SCCSD Air Force JROTC CyberPatriot Team Wins 2nd Place Award in State
A team of students from the Sioux City Community School District Air Force JROTC in Sioux City, Iowa recently concluded an exceptional round of competition in the twelfth season of CyberPatriot – the Air Force Association’s National Youth Cyber Defense Competition.
Established by AFA in 2009, CyberPatriot is designed to educate and motivate students toward careers in cybersecurity and other science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines critical to our nation’s future.
CyberPatriot’s core program – the National Youth Cyber Defense Competition – challenges teams of students across the United States, Canada, and other schools abroad, to find and resolve cybersecurity vulnerabilities in simulated environments. Top teams from the online rounds earn an all-expenses-paid trip to Rockville, Md., for the in-person National Finals Competition, where students compete for national recognition and scholarships.
From 6,760 teams registered for the competition season, the CyberPatriot field is divided into three divisions – the Open Division for public, private, and home school teams; the All Service Division for JROTC, Civil Air Patrol, and Naval Sea Cadet Corps teams; and the Middle School Division for middle school-aged students. Based on the results of two preliminary rounds, CyberPatriot XII high school teams were categorized within their divisions as Platinum, Gold, or Silver Tier teams, with Platinum Tier teams representing the highest scoring teams.
Led by coach Lt. Col. Larry Brockshus, with instruction and mentoring by Captain Joshua Thomas and Master Sargent James Thomas, cyber security experts from the Air National Guard, the team of JROTC cadets from the Sioux City Community School District Air Force JROTC excelled in the CyberPatriot XII State Round. Cadets exemplified teamwork, critical thinking, and technical skills, which are core needs for a successful career in cybersecurity. The team’s performance earned it Iowa’s second place award in the Gold Tier.
This is the fifth year of the SCCSD JROTC team finishing among the top two teams in All Services Division in Iowa. It is especially gratifying since this year’s team only had one returning team member. Team members include cadets: Bobbi Thompson (Team Captain), Isabella Taylor, Daniel Jonas, Adeline Graves, Jase Hahn and Logan Taylor.
Following the Semifinal Round, top teams in the Open and All Service Divisions’ Platinum Tier and the top three Middle School Division teams will advance to the CyberPatriot XII National Finals Competition in Rockville, Md., in March.
More information is available at www.uscyberpatriot.org or 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.
Air Force Media Contact: LaDonna Orleans, lorleans@afa.org, (703) 247-5850.