AFA Announces CyberPatriot 18 National Finalists

February 20, 2026

The Air & Space Forces Association has announced the national finalists for the 18th season of its CyberPatriot program, showcasing the exceptional skill, teamwork, and dedication of students nationwide.  

This year, nearly 5,000 teams registered to compete in the CyberPatriot season, facing multiple challenging online rounds designed to test their technical cybersecurity expertise and collaborative problem-solving abilities. After months of rigorous competition, the top teams have earned the opportunity to advance to the National Finals.

Finalists will travel to Bethesda, Md., from March 20–24 to compete in person for the national championship, concluding what has surely been an intense and inspiring season for participants across the country. 

“Advancing to the national finals is a remarkable achievement that reflects these teams’ technical excellence, perseverance, and commitment to cybersecurity,” said Rachel Zimmerman, CyberPatriot National Commissioner.  “We congratulate each finalist on this milestone and look forward to seeing their skills on display at the national stage.” 

The finalists competing at the National Finals are:   

Open Division Qualifiers:   

  • Canyon Crest Academy, :3, San Diego, Calif.  
  • Eastern Technical High School, Pbchocolate, Baltimore, Md.  
  • Fairview High School, Fairview Knights-Team 1, Boulder, Colo.
  • Faith Lutheran Middle/High School, 0902, Las Vegas, Nev.
  • Franklin High School, Cassiopeia, Elk Grove, Calif.
  • Franklin High School, Half Dome, Elk Grove, Calif.
  • Johnson High School, Team 2, San Antonio, Texas  
  • Loyola Blakefield, Axios, Towson, Md.
  • North Hollywood High School, Pyre, North Hollywood, Calif. 
  • Scouting America Exploring Post 2928, CyberAegis Perseus, San Diego, Calif.
  • Scouting America Exploring Post 2928, CyberAegis Corvus, San Diego, Calif. 
  • Sunshine Elite Education, TitanTurtles, Beaverton, Ore. 

All Service Division Qualifiers:   

  • Punahou School, CELT, Honolulu, Hawaii 
  • Theodore Roosevelt High School, Talk to me Goose, San Antonio, Texas 
  • Knob Noster High School, Komputer Kernels, Knob Noster, Mo. 
  • Scripps Ranch High School, Terabyte Falcons, San Diego, Calif.
  • Burke Composite Squadron, Cyber Monkeys, Springfield, Va. 
  • Fullerton Composite Squadron 56, Iridium, Fullerton, Calif. 
  • Allen High School, Delta Eagles, Allen, Texas 
  • Mountain View High School, Scarlet, Stafford, Va. 
  • Nova High School, CyberTitans Oceanus, Davie, Fla. 
  • Troy High School, Runtime Terror, Fullerton, Calif. 
  • Sacramento Division, Spartans, Sacramento, Calif. 

Middle School Division Qualifiers:   

  • Cedarlane Academy, Team 1, Hacienda Heights, Calif. 
  • Plymouth Scholars Charter Academy, Cyber Crashouts, Canton, Mich. 
  • Scouting America Exploring Club 2927, CyberAegis Hydra, San Diego, Calif. 

To recognize outstanding performance during the competition season, awards were presented to the top-performing teams in the State and Semifinals Rounds. A full list of awards winners can be found here. 

High School Division Structure   

After the first two rounds, high school teams (open and all service) were categorized into three tiers based on performance:   

  • Platinum Tier (Top 30%)   
  • Gold Tier (Middle 40%)   
  • Silver Tier (Remaining 30%)   

The tiered system ensures the competition remains fair and challenging, with virtual operating systems in the State and Semifinals rounds tailored to each tier’s skill level. Only the top Platinum Tier teams advance to the National Finals to compete for the championship title. 

About CyberPatriot 

CyberPatriot is the nation’s largest youth cyber education program and AFA’s flagship STEM program dedicated to strengthening cyber skills among American youth. In addition to the National Youth Cyber Defense Competition for high school and middle school students, the program features AFA CyberCamps, an Elementary School Cyber Education Initiative and Literature Series, a Tech Caregiver certification and community service opportunity, and CyberGenerations—a program aimed at equipping senior citizens with the skills needed to stay protected from cyber threats. For more information, visit www.uscyberpatriot.org

About AFA 

The Air & Space Forces Association is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)3 association dedicated to advocating for the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Space Force, Airmen, Guardians, and their Families. Founded in 1946, AFA is the single largest entity of its kind focused on air and space power. With more than 130,000 members and 200 chapters spread around the world, our mission is to promote dominant U.S. Air Force and Space Force as the foundation of a strong National Defense; to honor and support Airmen, Guardians, and their Families; and to remember and respect the enduring heritage of the Air and Space Forces.