The @USCyberGames Open Kick-Off #livestream is less than a week away! Did you reserve your seat? Register to hear from speakers panels, network, and win prizes! https://t.co/ocnvyobTBI @KatzcyPlayCyber @KATZCYLLC #cybersecurity #Esports #USCyberGames pic.twitter.com/Epf6Ckb6yB
— USCyberGames (@USCyberGames) June 24, 2022
Last year, OODA was proud to sponsor the first-ever U.S. Cyber Games. The inaugural US Cyber Games™ was created through the support of the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) program at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). But we are very proud to say the real driving force behind these games is a long-term friend of OODA and network member Jessica Gulick of Katzcy. It is produced by PlayCyber. The Games brought together elite cyber athletes, coaches, and industry leaders to help scout, train, and recognize a US Cyber Team to represent the United States at the International Cyber Security Challenge.
Once again, OODA is sponsoring this premier cybersecurity competition. The Kick-Off event for Season II of the US Cyber Games is today (Thursday, June 30th).
Registration for the event is found here. The agenda for the event can be found below. Get involved as a coach, player, or sponsor today and help us build the next generation of #cyberathletes.
US Cyber Open Kick-Off
Again this year, The Cyber Games “Season” begins with a kick-off event. Last year’s Summit was held in May and was a virtual event. This season’s kick-off event takes place on June 30th.
There are then three flagship competitions over the course of the season:
- The US Cyber Open Capture The Flag (CTF) Challenge will be held from July 1 through July 10, 2022. According to the Cyber Games website, competitors will compete in a free ten-day Capture the Flag (CTF) competition consisting of virtual cybersecurity challenges, across a variety of cybersecurity domains (reconnaissance, cryptanalysis, operations security, forensics analysis, and malware analysis).” (1)
- US Cyber Combine Invitational will be held from August 5 through September 5, 2022, where “a diverse set of selected cybersecurity athletes [60 participants total) ages 18 to 24 will be invited to participate in a number of virtual learning opportunities, hands-on exercises, and competitions. During this qualifying phase, athletes will undergo a cybersecurity aptitude assessment, interview with multiple coaches, and perform in an advanced CTF qualifier round.” (1)
- US Cyber Games Draft Day: On October 17, 2022, the Top 35 (two teams) drafted cybersecurity athletes will be invited onto the Season II US Cyber Team to represent the United States at a variety of global scrimmages and the International Cybersecurity Challenge taking place in 2023.
For a general overview of the 2021 US Cyber Games, see What are the US Cyber Games? For our coverage of Draft Day 2021, including bios of the 2021 US Cyber Team coaching staff and athletes, see First-Ever U.S. Cyber Team Announced to Compete in Athens at the ICC in June 2022.
US Cyber Open Kick-Off: Program Agenda
10:00 – 11:00 AM
Join your peers, athletes, coaches, fans, sponsors, and speakers for some pre-event networking before the event kicks off.
Our emcee for the day’s program brings great enthusiasm and excitement. He’ll keep us moving with great commentary, questions, and more.
Noor Jehangir, Host and Presenter, Allied Esports
11:00 – 11:40 AM
Opening Keynote with Jen Easterly, Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
What is the US Cyber Games and what is our mission?
Find out from the US Cyber Games Commissioner, Jessica Gulick, CEO & Founder, Katzcy
11:40 – 12:30 PM
Highlights from the 2022 International Cyber Competition – The Athlete perspective.
Just back from Greece, members of the first-ever US Cyber Team will provide their perspectives on cyber skills training, competing in cyber games, what it’s like to represent the United States on a global stage, and more.
Moderator: Jon Check, Executive Director, Cyber Protection Solutions, Raytheon Intelligence & Space
Athletes:
- Chris Issing
- Susan Jeziorowski
- Austen King
- Joshua Klosterman
- Rajat Patel
12:30 – 01:20 PM
Hear direct from a panel of gamers – what it means to be a cyber gamer and how to level-up your cyber skills.
Moderator: Keenan Skelly, CEO, Shadowbyte
Panelists:
- Lola Kureno, Cyber Security Engineer, INE
- Sebastian Stohr, CEO, Breaking IT
- Mari Galloway, CORTEX Sales Engineer, Palo Alto Networks
- Savannah Lazzara, Technical Manager – Attack & Penetration, Optiv, Inc.
01:20 – 02:10 PM
Pathways into Cyber – Get directions from a panel of community colleges, universities, boot camps, and more.
Moderator: Eric Belardo, Founder, Raices Cyber Org
Panelists:
- Gretchen Bliss, Director of Cybersecurity Programs, University of Colorado Colorado Springs
- Davina Pruitt-Mentle, Lead for Academic Advancement, NICE
- Allen Stubblefield, Cyber Defense and Computer Science Teacher, Troy High School, Fullerton CA
- Larry Whiteside Jr, Co-Founder & President, Cyversity
02:10 – 03:00 PM
High performing teams – A panel of CISOs discusses the critical need in cybersecurity.
Moderator: Chris Camacho, President, NinjaJobs
Panelists:
- Adam Kaplan, CISO, Hogan Lovells
- Brian Lozada, CISO, HBO Max
- Tomas Maldonado, CISO, National Football League (NFL)
- Gina Yacone, CISO, Trace3
03:00 – 03:50 PM
Diversity Matters – Recruiting Cyber Talent Across the US
Hear from top diversity focused organizations on leading cyber programs and outreach activities.
Moderator: Mari Galloway, CEO and Founding Board Member, Women’s Society of Cyberjutsu
Panelists:
- Mark Casper, Executive Director/President, Tech For Troops
- Chloe Messdaghi, Co-Founder, We Open Tech
- Noureen Njoroge, Board Member, Women in Cybersecurity
- Yvonne Rivera, CEO of CyberMyte and Director of Central Florida Chapter of Raices Raices Cyber Org
- Rebecca Skeete, COO, Black Girls Hack
03:50 – 04:15 PM
Closing remarks:
Speaker: Rodney J. Petersen, Director of National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) at NIST in the U.S. Department of Commerce.
04:15 – 05:00 PM
Join your Cyber Peers for some post-event networking
Space is limited.
* Program agenda subject to change.
Call for Athletes
Apply to play and compete in the #cryptography #CTF challenge at the @USCyberGames – we’re looking for #cyberathletes to put their skills to the test: https://t.co/wrSfFf3KR3#ICC #Esports #CyberGames #Cybersecurity #CyberChallenge @NISTcyber | @KATZCYLLC | @KatzcyPlayCyber pic.twitter.com/sH2nL5YdFa
— USCyberGames (@USCyberGames) May 25, 2022
Call for Coaches (CLOSED June 3rd)
@USCyberGames is searching for experts across various disciplines in #cybersecurity to prepare our US Cyber Team for global competition! Apply to Coach today at https://t.co/NDcKBNJv9w Deadline June 3rd@KatzcyPlayCyber @KATZCYLLC#Esports #cybergames #leadership #mentors pic.twitter.com/rT0duH8qm2
— USCyberGames (@USCyberGames) May 25, 2022
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