Cyber Defense Team Performs Well at DoE CyberForce Competition
(LEBANON, Ill., December 2, 2019) — The McKendree University Cyber Defense Team participated
in the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) fifth annual CyberForce Competition on Nov.
16. Teams from 104 colleges and universities in 24 states and Puerto Rico competed
at Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont, Ill., and nine other national labs from
coast to coast. Of the 12 Illinois teams (second most in the nation), the McKendree
group placed third and finished 42nd of 104 total.
Organizers described the competition as "a cyber workforce development tournament
that focuses on the defensive and hardening nature of energy infrastructures." Using
interactive, scenario-based events, teams engage in cybersecurity activities such
as methods, practices, strategy, policy and ethics. This year they were charged with
protecting and defending against one of four energy-focused scenarios: a solar energy
generation facility, a high performance computing data center, an energy distribution
substation and a manufacturing facility.
Participants ranged from first-year students to doctoral candidates. Representing
McKendree University were Alyssa Koston, captain; Chloe Gamber, Emily William, Hostetter,
Alijah Thomas, Jakob Eddleman and George Kriss. A group of McKendree alumni (“Guys
that Push Buttons”) also competed as a professional team.
"Just being invited to this event is pretty prestigious," said Kriss, director of
information technology and the group's adviser. "We did fantastic for a nearly all-rookie
team. This will open up many doors because only a couple hundred students nationally
get to compete."
In addition to the competition, the students toured Argonne's Advanced Photon Source
facility and its super-computer facilities.
Established in 2017, the McKendree cyber defense team is named after the 117th Illinois Regiment, drawing from the university's Civil War heritage and the McKendreans
who formed the 117th Regiment of Illinois Volunteers in the mid-19th century. The university offers bachelor’s degree programs in cyber defense and cybersecurity, and an online MBA in cyber defense.
Representing McKendree University at the Department of Energy’s CyberForce competition at Argonne National Laboratory recently were, first row, George Kriss, director of information technology and team adviser; Alyssa Koston, captain; Chloe Gamber, Emily Williams; back row, Kyle Hostetter, Alijah Thomas and Jakob Eddleman.
-McK-
