VMI cadets actively participate in cybersecurity, intelligence, and technology competitions to strengthen real-world analytical, technical, and leadership skills beyond the classroom. These competitions provide hands-on experience in problem solving, threat analysis, teamwork, briefing, and decision-making under pressure while preparing cadets for future careers in national security, cyber operations, intelligence, and related technical fields. Through regular training sessions, collaborative preparation, and a commitment to excellence, cadets apply concepts learned in VMI’s rigorous academic environment to practical scenarios and national-level challenges. Participation in these events reflects VMI’s emphasis on academic excellence, leadership development, and preparing graduates to succeed in complex and rapidly evolving operational environments.

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From VMI Headlines:

Additional Events

The Citadel Cyber Siege Competition: Oct 12-14, 2025

The Citadel Cyber Siege Competition was a two-day cybersecurity competition held October 12–14, 2025, at The Citadel in the Pearson Club at Johnson Hagood Stadium. Conducted as part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the event brought together cadets from all six Senior Military Colleges, including Virginia Military Institute, Virginia Tech, Texas A&M University, Norwich University, the University of North Georgia, and The Citadel. The competition featured realistic cyber defense and incident response challenges designed to test teamwork, technical operations, problem-solving, and decision-making skills in simulated operational cyber environments.

• Cyber Siege was a two-day cybersecurity competition
• Hosted at The Citadel
• Held in the Pearson Club at Johnson Hagood Stadium
• Took place during October 2025 as part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month
• Included cadets from all six Senior Military Colleges:
  • Virginia Military Institute
  • Virginia Tech
  • Texas A&M University
  • Norwich University
  • University of North Georgia
  • The Citadel
• Challenges focused on:
  • cyber defense
  • incident response
  • teamwork
  • realistic cyber scenarios
  • problem-solving and technical operations

Participant Cadet from VMI:  Abduhu Chaudury '27

 

NCX Competition 2025

March 30 – April 2
Hosted by: NSA

The NSA Cyber Exercise (NCX) is a premier cybersecurity competition hosted annually by the National Security Agency (NSA). The event brings together U.S. service academies, senior military colleges, and government cyber teams to participate in a multi-day cyber operations and Capture-the-Flag (CTF) exercise held at the Maritime Conference Center in Maryland.

Participant Cadets from VMI:  Singh RK, Brishke DW, Marini CM, Fitzsimmons SM, Smith RE, Ferlazzo SE, Strapponi AL, Ngo LQ, Poe MD, Myhre JM, Stotler JT, Finta TG, Morgan LE, Thompson DJ, Chaudhury AS, Zanganeh MM, Stower TJ, Watkins TW 

 

The Citadel Cyber Siege Competition 2024

The Citadel Cyber Siege Competition 2024 was a cybersecurity competition hosted by The Citadel during November 2024, bringing together cyber teams from Senior Military Colleges (SMCs) and other military-affiliated institutions. Participating schools appear to have included Virginia Tech, the University of North Georgia, West Point-affiliated teams, and additional SMC cyber units. The competition emphasized blue-team and defensive cyber operations through cyber workforce–style exercises focused on incident response, technical cyber defense, teamwork, and operational problem-solving in realistic cyber scenarios. 

• Hosted by The Citadel, November 2024
• Included Senior Military College (SMC) cyber teams
• Appears to have involved:
• Virginia Tech
• University of North Georgia
• West Point references
• other SMC cyber units
• Competition type:
• blue-team / defensive cyber operations
• cyber workforce style exercises
• incident response and technical cyber defense scenarios

Participants Cadets from VMI:  Cadet Daniel Brishke, Cadet Samuel Ferlazzo, Cadet Laini Morgan, Cadet Raj Singh, Cadet River Smith

 

The DoD CIO Cyber Workforce Summit, held in Washington, D.C. in March 2026

The DoD CIO Cyber Workforce Summit, held in Washington, D.C. in March 2026, was a major cybersecurity and workforce development conference organized in cooperation with AFCEA International and the National Defense University. The summit brought together Department of Defense leaders, military cyber units, government agencies, academia, and industry partners to discuss the future of cyber workforce readiness and cyber operations. Topics included implementation of the DoD 8140 cyber workforce framework, cyber talent development, digital workforce modernization, cyber education initiatives, and operational readiness. The event also featured cyber competitions and live workforce exercises involving Service Academies and Senior Military Colleges, emphasizing cyber defense, leadership, technical operations, and emerging cyber tactics.

Participants Cadets from VMI:  Buna, Eufenuel-John I., Lodge, Aiden S., Hobbs, Grace O., Pattada, Aadil T., Hagerich, Benjamin P.