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                         May 2, 2003

(Left to right) Cadets 1st Class Dustin Medeiros, Justin Edgar, and Rain Ottis observe the Red Team’s "packet stream," during the annual cyber defense exercise.     (EE&C Photo)

The cadet team taking part in this year’s Cyber Defense Exercise put forth a valiant effort but came up just short.

Officials announced Monday that the NSA Information Assurance Director’s trophy would go to the Air Force Academy. The two-time defending champion cadets were a close second, defeating teams from the Naval, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine Academies.

The annual exercise attracts attention at both the national and international levels. Cadets and Midshipmen at all five U.S. service academies enter into direct cyber combat in efforts to maintain service functionality.

Cadets 1st Class Erik Sarson and Dustin Medeiros served as the operations officers and led Coalition Task Force Delta. Cadet 1st Class Brian Merkl served as the network engineer for the team.

Cadet 1st Class David Bergmann, leader of the Web-service team, said the annual Cyber Defense is vital.

"In the Army, maintaining security of our information systems means lives," he said.

Maj. Scott Lathrop, course director for the Information Assurance elective and head coach of the USMA team, said he was delighted with the cadets’ efforts.

"The cadets planned and executed a very formidable and complicated defense," Lathrop said.

"This exercise is the ultimate final exam and reinforces the cadets’ technical, tactical, and leadership skills. I am very proud of what they were able to accomplish," he added.