CyberTexas Historic Pedigree
CyTX members have a long history of initiating and developing cybersecurity education programs since 1999.
Developments & Milestones
A chronological look back to our history.
First Meeting Of Area Leaders
Beginning… Co-chaired with Marc Gravely, the first Information Security Meeting – Downtown UTSA Conference Room (depicted), Attendees from Industry, Military and Academia and continued to create what is now the UTSA Cybersecurity Program…best in the Nation!
UTSA’s First Information Security Course
Personally recruited Dr. Greg White from SecureLogix to teach the first Information Security course at UTSA. Dr. White has since been the Executive Director of the Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security (CIAS) for nearly 20 years.
CIAS Established
Co-Founded the Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security (CIAS) at UTSA. Dr. Glenn Dietrich, selected as the first CIAS Executive Director.
NSA CAE Designation
Conceived the idea and initiated the application leading to the Designation of UTSA as an NSA Center Of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education. First university designated in Texas. Now designated in Cyber Research and Cyber Operations – few in the country have three designations.
Co-Founds ITSA – High School Cyber Program
Co-Founded the Information Technology And Security Academy (ITSA) – Alamo Colleges’ dual-college credit program focused on cybersecurity
Captured Startup CIAS Funding
Co-Founded the Information Technology And Security Academy (ITSA) – Alamo Colleges’ dual-college credit program focused on cybersecurity
Dark Screen – Citywide Cyber Exercise
Conceived and Co-Lead Dark Screen Exercise – The nation’s first Metropolitan cybersecurity exercise held in San Antonio.
UT Regents Approve UTSA Info Assurance Degrees
Bachelor’s degree in Infrastructure Assurance. Master’s in Information Technology with a Concentration in Infrastructure Assurance. Since then UTSA has developed 10 related undergraduate and graduate degrees.
Dark Screen Final Phase
Dark Screen Final Phase Dark Screen Phase III. Photo includes (L to R) Dr. Greg White (UTSA), Joe Sanchez (AIA), Jim Jorrie (UTSA), U.S. Congressman Ciro Rodriguez, President Dr. Ricardo Romo (UTSA), Col James Massaro (AIA)
Cyber Research Institute Founded
Co-Founded The Institute For Cyber Security (ICS) The founding of Institute for Cyber Security at UTSA
Cyber Innovation And Research Consortium (CIRC)
Founded the Cyber Innovation And Research Consortium (CIRC) with Our Lady of the Lake University, St. Mary’s University and UTSA as the first members. Today a dozen institutions are CIRC members.
Air Force Selects San Antonio as Home to AF Cyber Command (24 AF)
CTF Directors lead the citywide charge to share the tremendous capabilities and advantages San Antonio held to host the new Cyber Command.
First CyberPatriot Teams Fielded
Fielded Initial CyberPatriot Teams – Promoted CyberPatriot and assisted initial 24 teams
1st Mayor’s Cyber Cup Luncheon
Established San Antonio Mayor’s Cyber Cup Awards Luncheon – CTF holds inaugural Cyber Cup Luncheon for high school participants and coaches. Sponsored by area IT and cyber industry companies.
Designation as a CyberPatriot Center Of Excellence
With CTF leadership, National CyberPatriot Office and Air Force Association designates San Antonio as the second CyberPatriot Center of Excellence
CyberStar – Middle School Cyber Camp
Conceived And Developed CyberStar Middle School Camp. First Middle Cybersecurity School Camp developed in concert with Southwest High School students and teachers
National Champs!!!
CyberPatriot National Champions! Information Technology and Security Academy (ITSA) Wins CyberPatriot National Championship!
Cyber College Fair for Middle and High School Students
Incorporated a College Fair At Cyber Cup. Addition of College Fair with CIRC colleges and universities professors engaging with middle and high school students
CyberTexas Founded
Standup of CyberTexas Foundation to institutionalize cyber activities. Directors Joe Sanchez, Mark Gravely and Chris Cook
Creation Of St. Mary’s Cybersecurity Program
Initiated And Lead Development Of St. Mary’s University Cyber Program Master’s Degree in Cybersecurity and Certificate in Cybersecurity.
F.B.I. Director’s Leadership Award
CyberTexas Foundation Selected – F.B.I. Director’s Community Leadership Award. Joe Sanchez accepts award from Director James Comey.
Texas High School Cybersecurity Curriculum Approved
Principles Of Cybersecurity High School Course Approved by Texas Education Agency (TEA) TEA approves Principles of Cybersecurity (from CyberStar). Developed by Southwest I.S.D. and CyberTexas.
San Antonio Cyber Hall of Honor
Recognition Of Our Cyber Pioneers
Conceived The San Antonio Cyber Hall Of Honor – CyberTexas creates the San Antonio Cyber Hall of Honor. Mr. Larry Merritt, Mr. Lee Sutterfield, Dr. Greg White, and Dr. Glenn Dietrich inaugural inductees.
Internship Partnership – Booz|Allen|Hamilton
CyberTexas partners with Booz|Allen|Hamilton (BAH) San Antonio Office to provide internships to seniors on top CyberPatriot Teams. College-bound seniors of select teams to work on BAH’s federal R&D projects for up to four summers and school breaks. Grant exceeds $300,000.
Second Hall Of Honor Class
2017 Cyber Hall Of Honor Inductees – Centered Three – Mr. Dwayne Williams, Mr. Robert Kaufman, and Mr. Fred Ramirez
Third Hall Of Honor Class
Cyber Hall Of Honor Inductees Dr. Arthur Conklin, Dr. Keith Harrison, Ms. Angela Collazo, Mr. Arthur Celestin, Mr. Chris Gerritz inducted (pictured)
NSCC Inaugural Member
CyberTexas joins the National Security Collaboration Center (NSCC) at UTSA. Becomes the very first organization to financially support NSCC with staff support through college intern.
Created Federal Partners Group to Develop the NSCC
To effectively engage San Antonio federal entities, foundation member creates a TS/SCI, secure forum to define the roles and requirements of federal partners in NSCC.
Title Sponsor – Cyber Defender Card Competition
Title Sponsor of the Cyber Threat Defender Card Game Tournament held by CIAS. First annual CyberThreat Defender Card Game Tournament – over 32 participants trained in cybersecurity fundamentals. Winner 12-year-old Hamza Alsmadi Pictured with Dr. Greg White, UTSA and Adam Cavazos, CyberTexas
Most Teams In The Nation…Again!
Most CyberPatriot Teams Fielded (318) In The Nation For the third-year consecutive year, San Antonio fields most CyberPatriot teams in the nation
CyberPlay – Primary School Cybersecurity Program
In concert with Northside ISD and the CIAS, CyberPlay is developed for elementary school children (4th & 5th Graders) using CIAS’ Cyber Threat Defender Card Game.
Brought Together AF Cyber Training with Cyber Threat Defender Card Game
Connects Keesler AFB Cyber Training Squadrons with CIAS’ Cyber Threat Defender (CTD) Card Game. Through actions, AF cyber undergraduate cyber trainees receive CTD cards for use as basic cyber instruction elements.
TX Education Agency Approves Two Cybersecurity Courses
With CyberTexas’ CyberStar Middle School program as the genesis, the Foundations of Cybersecurity and Cybersecurity Capstone courses were approved by the Texas Education Agency beginning in the 2019-2020 school year.
2019 CyberTexas Job Fair With Clearedjobs.Net
In collaboration with ClearedJobs.net CyberTexas hosts a hiring event for cleared and non-cleared cybersecurity professionals as well as college-level students in a cybersecurity degree program.
Fourth Hall Of Honor Class
In collaboration with ClearedJobs.net CyberTexas hosts a hiring event for cleared and non-cleared cybersecurity professionals as well as college-level students in a cybersecurity degree program.
Combined CyberTexas/CIAS Conference
CyberTexas Foundation collaborated with the third Annual International Information Sharing Conference (IISC), hosted by the Information Sharing and Analysis Organization Standards Organization (ISAO SO).
Chic-fil-A Leader Academy
CyberTexas held Chic-fil-A’s national high school leadership program focused on IMPACT THROUGH ACTION to increase students’ desire and ability to be leaders in their community. Instructor – Ricky Banda, former CyberPatriot.
CTF Partners with Dan Teal and SAMSAT – Technological Artifacts for Museum
CTF humbly arranged and accepts Mr. Dan Teal’s historic technology artifacts he collected for decades. CTF then donates the artifacts to the San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology (SAMSAT). Pictured: Ernest Franke, Dan Teal and David Monroe
2020 San Antonio Mayor’s Cyber Cup
10th Annual San Antonio Mayor’s Cyber Cup Awards Luncheon and College Fair.
CyberPatriot Hall of Fame
National CyberPatriot Office inducts CyberTexas Foundation as the first inductee into the CyberPatriot Hall of Fame.
CyberPatriot National Champions!!!
Roosevelt High School’s Engineering and Technology Academy (ETA) won the 2020 CyberPatriot All-Service Division National Championship. The finals competition was held virtually for the first time due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Virtual Cyber Camps
CyTX hosts virtual cyber camps during pandemic
2020 SOC-A-THON
Congratulations to Anime for All Team, champions of the inaugural UTSA Cyber Range SOC-A-THON. The team was comprised of graduates from San Antonio’s Roosevelt High School CyberPatriot National Champs: Fardeen Bhimani, Jacob Rahimi, Harrison Lewis, Tristan Lee, and Freida Farias. The team performed a clinic through extraordinary teamwork.
SB 64 Cybersecurity Pathways Workgroup
Vice Chair of Working Group comprised of educators across Texas to develop a pathway for students from high school to community college.
CyberPatriot XIII All Service Runner Up – Roosevelt High School
Theodore Roosevelt High School Army JROTC Team Invicta earns Runner-Up in the All Service Division. The second highest competing team among 1414 teams across the country.
NEISD Launches Institute of Cybersecurity and Innovation (iCSI)
Led by Dr. Sean Maika and Josh Beck, NEISD opens iCSI, the premier high school cybersecurity program and facility.
San Angelo, TX (Concho Valley) Cybersecurity Roundup
At the request of Angelo State University and President Ronnie Hawkins, CyTX leads ASU to build and deliver a citywide cyber “roundup”.
CyTX Hosts Elementary School Cyber Camp in Uvalde
Three weeks after the tragedy in Uvalde, twelve mentors from 16 AF & NSA share knowledge with Uvalde elementary school students.
Hosts Middle School Cyber Camp in Uvalde
CyTX returns to Uvalde for Cyber camp with Cyber Viking, Frank Hall, 690 ISS, 16 AF.
CyberSphere in Idaho
Visit to Idaho National Labs and state’s cyber university/college programs.
Joins Alamo STEM Ecosystem as DoD STEM Education Consortium (DSEC) Hub
CyTX partners with ASE as DoD STEM Office selection as 4th DSEC Hub in the country.
UTSA Opens National Security Collaboration Center
Played leading role in forming Federal Partners Senior Group to define security and classified needs. Office in NSCC.
Mayor’s Cup Moves to Tech Center at Tech Port
Hosts 13th Annual S.A. Mayor’s Cyber Cup and College/Tech Fair at new Tech Port.
Roosevelt AJROTC Wins Cisco Network Challenge
Roosevelt Army JROTC Wins Cisco Networking Challenge at CP Nationals.
CyTX Hosts International Visitors
Assisted San Antonio Council of International Visitors (SACIV) by lining up cybersecurity education-based tours for international visitors…India.
DSEC Hub Delivers Teacher’s Externship
ASE DSEC Hub hosts 12 teachers at NEISD Career and Tech Education Center (CTEC) during weeklong Externship focused on STEM.
CyTX Hosts 67 CW Commander and Command Chief at iCSI
Col Sean Kern and CMSgt Lance Power visit iCSI leading to a significant increase in 16 AF mentors for CP Teams.
UTSA Groundbreaking – San Pedro III
President Taylor Eighmy leads UTSA’s vision of expanding cybersecurity, AI and ML at Groundbreaking Ceremony of San Pedro II.
DSEC Youth STEM Summit at St. Mary’s University
DSEC Hub hosts middle and high school STEM Summit at St. Mary’s University showcasing engineering, robotics, drones, cybersecurity and bio-engineering.
14th Annual S.A. Mayor’s Cyber Cup
CyTX hosts Cyber Cup with Mayor Ron Nirenberg, Lt Gen Kevin Kennedy, Col Stacy Kihara and LTG John Evans…and over 600 of our friends and CP Student Athletes.
Impact & Achievements
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