UAH co-sponsors inaugural cyber camp for high school students from across Alabama

The inaugural U.S. Cyber Camp takes place this week from July 24-28. It is hosted in partnership by UAH, the USSRC, and Cyber Huntsville.

Michael Mercier | UAH

The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) has partnered with the U.S. Space & Rocket Center (USSRC) and Cyber Huntsville to host the inaugural session of U.S. Cyber Camp. More than 30 students from across the state are participating in the weeklong program, which seeks to address a predicted workforce shortage of skilled labor in the field of cybersecurity by inspiring high school students with an interest in science and technology to go into fields of computer science, information assurance, or cybersecurity.

The camp takes place at the USSRC from July 24 to 28, with students receiving instruction from seven UAH instructors and cybersecurity professionals. According to Dr. Tommy Morris, director of UAH’s Center for Cybersecurity Research and Education, the curriculum draws from the Air Force Association’s CyberPatriot program and includes UAH input that focuses on cybersecurity issues related to the federal agencies on Redstone Arsenal.

Campers will learn how cybersecurity integrates with projects such as NASA’s Space Launch System, the FBI’s forensics program, and America’s missile defense program by taking part in cyber-related activities like learning basic computer science, building a computer, and witnessing demonstrations of cyberattacks and simulations of defensive cybersecurity strategies. They will also travel to the UAH campus for a “Defend the Flag” competition, in which student teams will compete to defend their computers from external cyberattacks.

In addition, campers will have two opportunities to view the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Road Show, hosted by UAH’s Systems Management and Production Center: on Tuesday afternoon, when it will be on display at the Conference Training Center on the UAH campus, and on Wednesday, when it will be on display at the USSRC.

Cyber Huntsville members will also be on hand to interact with the campers throughout the week, which will culminate in a cybersecurity job fair and a graduation ceremony scheduled for Friday, July 28, at 2 p.m. in the auditorium of the Education Training Facility at the USSRC.