333rd TRS supports Cyber Patriot program

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Anthony Bustamante
  • 333rd Training Squadron
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Keesler is well known for giving back to the community by supporting annual events such as the Mississippi Special Olympics, but there are students and instructors giving their time and expertise every single week. One example is the 333rd Training Squadron's support of the Cyber Patriot Program.

Cyber Patriot is a national competition sponsored by the Air Force Association designed to give high school students hands-on experience in the field of cyber defense. Students interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics benefit from early development in these areas before college. One of the driving forces behind this program is the fact that large numbers of college graduates have non-technical degrees, while the job market has seen an increase in technical fields. Cyber Patriot aims to balance the scale.

Every Tuesday and Thursday Tech. Sgt. Guillermo Muniz and I, defense operations instructors, work with up to 20 students at Biloxi High School and cover many different topics under the umbrella of cyber defense. Throughout the school year, the students have an opportunity to compete against other schools around the country in defending a set of computer systems, which culminates with a championship competition in Washington D.C.

The cyber patriot project has been a team effort for the 333rd TRS. Tech. Sgt. Danny Gargano and I are working with Mike Jennings, head of the Biloxi High School information technology department, to transfer computers the Air Force is no longer using to the school. As treasurer of the Gulf Coast chapter of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, Muñiz can provide information about scholarships to bright individuals that excel in the program. Tech. Sgt. Eugene Powell, a recent graduate from the cyber defense operations schoolhouse, has also offered his new-found knowledge in cyber defense to mentor one of the students. Cyber Patriot is more than just an exciting competition -- the value of supporting and educating the community cannot be understated. When the program first started last year, not only did school students show up to class, but their parents even came and took notes alongside them.

As the Internet continues to grow exponentially, social media becomes more and more prevalent and there's never been a more important time in our history than now to put the concept of cyber security at the forefront of the minds of the younger generation.

Keesler's involvement in the Cyber Patriot Program is one of visionary leadership. Our Airmen are leading the way to further the education of future generations and the communities that we serve. In doing so, we are building relationships that strengthen our commitment as Airmen and display our core values ... integrity, service before self and excellence in all we do.