Warren Educates Students in Cyber Security Defense during National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Ellie Constantine
  • 90th Missile Wing Command Post
F. E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  October marks the eighth-annual Cyber Security Awareness Month. In support of the president's initiative in heightening Cyber Security Awareness, volunteers at F. E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., have stepped up to educate local area students in Cyber Security Defense.

The Air Force Association established Cyber Patriot to stimulate knowledge and awareness in this field. The purpose of the Cyber Patriot competition, according to the AFA, is to "excite, educate, and motivate the next generation of cyber defenders and other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics graduates our nation needs." The program provides practical training, while competing virtually against other service units across the nation.

Capt. Brandon Sivret, 320th Missile Squadron; 1st Lt. Ellie Constantine, 90th Missile Wing Command Post; and 1st Lt. Heather Sealover, 321st Missile Squadron; are assisting the East High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps team by mentoring them in preparation for the Cyber Patriot Competition.

Round one of the competition will occur Nov. 3 at East High School in their AFJROTC building in Cheyenne, Wyo. Lt. Col. Roderick Peoples, AFJROTC commander, serves as the coach for the team in preparation for this event. The competition will last six hours, and cadets will compete in defending their networks against varied cyber-attacks.

The cadets said they are excited to be a part of this program. Project Officers Constantine and Sealover are currently looking for volunteer mentors, who have some technical expertise, to help lead these students through future portions of the competition. If you have computer administrative knowledge or technical skills, work in the field of IT and/or cyber security and enjoy working with high-school age youth, or know of anyone who does, you would be a great mentor. The team is especially looking for mentors who are certified or have administrative knowledge of the Ubuntu or Windows client servers.

Please contact 1st Lt. Constantine at 307-433-4545 or 1st Lt. Sealover at 304-483-1579 if you are interested to learn more about how you can help out.