leidos, 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.

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SOURCE Air Force Association

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