Cyber Centurion - Northrop Grumman

Next Generation of Cyber Security Professionals Compete in National CyberCenturion Final

Thu, 05 Mar 2020 13:00:00 GMT

LONDON – March 5, 2020 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) welcomed 60 young finalists to compete for the title of this year’s UK national CyberCenturion VI champions. In partnership with Cyber Security Challenge UK, CyberCenturion is a sister programme to the U.S. CyberPatriot competition. It is funded by the Northrop Grumman Foundation and supported by the U.S. Air Force Association.

Two thousand students registered for CyberCenturion VI and teams completed a series of real-life cyber defence tasks in qualifying rounds that began in September 2019. Team members have developed technical abilities as well as professional skills such as teamwork, problem solving, communication and perseverance that employers value.

“Thanks to competitions like CyberCenturion, the next generation is learning skills for the future and being inspired to pursue rewarding careers in cyber security,” said Nick Chaffey, chief executive, Northrop Grumman UK and Europe. “Northrop Grumman’s full involvement in this global STEM education programme across the world helps to build the pipeline of future cyber talent. It is an unrivalled opportunity for young people to learn key cyber skills and engage with industry and cyber professionals.”

Teams competed in two age groups, 12-15 and 15-18 years old, and four categories: all female, all male, mixed and cadet. Top scoring teams from each group and the overall standout top scorers were invited to the live final.

“We’ve now run the competition in the UK for six years, growing from just 50 players in our first year to around 2,000 registrations for CyberCenturion VI,” said Dr Robert Nowill, chairman, Cyber Security Challenge UK. “Through initiatives like CyberCenturion, we’ve introduced more than 8,000 young people to the challenges and rewards of cyber security, broadening the reach of the industry and opening it up to those who may not otherwise be exposed to such valuable extra-curricular experiences.”

Matthew Dawson, a previous CyberCenturion competitor added, "CyberCenturion has had a massive impact on my life. The competition helped cement my ambition of having a career in cyber, as well as enabling me to stand out from the crowd and secure a place at university. I wouldn't be where I am today without it."

Northrop Grumman solves the toughest problems in space, aeronautics, defense and cyberspace to meet the ever evolving needs of our customers worldwide. Our 90,000 employees define possible every day using science, technology and engineering to create and deliver advanced systems, products and services.

]]>

Northrop Grumman Sponsors 2019 CyberCenturion Competition in London

Thu, 07 Mar 2019 08:00:00 GMT

LONDON – March 7, 2019 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) welcomes some of the UK’s brightest 12-18 year olds to compete in the fifth National Finals of CyberCenturion, a nationwide cyber defence competition led by Northrop Grumman, in partnership with Cyber Security Challenge UK, and with support from the U.S. Air Force Association.

The CyberCenturion clock is ticking. The National Final Competition is set to begin at Plexal Innovation Hub, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, East London.

More than 470 teams from across the UK and Overseas Territories took part in a series of intense qualifying rounds over the last six months. The fifteen top performing teams will battle it out to win a trip to Washington, D.C. Held at Plexal, East London’s exciting tech and innovation hub, the teams will compete in a challenge that will test their cyber defence skills, as they protect their fictional Cyber Citadel against simulated cyberattacks.

“This is the fifth year that Northrop Grumman has run the CyberCenturion competition in the UK, and we are immensely proud to continue our commitment to cyber education,” said Nick Chaffey, chief executive, Northrop Grumman UK and Europe. “The future success of our industry depends on attracting the very best innovators, and it is up to industry leaders to deliver education programmes such as CyberCenturion that will excite, engage and inspire young people. I am excited to be here today to see the teams compete and wish them all the best of luck.”

CyberCenturion engages thousands of talented young individuals who are curious about cyber security and eager to put any existing cyber skills to the test. It mirrors the U.S. CyberPatriot competition, part of a global youth STEM education programme presented by the Northrop Grumman Foundation and created by the U.S. Air Force Association, aimed at inspiring youth to pursue careers in cyber security or other STEM disciplines critical to global security.

The finalists will be faced with a vast array of simulated security risks present in today’s increasingly digital and connected world, adopting the role of cyber security specialists for the Cyber Citadel task force, working with large retailers to secure their customer data assets and network infrastructure. They will also meet cyber professionals and learn about the educational pathways that lead to a broad range of career opportunities in the cutting-edge cyber security sector, which help defend the UK and global companies from cyberattacks.

This year’s competition is split into four categories across two age groups to encourage greater diversity and in recognition of the critical need for a wide range of perspectives, academic backgrounds, experiences and problem-solving abilities in the cyber security industry. Girls, boys, mixed and cadets of 12-14 years and 15-18 years will compete, and the top scoring team in the higher age group category will win an all-expenses paid trip to the U.S.

“Now in its fifth year, we’re incredibly proud and inspired to see such a diverse group of finalists competing to win the CyberCenturion champion title,” said Colin Lobley, CEO, Cyber Security Challenge UK. “This competition is about developing the type of well-rounded talent that’s in huge demand in our industry. Participants must be more than just their technical ability–it’s also about clear communication, leadership and teamwork. A huge well done to all the students and team leaders taking part!”

Cyber Security Challenge UK is supported in part by the National Cyber Security Programme – the Government’s £1.9 billion investment to significantly transform the UK’s cyber security. The 2016-2021 National Cyber Security Strategy sets out how the UK Government will deliver a UK that is secure and resilient to cyber threats; prosperous and confident in the digital world.

Northrop Grumman and the Northrop Grumman Foundation are dedicated to expanding and enhancing sustainable science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education opportunities for students globally. In 2018, the organizations contributed nearly $20 million to diverse, STEM-focused organizations and programs. Our partnerships focus on engineering and technology-based initiatives that excite, engage and educate students and provide professional development opportunities for their teachers, with an emphasis on middle school and university level programs. Defending cyber networks, engineering autonomous vehicles and exploring space are some of the capabilities students develop as they experience the excitement of STEM through programs supported by Northrop Grumman and the Northrop Grumman Foundation. Initiatives such as the Northrop Grumman Foundation Teachers Academy provide professional development opportunities for STEM teachers, who inspire students to pursue STEM careers.

Northrop Grumman is a recognised leader in cyber resilience solutions with more than thirty years’ experience in cyber security and information assurance. The company is a member of CyberFirst and CyberInvest, and leads CyberCenturion, the cyber defence competition for 12-18 year olds. For more about Northrop Grumman in cyber, go to www.northropgrumman.com/cyber. For information about careers in cyber in the UK, go to http://www.northropgrumman.com/careers.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, space, strike, and logistics and modernization to customers worldwide. Please visit news.northropgrumman.com and follow us on Twitter, @NGCNews, for more information.

]]>

Northrop Grumman Announces Winners of 2018 CyberCenturion Competition to Find Diverse Cyber Security Talent of the Future

Mon, 12 Mar 2018 19:30:00 GMT

LONDON – March 12, 2018 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2018 CyberCenturion competition following an exciting face-to-face final against the clock between 10 teams aged 12-18 years.

The CyberCenturion team winners were announced at the Institute of Engineering and Technology, London, where the finals were held following a daylong competition on March 8. Northrop Grumman leads CyberCenturion in partnership with Cyber Security Challenge U.K.

The overall winner of the CyberCenturion national finals was: St. George’s School, Edgbaston.

The runners-up were St. Paul’s School, Barnes and Frome College, Somerset.

Team category winners were:

All male team winners - St. George's School, Edgbaston
All female team winners - Bayside Comprehensive School, Gibraltar
Mixed team winners – St. Paul’s School, Barnes
Cadet team winners - Sandbach School Combined Cadet Force

The prize awarded to the overall winners was a visit to the U.S. to see Northrop Grumman’s facilities and learn more about cyber security. In addition, each of the winning teams received trophies and medals, and have the opportunity to build key networks with individuals in the industry who could help them work toward a career in cyber security.

“Creating greater awareness of STEM and building a more diverse workforce is a national imperative, and CyberCenturion is spearheading these efforts, helping to address the urgent need to foster the cyber talent of the future. CyberCenturion’s growth in popularity as a means of engaging talented young individuals curious about technology and cyber security has been amazing, and it is particularly pleasing to see diversity among the teams, with an all-girls team and a cadets team competing in the finals this year,” said Andrew Tyler, chief executive, Northrop Grumman Europe. “We congratulate our winners and all of the teams who took part in the competition on their achievements and look forward to the positive impact they will make in the future in addressing our global security challenges.”

“CyberCenturion is inspiring young people, early-on, from different locations, educational experiences and backgrounds to get excited about academics and careers in this much-needed field,” said Diane Miller, director, Global Cyber Education and Workforce Development Programs, Northrop Grumman. “We are proud to partner with the Air Force Association (AFA) on this critical STEM initiative.”

The 10 finalists were among teams from across the U.K. and Overseas Territories who competed in a series of intense qualifying rounds which took place during the last six months, to reach the finals. The competition scenario in the finals required the teams to adopt the persona of security experts working for a fictional gaming association that has been tasked with helping to secure the gaming industry after a spate of cyber security attacks. Competitors used their cyber security skills to identify vulnerabilities in the networks, make critical patches and defend the system against attacks.

Now in its fourth consecutive year, CyberCenturion is the U.K.'s first team-based cyber security contest specifically designed to attract 12-18 year olds. The competition aims to engage and inspire talented young people with an interest in cyber as a way to address the national skills gap in STEM subjects and encourage careers in cyber security.

CyberCenturion is the U.K. version of the proven CyberPatriot competition, part of a major U.S. national youth cyber STEM education programme presented by the Northrop Grumman Foundation and created by the AFA. It is part of the company's commitment to promoting STEM education and to helping build the U.K.'s pool of diverse talent in cyber security. The CyberPatriot competition in the U.S. has already engaged more than 300,000 children, educating them on the opportunities in cyber security across the U.S. Eighty percent of those who have taken part in CyberPatriot now plan to pursue a higher education course in cyber or STEM.

The competition is one of many initiatives led by Northrop Grumman to help identify the best young cyber talent. Northrop Grumman is addressing the cyber talent issue around the world and in addition to CyberCenturion in Europe and CyberPatriot in the U.S., the company now also has CyberArabia in the Middle East.

The AFA is a nonprofit, independent, professional military and aerospace education association.

Cyber Security Challenge U.K. is a nationwide programme aimed at bringing more talented people into the cyber security profession and build a bigger U.K. cyber talent pool to help address the skills shortage that affects government bodies, businesses and citizens alike.

The overall winners of the 2018 CyberCenturion national finals, “You Really Can’t ‘C’ Me” from St. George’s School ,Egbaston, receiving their prize from Oliver Dowden MP, Minister for Implementation, Cabinet Office (second from left) and Andrew Tyler, chief executive, Northrop Grumman Europe (far right).

Northrop Grumman is a recognised leader in cyber resilience solutions with more than 30 years’ experience in cyber security and information assurance. The company is a member of CyberFirst and CyberInvest, and leads CyberCenturion. To find out more about CyberCenturion go to: http://cybersecuritychallenge.org.uk/

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, strike, and logistics and modernization to customers worldwide. Please visit news.northropgrumman.com and follow us on Twitter, @NGCNews, for more information.

]]>

Northrop Grumman Sets Record Growth for CyberCenturion and Launches 2017-2018 Competition

Thu, 02 Nov 2017 09:00:00 GMT

LONDON – Nov. 3, 2017 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has launched the 2017-2018 season of 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 formal kickoff of the first round of both the CyberCenturion and CyberPatriot competitions was held today at the Air Force Association headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. CyberCenturion will hold two more rounds on Dec. 8 and Jan. 19, 2018, with their national finals March 8, 2018, in London.

“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. We look forward to an exciting competition and to seeing the teams progressing through the opening rounds towards the finals.”

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. To find out more about CyberCenturion and Cyber Security Challenge U.K., go to: https://www.cybersecuritychallenge.org.uk/competitions/cybercenturion

“Building tomorrow’s cyber workforce is a global imperative and we are thrilled to be spearheading this effort to address the urgent need to jump-start the workforce and foster the cyber leadership of tomorrow,” said Diane Miller, director, global cyber education and workforce development programs, Northrop Grumman.

The Air Force Association is a nonprofit, independent, professional military and aerospace education association. Its mission is to promote a dominant United States Air Force and a strong national defence, and to honour Airmen and the Air Force Heritage.

Northrop Grumman is a leading provider of full-spectrum cyber solutions to the United States government and to allied nations around the world. The company builds cyber into every system, platform, and product that it produces in order to enhance mission assurance and resiliency, while investing both in innovative technology and cyber talent of the future. For information about careers in cyber in the U.K., go to http://www.northropgrumman.com/careers.

]]>

Northrop Grumman Grows CyberCenturion and Launches 2016-2017 Competition

Tue, 15 Nov 2016 16:33:00 GMT

LONDON – Nov. 15, 2016 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has launched the 2016-2017 season of CyberCenturion, the U.K.’s national youth cyber defence competition for 12-18 year olds. More than 130 teams from across the country registered to participate in the competition, marking a nearly threefold increase from last year.

This is the third 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. The formal kickoff of the first round of both the CyberCenturion and CyberPatriot competitions were held on Friday, Nov. 11 at Air Force Association headquarters in Washington D.C.

“The growth in the number and diversity of teams that have entered this year has been outstanding and indicates the increasing interest that young people have in cyber security,” said Andrew Tyler, chief executive, Northrop Grumman Europe. “Promoting education in STEM is critically important for Northrop Grumman and through CyberCenturion, we look forward to identifying and nurturing the cyber talent of the future.”

CyberCenturion, delivered in partnership with Cyber Security Challenge U.K., is aimed at engaging talented young people with an interest in cyber to encourage them to pursue academic and career opportunities in cyber security and help close the skills gap.

“Building tomorrow’s cyber workforce is a global imperative and we are thrilled to be spearheading this effort to address the urgent need to jumpstart the workforce and foster the cyber leadership of tomorrow,” said Diane Miller, director, global cyber education and workforce development programmes, Northrop Grumman.

The Air Force Association is a non-profit, independent, professional military and aerospace education association. Their mission is to promote a dominant United States Air Force and a strong national defence, and to honour Airmen and their Air Force Heritage.

]]>

Northrop Grumman Announces Winners of UK's CyberCenturion Competition to Find Cyber Security Talent of the Future

Thu, 05 May 2016 10:27:00 GMT

LONDON, May 5, 2016 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) announces the winners of the 2016 CyberCenturion national finals, a team competition in a high-pressure, face-to-face cyber defence scenario against the clock. The competition is one of many initiatives led by Northrop Grumman to help identify the best young cyber talent.

The national final was held in the National Museum of Computing at Bletchley Park and was won by G-Sec, a team from Bayside Comprehensive School, Gibraltar.

CyberCenturion is the U.K.'s first team-based cyber security contest specifically designed to attract 12-18 year olds. Delivered in partnership with Cyber Security Challenge U.K., the competition aims to engage talented young people with an interest in cyber as a way to address the national skills gap in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects and encourage careers in cyber security.

The ten teams in the finals, who competed against hundreds of players from across the UK and Overseas Territories over three qualifying rounds, were tasked to defend a fictitious newly created Internet of Things (IoT) business which was vulnerable to cyber attacks. The scenario tasked contestants to analyse the company's network and identify and remediate security flaws across different operating systems â much like those found in businesses across the country today.

"There is a huge pool of untapped talent and enthusiasm for STEM subjects among young people and we believe we can use our world-leading expertise in cyber to help dramatically boost the UK's STEM skills base," added Andrew Tyler, Chief Executive Europe, Northrop Grumman. "We are addressing this issue around the world and in addition to CyberCenturion in Europe and CyberPatriot in the US, we now also have CyberArabia in the Middle East, each aimed at developing talent and helping inspire and enable young people to pursue a career in cyber security. It is critical for the future of our global infrastructure that young people are engaged and that the talent pipeline is filled in this important area."

"This year we saw double the number of teams signing up to play; a fantastic result and one we'd like to see again in the third year of the competition," said Stephanie Daman, CEO at Cyber Security Challenge UK. "With an expected deficit of 1.5 million unfulfilled jobs in cyber globally by 2020, we need to get children interested in cyber at an early age and the diversity of jobs in the sector means we need individuals from different backgrounds, interests and areas too."

CyberCenturion is the U.K. version of the proven CyberPatriot competition, part of a major U.S. national youth cyber STEM education programme presented by the Northrop Grumman Foundation and created by the Air Force Association. It is part of the company's commitment to promoting STEM education and to helping build the U.K.'s pool of talent in cyber security. The CyberPatriot competition in the U.S. has already engaged more than300,000 children, educating them on the opportunities in cyber security across the U.S. Eighty percent of those who have taken part in CyberPatriot now plan to pursue a higher education course in cyber or STEM .

The competition was modelled after the U.S. CyberPatriot Youth Cyber Defense Competition, a programme created by the Air Force Association, a nonprofit organisation advocating for education, and presented by the Northrop Grumman Foundation.

To find out more about CyberCenturion go to: https://cybersecuritychallenge.org.uk

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, strike, and logistics and modernisation to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.

]]>

Northrop Grumman Demonstrates Global Commitment to Building Tomorrow's Cyber Workforce

Thu, 07 Apr 2016 13:04:00 GMT

BALTIMORE, April 7, 2016 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) and the Northrop Grumman Foundation will sponsor cyber defense competitions this month in the U.S., Middle East and Europe demonstrating the company's global commitment to cyber education and workforce development and the importance of inspiring tomorrow's youth to pursue a career in cybersecurity. In addition, the company will sponsor a cyber workforce discussion featuring Tony Scott, U.S. federal chief information officer.

"Cyber is a borderless threat. Globally, we face a critical shortage of trained professionals ready to take on the job of securing our systems and networks," said Kathy Warden, corporate vice president and president, Northrop Grumman Mission Systems. "We are channeling our expertise to help tomorrow's workforce develop the skills and competencies needed to succeed and keep all sectors of our economy safe. These competitions are a great way to get youth involved and open their eyes to the enormous potential of pursuing an education and a career in cybersecurity."

Competitions:

The 8 ^th annual CyberPatriot competition is slated for April 12 in Baltimore. Created by the Air Force Association and presented by the Northrop Grumman Foundation , teams of high school and middle school students will compete face-to-face in a one-day event to defend virtual networks and mobile devices from a professional aggressor team. A record 3,300 teams entered nationwide this year, with the top 28 teams - including three middle school teams - competing in the finals. Media are invited to attend the competition. For more information, click here or follow the competition on Twitter @CyberPatriot, #CP8Finals.
The CyberArabia competition will take place at King Saud University, Riyadh, in Saudi Arabia on April 18 and 19. This is the second year that Northrop Grumman has hosted this two-day cyber security awareness and training session, which will include a hands-on training workshop culminating in a cyber defense competition on both the men's and women's campuses.
The CyberCenturion competition will be held at the National Museum of Computing, Bletchley Park, in the United Kingdom on April 26. Now in its second year, CyberCenturion is the U.K.'s first team-based cyber security contest for 12-18 year olds. Sponsored by Northrop Grumman in partnership with Cyber Security Challenge U.K., the competition aims to engage talented young people with an interest in cyber as a way to bridge the national skills gap in STEM subjects and encourage careers in cyber security. Media are invited to attend the competition. For more about CyberCenturion, click here . Or follow the conversation on Twitter @CyberChallenge, #CyberCenturion.

In addition to these competitions, Northrop Grumman will sponsor a cyber workforce discussion with Passcode on April 12 titled "Workforce 2.0: How to cultivate cybersecurity professionals." Headlining the discussion will be Tony Scott, U.S. federal chief information officer, along with Rodney Petersen, leader of the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education at the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology, Maryland. Follow the conversation on Twitter via the hashtag #SecurityCulture and @csmpasscode . Or follow the livestream here .

Northrop Grumman and the Northrop Grumman Foundation are committed to supporting cyber security education, training, technology and workforce development. Highlights include the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) Cyber Scholars program; the University of Maryland Advanced Cybersecurity Experience for Students program; the university-based Cybersecurity Research Consortium ; the Cync incubator program in partnership with bwtech@UMBC; UK CyberInvest , in which the company is an industry partner, and numerous other global academia-focused partnerships. For more about Northrop Grumman in cyber, go to www.northropgrumman.com/cyber .

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, strike, and logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.

]]>

Northrop Grumman Announces Finalists for 2016 CyberCenturion Competition

Fri, 19 Feb 2016 20:00:00 GMT

LONDON, Feb. 19, 2016 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has announced the ten teams who have qualified for the CyberCenturion National Finals, to be held on April 26 at The National Museum of Computing, Bletchley Park. The teams have competed in three gruelling rounds of intense online cyber battles over the past four months to reach this stage of the competition.

Now in its second year, CyberCenturion is the U.K.'s first team-based cyber security contest for 12-18 year olds. Sponsored by Northrop Grumman in partnership with Cyber Security Challenge U.K., the competition aims to engage talented young people with an interest in cyber as a way to bridge the national skills gap in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects and encourage careers in cyber security.

This year's finalists are from across the U.K., and includes one team from Gibraltar. The teams (in no particular order) are:

G-Sec (Bayside School, Gibraltar)
Tom & Co (Frome Community College, Frome)
Jake & Co (Frome Community College, Frome)
Matrix Mk IV (King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford)
KEGS Sixth (King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford)
OpAmps (King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford)
You can't "C" me (St George's School, Edgbaston)
St George's Cybers (St George's School, Edgbaston)
REFRESH (independent team, Ipswich)
CADS 2 (Cyber Apprenticeship Development Scheme, Malvern)

"Promoting STEM education and building the cyber talent pool is vitally important for Northrop Grumman, and CyberCenturion has provided a fantastic opportunity for young people interested in the world of cyber security to get their first real experience of the scenarios and challenges that today's professionals grapple with on a daily basis," said Andrew Tyler, chief executive Europe, Northrop Grumman. "We offer our congratulations to all the finalists, and look forward to welcoming them to the National Finals at The National Museum of Computing in April."

Cyber Centurion is the U.K. version of the highly successful CyberPatriot programme in the United States that is presented and delivered by the Northrop Grumman Foundation and the non-profit Air Force Association. Northrop Grumman's commitment to presenting the competition is key to company's desire to inspire young people to choose and consider cyber security and STEM subjects as career paths, and to broaden the cyber talent pool in the U.K.

To find out more about CyberCenturion go to: http://cybersecuritychallenge.org.uk/ or http://www.northropgrumman.com/CorporateResponsibility/Pages/CyberCenturion.aspx

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, strike, and logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.

]]>

Photo Release -- Northrop Grumman Launches 2016 CyberCenturion Competition to Find UK's Young Cyber Security Talent

Tue, 21 Apr 2015 15:00:00 GMT

Company continues commitment to cyber STEM education in UK and building UK cyber workforce

LONDON â April 21, 2015 â Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has announced that it has renewed its commitment to run the successful CyberCenturion competition for a second year in 2016, continuing its efforts to seek out the U.K.'s best young cyber talent.

Today's announcement follows the conclusion last week of a highly successful 2015 pilot competition. The National Finals Competition was held in the National Museum of Computing at Bletchley Park and was won by a team from King Edward VI Grammar School (KEGS), Chelmsford in Essex. It marked the successful completion of nine months of intense competition representing the U.K.'s first national cyber security competition, outside of the classroom, for this age group.

Eight teams competed in last week's final, each taking on the role of cyber-experts at a fictional video games company under attack by rival businesses trying to steal valuable industry information. Their task was to protect sensitive customer data and valuable intellectual property against theft by malicious hackers. Contestants battled it out at under the watchful eyes of world-leading cyber experts from Northrop Grumman, Fujitsu, the National Museum of Computing, the National Commissioner and the U.S. Air Force Association's CyberPatriot programme.

"Promoting education in STEM and building the talent pool in cyber is a core focus for Northrop Grumman and CyberCenturion has provided a fantastic opportunity for young people interested in the world of cyber security to get their first real experience of the scenarios and challenges that professionals have to grapple with on a daily basis," said Andrew Tyler, chief executive, Northrop Grumman Europe. "We offer our congratulations to the winners from KEGS and look forward to continuing our partnership with Cyber Security Challenge U.K. to grow CyberCenturion so that it will be as successful in the U.K. as CyberPatriot has been in the U.S. in cultivating the cyber professionals of the future."

"Partnering with Northrop Grumman provides an opportunity to draw on the company's invaluable expertise and experience in delivering cyber skills education across the U.S.," said Stephanie Daman, CEO at Cyber Security Challenge U.K. "People begin thinking about their future careers at an increasingly young age and it is vital that we find ways to get children interested in STEM early on, in order to curb the skills gap we are experiencing now."

CyberCenturion is the U.K. version of the proven CyberPatriot competition, part of a major U.S. national youth cyber STEM education programme presented by the Northrop Grumman Foundation and created by the Air Force Association. It is part of the company's commitment to promoting STEM education and to helping build the U.K.'s pool of talent in cyber security. The CyberPatriot competition in the U.S. has already engaged more than 250,000 children, educating them on the opportunities in cyber security across the U.S. Eighty percent of those who have taken part in CyberPatriot now plan to pursue a higher education course in a STEM subject.

To find out more about CyberCenturion go to: http://cybersecuritychallenge.org.uk/ . Registration for CyberCenturion 2016 is now open and team leaders can register their interest here .

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems, cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernisation to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information

  CONTACT: Ken Beedle
         +44 (0) 207 747 1910 (office)
         +44 (0) 7787 174092 (mobile)
         ken.beedle@euro.ngc.com

]]>