On February 23, 2010 a congratulatory party was held at The Burlington Composite Squadron. The party was held for The Burlington Composite Squadron cyber defense team who placed 2nd in the CyberPatriot II Championships.
Also, C/TSgt. Riddell and C/SSgt. Fisher were promoted in rank.
(Photos by C/TSgt. Andrews and Senior Member Knox)
For Immediate Release
Feb. 23, 2010
POC: 2nd Lt. Carey Cox, Public Affairs Officer: 336-285-0445
Orlando, FL -- Cyber defense teams from the Arizona, California, New Hampshire and North Carolina wings of the Civil Air Patrol competed against four Air Force Junior ROTC teams in the Air Force Association's CyberPatriot II Championships on Friday, Feb. 19 in Orlando, FL.
CyberPatriot II is the largest national high school cyber defense competition ever held. It has included more than 200 high school Air Force Junior ROTC and CAP cadet teams from 41 states and Japan in simultaneous competition. Only eight teams from the competition's Medalist Flight round advanced to the all-expenses-paid championship round at the Rosen Shingle Creek Convention Center.
Last year, only one Civil Air Patrol team was in the final eight compared with seven Air Force Junior ROTC teams. This year, CAP teams made up about one-quarter of the contestants to start, but ended the competition as half of a 50-50 split.
The CAP Medalist Flight teams were from the Burlington Composite Squadron in Burlington, NC, Willie Composite Squadron 304 in Mesa, AZ, the Seacoast Composite Squadron in Portsmouth, NH, and the Beach Cities Cadet Squadron 107 in Torrance, CA. Air Force Junior ROTC teams that competed in the finals were from F.W. Springstead High School in Spring Hill, FL, Newburgh Free Academy in Newburgh, NY, Rome Free Academy in Rome, NY and Clearfield High School in Clearfield, UT.
During the live Championship competition, the most complicated series of live challenges yet, competitors had only six hours to find and correct vulnerabilities administered by a "Red Team" opponent that actively countered their defense strategies using a commercial platform called CyberNEXS, donated by SAIC, and were tracked and scored according to success and speed.
"CyberPatriot II has been a tremendous success and an excellent learning opportunity," said S. Sanford Schlitt, AFA's vice chairman of the board for aerospace education. "As a career field, cyber defense is essential to our nation's prosperity and national security. One of our primary missions at AFA is promoting education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and we're so proud to spearhead this exciting educational program."
The Burlington Composite Squadron cyber defense team, self proclaimed as the "WiFi Warriors", consists of Cadets Jordan A. Andrews, David B. Peterson, Joshua S. Jordan, Zachary N. Baughman, Marico E. Bernal and Will J. Buslinger. The team had good momentum and confidence going into the Championship round from a high placement after the Medalist round in November. This helped propel them to a national second place finish overall and a top place finish among CAP teams. "The 22nd Wifi Warriors fought bravely to maintain the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the competition environment while under an onslaught of malware from the Red team. In the end, the ability of the cadets to remain calm, cool and focused on basic security principles allowed them to bring home a second place national finish and remain the top CAP cyber defense team in the country," said 2nd Lt. Neal Gay, co-coach of the WiFi Warriors. "The national recognition will help prepare us for a first place finish next year."
Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with over 59,000 members nationwide. CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 72 lives in fiscal year 2009. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the more than 24,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for 68 years.
The Burlington Composite Squadron currently has nearly 100 total members from the Piedmont and meets every Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the North Carolina Wing Headquarters, located at the Burlington Municipal Airport, 3520 Alamance Road, Burlington, NC, 27215, (336)570-6894. For more information, visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com or the Burlington Composite Squadron web site at www.doubledeuces.org.
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Attached Photo Captions:
All photos taken by 2nd Lt. Neal Gay
Orlando, FL (2-19-10) - The Burlington Composite Squadron CyberPatriot II WiFi Warriors finish in.........
2nd PLACE OVERALL!!
and FINISHED AS THE HIGHEST CAP TEAM!
OUTSTANDING!!
Photo by 2nd Lt. Neal Gay
CONGRATULATIONS!
Out of HUNDREDS of teams, spanning across the ENTIRE UNITED STATES....
THE 22ND DID IT! 2ND PLACE IN A MAJOR U.S. NATIONAL COMPETITION!
WHAT A GREAT PERFORMANCE BY EXCEPTIONAL CADETS!! This is an OUTSTANDING FEAT THAT WE ARE ALL PROUD OF!!
Lets all give them a CHAMPION'S WELCOME UPON THEIR RETURN HOME!!
Orlando, FL (2-19-10) - The Burlington CyberPatriot team is now in the middle of the grueling competition. 2nd Lt. Gay feels that the team could place high based on performance.
Photo by 2nd Lt. Neal Gay
Photo by 2nd Lt. Neal Gay
Orlando, FL (2-18-10) - The now famous Burlington Composite Squadron CyberPatriot finalists have arrived in Orlando and are in good spirits as shown in this photo at the hotel. Check back for updates.
Burlington Civil Air Patrol Cadets Head To Championship In Cyber Defense Competition
Burlington, NC (January 28, 2010) – A team of cadets from the Burlington Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol is headed to the championship round of the CyberPatriot II cyber defense competition to be held February 19, 2010, in conjunction with AFA’s Air Warfare Symposium at the Rosen Shingle Creek Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The team advanced to the championship round from the medalist round competition held on November 21, 2009.
CyberPatriot II, a national high school cyber defense competition sponsored by the Air Force Association (AFA), headquartered in Arlington, VA, is the largest high school cyber defense competition ever held. It has included over 200 high school AFJROTC and CAP teams from 42 states, Korea and Japan, in simultaneous competition. The Burlington CAP team was one of 8 and the only North Carolina team to advance to the all expense paid championship round. Team members are cadets Jordan A. Andrews, David B. Peterson, Joshua S. Jordan, Zachary N. Baughman, Marico E. Bernal and Will J. Buslinger.
During the competition, the competitors had only six hours to find and correct vulnerabilities in a virtual network made possible by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), and were tracked and scored according to success and speed.
During the championship round, the cadets will compete in the most complicated series of live challenges yet, against a “Red Team” opponent that will actively counter their defense strategies using a commercial platform called CyberNEXS, donated by SAIC.
The competition benefits greatly from the active participation and advice of Dr. Greg White, Director of the Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security (CIAS), who also created and conducts the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition. Dr. White serves as a Colonel in the Air Force Reserve in the field of cyber security.
The Burlington Composite Squadron, second-largest squadron in North Carolina, is one of 33 units composed of over 1,500 members that are organized throughout the state. Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the United States Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 57,000 members nationwide. CAP volunteers perform missions such as search and rescue, homeland security, and disaster relief at the request of federal, state and local agencies. Members also play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the more than 22,000 young people participating in CAP cadet programs.
The Burlington Composite Squadron currently has nearly 100 total members from the Piedmont area and meets every Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the North Carolina Wing Headquarters, located at the Burlington Municipal Airport, 3520 Alamance Road, Burlington, NC, 27215, (336)570-6894. For more information, visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com or the Burlington Composite Squadron web site at www.doubledeuces.org.
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PHOTOS FOR ARTICLE:
On Nov. 17 2009 The Burlington Composite Squadron cadets presented their flights name to the squadron with a shield and a jody.
We also had a farewell party for SM Hicks as she goes to boot camp in Texas.
(Photos by C/2Lt. Bartel and Captain Bailey)
Burlington, NC (11-8-2009)- Cadets William Marine, and Devin Wilkerson complete Orientation rides on Sunday 8-Nov-09. The Orientation Pilot was Capt. Joey Surles. With agreeable weather, the flight path originated at NC Wing HQ and included local Piedmont corridors.
Orientation Rides are essential to the learning and overall experience of being a CAP Cadet.
Cadets Marine and Wilkerson, Photo by Capt. Joey Surles
Cadets assisted in properly securing the CAP Cessna, Photo by Capt. Joey Surles
Dupont State Forest - Transylvania County, NC (11-6-2009) The Burlington Composite Squadron attended the DuPont Search and Rescue Experience in the Dupont State Forest, located in Transylvania County, NC. Civil Air Patrol Members worked with other agencies in a simulated search and rescue mission.
During the Experience, which lasted from Friday, Nov. 6 to Sunday, Nov. 8, members with little or no ground team training had the chance to learn and get certified. Those with prior experience continued their training and took part in the mission.
(Photos by C/2Lt. Bartel and Captain Bailey)
On Oct. 9 Burlinton Composite Squadron had a "Great Start Weekend" where new cadets learned the basics of being a member of Civil Air Patrol. Below is a link to the Great start Schedule.
Most of the classes were taught by the higher ranking cadets. All of them doing an excellent job. We hope the new cadets learned all that was needed. Saturday the staff, who where not teaching, worked on the back bay for most of the day.
Slide Show By C/ 2Lt. Bartel
