For Immediate Release
September 11, 2012

Air Force Research Laboratory Joins CyberPatriot as Cyber Silver Sponsor

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Air Force Association (AFA) today announced that the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has renewed their sponsorship of AFA’s flagship STEM initiative, CyberPatriot -- The National High School Cyber Defense Competition.

AFRL was instrumental in the beginning stages of CyberPatriot, and will now join the list of prestigious sponsors as a Cyber Silver sponsor, amplifying the reach and energy of the largest and fastest growing youth cyber challenge.

CyberPatriot, established in 2008 by AFA, is an exciting competition that teaches students how to defend and protect computer systems from cyber threats and potential hackers. The competition’s unique structure provides students hands-on learning about technology, emphasizing teamwork and leadership, and exercising critical-thinking skills.

AFRL, headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the Air Force's only organization wholly dedicated to leading the discovery, development, and integration of warfighting technologies for its air, space and cyberspace forces. It traces its roots to the vision of airpower pioneers who understood science as key to air supremacy. The passionate commitment of AFRL people to realize this vision has helped create the world's best air, space and cyberspace force.

“The Air Force Research Laboratory provides leading-edge capabilities and a wide range of revolutionary technologies, keeping our air, space and cyberspace forces the world's best,” said Bernie Skoch, CyberPatriot Commissioner. “Their innovation and dedication to advancing STEM capabilities is very apparent and I am sure they will bring even more energy to our great STEM initiative.”

“A key part of the Air Force mission is to ‘create the future’. We see STEM skills developed through opportunities such as the CyberPatriot program as a key part of that future,” said Dr. Rob Williams, research director for the AFRL Discovery Lab and Year-at-the-Edge, the AFRL program sponsoring CyberPatriot on behalf of AFRL. “Consequently, we will be pleased to offer students graduating from CyberPatriot potential scholarship and internship opportunities to continue their cyberspace experience into college through our Discovery Lab Year-at-the-Edge and possibly other fine AFRL programs.”

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. To accomplish this, we:

• EDUCATE the public on the critical need for unmatched aerospace power and a technically superior workforce to ensure U.S. national security.
• ADVOCATE for aerospace power and STEM education.
• SUPPORT the Total Air Force family and promote aerospace education.

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