Cyber Team places first in Kentucky at the Midwest Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition

 

MURRAY, Ky. — Murray State University’s Cyber Team achieved first place in Kentucky on Feb. 7, at the Midwest Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition Qualifier. Competing against students specializing in cybersecurity from the University of Louisville and Eastern Kentucky University, Murray State emerged as the state champion.

The competition included a total of 17 teams, with additional participants from Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa. As a result of their success, the Cyber Team will represent Kentucky and has advanced to the 2026 Erich J. Spengler Midwest Regional Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition. This event is scheduled to take place at Purdue University Northwest on March 20-21.

Established in 2004, the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition provides motivated post-secondary students with an opportunity to practice managing and securing existing network infrastructures. This competition evaluates students' capabilities in designing, configuring and safeguarding a network, assessing their effectiveness in detecting and responding to external threats, ensuring the availability of services such as email and web servers, addressing business requests such as adding or removing services, and balancing security requirements with business objectives.

Murray State’s team consists of eight students who are currently enrolled in the Cybersecurity and Network Management (CNM) program:

- Aiden Green (Taylorsville, Kentucky - team captain)

- Chelsea (Emery) Vickery (Madisonville, Kentucky - co-captain)

- Ryan Weathers (Crestwood, Kentucky)

- Erik Wilsey (Bloomfield, Kentucky)

- Dean Worley (Mayfield, Kentucky)

- Alex Holm (Louisville, Kentucky)

- Skyler Moyers (Murray, Kentucky)

- Eli Skipworth (Bowling Green, Kentucky)

The Murray State Cyber Team started as a student initiative in the fall of 2022, intending to foster interest in Capture the Flag events. As interest and participation in the Cyber Team grew, it was officially established as a student organization. Soon after, the team participated in its first competition at the National Center for Academic Excellence Cybergames, which provided valuable insights into the skill areas the team would focus on.

The Cyber Team receives instruction and coaching from a Cybersecurity and Network Management program instructor, Brandon Dixon, throughout the academic year to prepare for competitions and refine their competencies in threat detection and vulnerability analysis.

“Our program is relatively new compared to those of other institutions; consequently, we have been constantly refining our practices to strengthen our competitive position,” Dixon said. “Nevertheless, our primary focus remains on students' understanding of defensive principles and on intelligently applying that knowledge to secure systems.”

Over the past few years, the Cyber Team has explored various methods to enhance student skills and ultimately created a sandbox environment that simulates cyber operations for training purposes. This environment provides students with the opportunity to engage in activities focused on establishing defenses and conducting threat-hunting exercises. Team members can apply their theoretical knowledge in a practical setting that mirrors real-world cybersecurity operations.

Team captain Aiden Green said, “Being the captain of the Cyber Team has been an invaluable experience. The team has worked hard during their spare time to hone their cybersecurity skills and aptitudes. The competitions give all of us a platform to apply what we have learned in class in a real, practical setting.”

On the team's success so far this year, instructor Dixon stated, “The team deserves a great deal of credit for their dedication as they balance the commitments and learning requirements with their already demanding academic schedules. While our emphasis has been on learning rather than solely on winning, it is gratifying to achieve both.”

Murray State has expanded its cyber-related programs, which are now open for enrollment. The offerings include a bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity and Network Management featuring four specialization tracks: Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics, Cloud & Systems Administration, Industrial Cybersecurity, and, starting in fall 2026, Applied AI. Additionally, there is a master's degree in Cybersecurity Management and five certificates available: Cybersecurity Analyst Certificate, Industrial Cybersecurity Certificate, Cloud and Systems Administration Certificate, Digital Forensics Certificate and Cyber AI Certificate.

In 1997, Kentucky House Bill 1 created Programs of Distinction through the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education at public postsecondary institutions, including Murray State University’s cybersecurity program. Murray State offers a bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity and Network Management, along with an accelerated master’s degree (available online) in Cybersecurity Management that can be completed in 12-18 months and certificates at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

In 2019, Murray State was designated a Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CD) by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security. Additionally, Murray State CNM has been certified through the Quality Assurance Commons for the Essential Employability Qualities Certification and has won multiple national awards from ITERA, including Program of the Year.

Graduates join a global network of alumni who are employed at Google, Microsoft, Cisco Systems, Palo Alto Networks and Amazon Web Services, among others.

Additional information is available at murraystate.edu/cyber.