National Youth Cyber Security Challenge Draws in More Than 1,000 Teams

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- CyberPatriot IV, the National High School Cyber Defense Competition, has now drawn in 1,019 teams as registration closed October 8. The competition has teams representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and U.S. Department of Defense Dependent Schools in both Europe and the Pacific.

Established by the Air Force Association (AFA), CyberPatriot is the nation's largest and fastest growing high school cyber security challenge. Last year's competition had more than 660 teams vying for a chance to compete among the top qualifying teams. Its unique structure provides students hands-on learning while competing virtually against their peers and introduces many to the idea of cyber security as a profession.

Teams are now preparing for preliminary online rounds of competition, which begin October 28 for the All Service Division and November 4 for the Open Division. Once the preliminaries begin, hundreds of teams compete online to solve vulnerabilities in simulated computer networks. The top teams compete again in two additional online rounds to determine 24 finalist teams who win all-expenses-paid trips to Washington, D.C. and the National Finals Competition in Washington, D.C. in March 2012.

"The reception to CyberPatriot IV has exceeded all previous competitions, and we are incredibly thrilled to see this great number of educators and students excited about this year's competition," said Bernie Skoch, CyberPatriot Commissioner. "Over the next few months, these young competitors will learn the basics of cyber security in a competitive environment, while also developing skills in teamwork and critical-thinking. This will surely be another exciting season."

CyberPatriot also offers support and technical expertise from industry leaders, including CyberPatriot's presenting sponsor Northrop Grumman and founding partners SAIC and the CIAS at the University of Texas-San Antonio.

CyberPatriot is a member of the U.S. Cyber Challenge (USCC), a national coalition of public-private sector entities collaborating to enhance the workforce with the next generation of cyber security professionals through skill development activities, mentoring, and resources, and the facilitation of scholarship, internship and employment opportunities.

More information is available at www.uscyberpatriot.org or from the CyberPatriot staff at [email protected].

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 www.AFA.org.

Follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/AirForceAssociation) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/AirForceAssoc).

SOURCE Air Force Association

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