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More than 200 military cadets, civilian interns participate in three-day NSA Cyber Exercise

The National Security Agency (NSA) held its annual three-day NSA Cyber Exercise (NCX) earlier this month, gathering participants from various military academies, universities, and more to develop and test their cybersecurity skills.

While the U.S. Air Force Academy was crowned the winner of the event, participants included more than 200 people from the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Norwich University, Texas A&M University, The Citadel, Virginia Military Institute, Virginia Tech, University of North Georgia and NSA’s development programs as well. Each was put through their paces in a competition focused on offensive and defensive cybersecurity abilities for critical infrastructure.

The program was held virtually this year, from March 31 to April 2, 2022, and included scenarios for forensics, cyber policy, cryptography, reverse engineering, and more traditional cyber combat exercises. NCX is just one piece of a year-round cyber education program, however.

“This exercise is an opportunity for our cadets who represent tomorrow’s service cyber leaders to apply what they have learned at the academy and identify areas for improvement,” Dr. Paul Crilly, Electrical Engineering and Cyber Systems Program Chair at the Coast Guard Academy, said. “I am extremely proud of their dedication and performance in this year’s NCX and look forward to the amazing things they will do after graduation.”

The Coast Guard Academy’s cyber team placed third out of 15 teams in the overall rankings. Graduates of the Coast Guard’s first Cyber Systems effort will eventually be commissioned to help address its cybersecurity strategy, working to better defend cyberspace, enable operations and protect infrastructure.

The NSA has hosted the NCX yearly since 2001.

Chris Galford

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