OTTAWA, ON – The Air Force Association’s (AFA) CyberPatriot and the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC), partner to launch CyberTitan: A Canadian National Cyber Defence Challenge for High Schools.
The partnership, stemming from the dedication of the Network and Cyber Security Academy at Sisler High School (Winnipeg, MB), is the second international expansion CyberPatriot has seen in two years. As Sisler High School has paved a path for Canadian schools in cyber security learning, ICTC will look to leverage their expertise as more schools and students join across Canada.
Cyber Security is headline news. Privacy breaches, compromised data systems, and unauthorized access to corporate secrets are playing out in real life every day. Canada needs to prepare the next generation of students with the skills necessary to protect our governments, industries, and individuals from this global threat. Creating opportunities for youth to see the threats we face, to learn the skills necessary to work in this industry, and for them to identify with the roles they can play help to secure our systems is very powerful.
“CyberPatriot’s National Youth Cyber Defense Competition has been enormously successful, and a small, yet strong, pocket of Canadian teams have been involved from early on,” explained CyberPatriot National Commissioner, Bernie Skoch. “We’ve been looking for a way to expand Canada’s presence in the competition, and our partnership with ICTC is exactly what we envisioned. We couldn’t be happier to have their support.”
Taking on the name CyberTitan, the partnership between AFA and ICTC will join the United Kingdom’s CyberCenturion in what is becoming a family of CyberPatriot-hosted cyber defense competitions. A team from Sisler Academy in Winnipeg, Manitoba was one of only 28 worldwide qualifying for the 2016 CyberPatriot National Finals Competition. This new partnership is focused on increasing even further Canadian school participation in cyber security competitions.
“We are excited to announce our partnership with the Air Force Association and introduce CyberTitan in Canada,” expressed Namir Anani, ICTC President and CEO. “With the increasing connectedness of devices and the Internet of Things, tooling youth with critical cyber security skills will prepare them for future career opportunities and will also increase their knowledge in how to protect their own, as well as, Canada’s digital assets.”
CyberPatriot’s presenting sponsor is the Northrop Grumman Foundation. Other sponsors include Cyber Diamond sponsors AT&T Federal and the AT&T Foundation, Cisco, Microsoft, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Office of the Secretary of Defense; Cyber Gold sponsors Facebook, Riverside Research, Splunk, and Symantec; and Cyber Silver sponsors Air Force Reserve, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Leidos, and University of Maryland University College. Registration for the CyberPatriot IX competition season is underway. Over 1,300 teams have already registered to compete, representing 46 states and including teams from Puerto Rico, Canada, and U.S. Department of Defense Dependent Schools in Germany, South Korea, and Japan. For more information about how to participate, visit www.uscyberpatriot.org.
If you are interested in participating with ICTC on CyberTitan or becoming a partner or sponsor, please contact [email protected]. In addition to CyberTitan, stay tuned for more exciting news from ICTC on cyber security including: Cyber Security Leadership Council on Youth and Education, National Cyber Security Skills Youth Series, and Cyber Security Skills for Secondary Schools Students.
Media Inquiries:
Air Force Association
Lyndsey Akers
Manager, Public Relations & Social Media
703-247-5800 ext. 5847
Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC)
Stephanie Wilson
Director, Strategic Outreach
613-237-8551 ext.147
About Air Force Association
The Air Force Association 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, the organization:
- EDUCATES the public on the critical need for unmatched aerospace power and a technically superior workforce to ensure U.S. national security.
- ADVOCATES for aerospace power and STEM education. CyberPatriot is the flagship STEM program of AFA.
- SUPPORTS the total Air Force family, and promote aerospace education.
About ICTC
The Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) seeks to empower Canadian youth through innovative programs that promote 21st century skills, digital literacy, inclusion, entrepreneurship, emerging trends and technology in education. With exemplary programs like Focus on Information Technology, ICTC is able to provide the building blocks and pathways for youth to fully participate in the digital economy and for educators to support the future workforce.
Furthermore, ICTC is a centre of expertise in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) research, policy development and workforce solutions. ICTC enables industries to maintain a competitive advantage in a global market and develop Canada’s future skilled and innovative talent.