Oklahoma Army National Guardsman 1st Lt. Makya Stell, assigned to the 205th Network Signal Company, 45th Field Artillery Brigade, wins the annual “NetWars” games during the Cyber Shield training event held at the Virginia National Guard State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach on June 8th, 2024. Stell was the first woman to have ever won the “NetWars” games as an individual player. SANS NetWars focuses on the practical application and assessment of hands-on cybersecurity training. The cyber range enables individuals to apply the knowledge they gained during training week in an isolated environment that prepares them for exercise week. Cyber Shield is the longest running and largest Department of Defense cyber exercise that is composed of approximately 900 N.G. and Army Reserve Soldiers, Airmen, civilian cyber professionals, and international partners from across the globe. (North Carolina National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Hannah Tarkelly).
Oklahoma Army National Guardsman 1st Lt. Makya Stell, assigned to the 205th Network Signal Company, 45th Field Artillery Brigade, wins the annual “NetWars” games during the Cyber Shield training event held at the Virginia National Guard State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach on June 8th, 2024. Stell was the first woman to have ever won the “NetWars” games as an individual player. SANS NetWars focuses on the practical application and assessment of hands-on cybersecurity training. The cyber range enables individuals to apply the knowledge they gained during training week in an isolated environment that prepares them for exercise week. Cyber Shield is the longest running and largest Department of Defense cyber exercise that is composed of approximately 900 N.G. and Army Reserve Soldiers, Airmen, civilian cyber professionals, and international partners from across the globe. (North Carolina National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Hannah Tarkelly).
Virginia Beach, Va. – The NetWars game clock quickly wound down as the top competitors fought for first place. The participants were typing away and intently discussing how to solve the last challenges. The room was filled with cyber security experts and “newbies” from around the world who had their eyes glued to screens riddled with cyber challenges at the State Military Reserve Virginia Beach on June 9th, 2024.
As the final minutes of the two-night cyber showdown approached, the tension was palpable. The screens flickered and went dark, concealing the current standings in a suspenseful blackout. The SANS network team gathered closely around their monitors, eyes fixed on the top three contenders as they engaged in a fierce...
