Carnegie Mellon University Wins National Cyber Analyst Challenge

RESTON, VA – A cyber competition powered by Leidos and administered by Temple University’s Institute for Business and Information Technology (IBIT) to fill the ever-growing need for cyber analysts has a winner. The team from Carnegie Mellon University was awarded $25,000 as the winner of the second National Cyber Analyst Challenge.

Developed to enhance the skills of the future workforce and inspire students to pursue careers in cyber security, the National Cyber Analyst Challenge focuses on developing strategic skills involving analysis and threat identification.

"Our nation and our very way of life is under constant attack in cyberspace," says Chris Kearns, senior vice president of enterprise and cyber solutions at Leidos. "These talented students demonstrated amazing skill to connect the dots in this real-world scenario to defend our critical digital infrastructure."

A panel of industry experts scored the team from Carnegie Mellon University highest in technical proficiency, judgment and communication. The three-month, multi-phased competition started with each team analyzing a cyber case. In the second phase, the teams received training from industry experts. The competition culminated in a real-time practical challenge with advanced cyber training held Oct. 27-28 at Leidos' headquarters in Reston, VA.

Teams from 10 universities (in alphabetical order) — Carnegie Mellon University, Howard University, Iowa State University, Penn State University, Syracuse University, Temple University, University of Maryland, University of South Florida, University of Texas at San Antonio, and Villanova University — made it past Phase I in September. Each team received a significant award of $6,000-$12,000 to support student, faculty and curriculum development.

“It was gratifying to work with Leidos to create a student- and faculty-centric opportunity,” says Dr. Munir Mandviwalla, executive director of Temple's IBIT, who worked with Laurel Miller, IBIT director, to envision the competition. “The challenge and conference brought together the nation’s top cyber educational programs in management information systems, computer science, and engineering. Interdisciplinary engagement is the most effective way to solve the nation's cyber talent crisis because it can produce industry-relevant students and knowledge.

“The NCAC conference also provided a unique opportunities for meaningful dialogue between academic, industry, research and education experts," adds Mandviwalla, chair of the Management Information Systems department at Temple's Fox School of Business. "One outcome from the conference is the identification of a set of strategies to enhance cyber education and research through data centric collaboration between industry and academia."

For additional information, visit cyberanalystchallenge.org

About Leidos
Leidos is a global science and technology solutions leader working to solve the world's toughest challenges in the defense, intelligence, homeland security, civil and health markets. The company's 33,000 employees support vital missions for government and commercial customers. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Featured

  • University of Connecticut Upgrades Basketball Facility’s AV Systems

    The University of Connecticut recently partnered with Metinteractive to upgrade the AV systems of the Gampel Pavilion basketball facility on its campus in Mansfield, Conn., according to a news release.

  • Texas A&M Adds ALPR Technology to Parking Solutions

    Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, recently integrated automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) technology into its parking services and enforcement strategies, according to a news release. The university’s Transportation Services division deployed Genetec AutoVu ALPR to manage the campus’ 36,000+ parking spaces.

  • Spaces4Learning Launches 2025 New Product Awards

    Spaces4Learning is now accepting entries for the 2025 New Product Awards! The program’s goal is to honor the outstanding product development achievements of manufacturers and suppliers whose products and services are particularly noteworthy in helping to improve K–12 and Higher Education learning environments.

  • Illinois Elementary School Breaks Ground on Campus Expansion

    Heather Hill Elementary School, part of Flossmoor School District 161 in Palatine, Ill., recently broke ground on a new addition to the school focused on student support and security, according to a news release. The district partnered with Wold Architects & Engineers for the expansion as part of a longer-term facility planning and modernization initiative.

Digital Edition