Northrop Grumman announces launch of 2017-2018 CyberCenturion Competition

November 3, 2017 – Northrop Grumman Corporation has launched this year’s CyberCenturion, the U.K.’s national youth cyber defence competition for 12-18 year olds. A record 575 teams, made up of more 2,500 students, including 116 all-female and 45 cadet teams from across the country have registered to participate, marking a more than threefold increase over last year.

This is the fourth consecutive year the CyberCenturion competition has been held.

CyberCenturion is the U.K. version of the proven CyberPatriot competition, part of a major U.S. national youth cyber education programme presented by the Northrop Grumman Foundation and created by the Air Force Association. It is a key element of the company’s commitment to promoting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and is aimed at engaging students with an interest in cyber to encourage them to pursue academic and career opportunities in STEM to help close the skills gap.

The competition is played over three rounds with the formal kickoff beginning Friday, Nov. 3, at the Air Force Association headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. The two rounds following take place Dec. 8 and Jan. 19, and culminate in the National Finals held in London, March 8, 2018.

CyberPatriot also formally starts tomorrow.

 “This year we have seen truly amazing growth in the number and diversity of teams that have entered the competition showing the increasing interest that young people have in cyber security,” said Andrew Tyler, chief executive, Northrop Grumman Europe. “CyberCenturion is an important and popular means of inspiring young people to take further studies and follow careers in cyber.”

CyberCenturion is delivered in partnership with Cyber Security Challenge U.K., a nationwide programme focused on bringing more talented people into the cyber security profession and building a bigger U.K. cyber talent pool for government, businesses and citizens.