ROCKVILLE, Md. — The 17th season of CyberPatriot concluded with a thrilling finish on March 17, as the winners of the Air & Space Forces Association’s (AFA) National Youth Cyber Defense Competition were revealed. The competition began with 5,050 teams, with 28 teams advancing to the National Finals.
High school teams competed in two divisions: the Open Division, which welcomed any high school team, and the All-Service Division, which featured teams from Army, Air Force, Navy, or Marine Corps JROTC units, as well as Civil Air Patrol or Naval Sea Cadets.
The 2025 National Champions are:
Open Division: Team CyberAegis Phoenix from Scouting America Exploring Post 2928 (San Diego, Calif.)
All-Service Division: Team Terabyte Falcons from Scripps Ranch High School Air Force JROTC (San Diego, Calif.)
Middle School Division: Team CyberAegis Odyssey from Scouting America Exploring Club 2927 (San Diego, Calif.)
The National Finals kicked off on March 15, where teams from around the world faced real-world cybersecurity challenges, including the Network Security Master Challenge, Cisco NetAcad Challenge, and Boeing Cyber Physical System Challenge. These events tested participants’ skills in network defense, infrastructure security, and protecting critical systems. The competition culminated in a banquet on March 17, where the champions in each division were announced.
Each member of the high school teams competing in the Cisco NetAcad Challenge received educational grants from Cisco, a major sponsor of CyberPatriot.
“CyberPatriot’s 17th season highlighted the dedication and skill of young competitors shaping the future of cybersecurity,” said Rachel Zimmerman, CyberPatriot national commissioner. “With over 5,000 teams starting the journey, the National Finals showcased the resilience and teamwork needed to tackle complex challenges. Congratulations to the winners, whose achievements reflect both their technical skills and their commitment to excellence in this vital field.”
