DEVELOPMENTS & MILESTONES
1999
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!
2000
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 15+ years.
2001
CIAS Established
Co-Founded the Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security (CIAS) at UTSA. Dr. Glenn Dietrich, selected as the first CIAS Executive Director.
2002
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
Garnered initial funding – Air Force appropriations for CIAS ($2.5M) through the AF Research and Development funds in the FY2003 DoD Appropriations Bill to conduct research for the Air Intelligence Agency (now 16AF). Since, total amount UTSA has received is approximately $100M from DoD and DHS.
Dark Screen – Citywide Cyber Exercise
Conceived and Co-Lead Dark Screen Exercise – The nation’s first Metropolitan cybersecurity exercise held in San Antonio.
2003
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)
2007
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.
2009
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.
2010
First CyberPatriot Teams Fielded
Fielded Initial CyberPatriot Teams – Promoted CyberPatriot and assisted initial 24 teams
2011
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.
2012
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
2015
CyberTexas Founded
Standup of CyberTexas Foundation to institutionalize cyber activities. Directors Joe Sanchez, Mark Gravely and Chris Cook
2016
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.
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.
2017
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.
2018
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
Developers Of Hands-On Cyber Exhibit
MathAlive! Exhibit Cyber Component Development Lead consultant to Evergreen Enterprises in their development of a cyber component to their exhibit to spark the imagination, to reveal not only math at work but the endless possibilities of math. Debut Honolulu, Hawaii – November 15, 2018 Canberra, Australia – Dec 1, 2018
2019
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
2019 Cyber Hall Of Honor Inductees J. Micheal Kretzer, Daniel M. Teal, Kevin J. Ziese, and Josh Beck inducted
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
2020 San Antonio Mayor’s Cyber Cup
10th Annual San Antonio Mayor’s Cyber Cup Awards Luncheon and College Fair.