Inaugural Cybersecurity Competition Hosted by Regent University

May 14, 2026

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (May 14, 2026) — On April 11, high school and college students from across the Mid-Atlantic participated in a cyber-physical-systems themed Capture the Flag competition hosted by Regent University’s College of Arts & Sciences Engineering & Computer Science Department and Institute for Technology Innovation.

The first-ever event was specifically designed to introduce students to industrial control systems cybersecurity concepts and core security fundamentals through hands-on challenges. Made possible through a capacity-building grant from the National Security Agency, it is part of an effort to expand education on cyber-physical systems security, which protects the integration of computing, networking, and physical processes to securely monitor and control real-world processes.

The competition on Regent’s campus included 32 student participants representing Bowie State University, Old Dominion University, Regent University, Northern Virginia Community College, and Granby High School, as well as seven coaches. Competitors defended operational technology and IT infrastructure during active attacks, with Granby High School’s team securing the victory. These students were awarded virtual-reality headsets for use in cybersecurity simulations and other cyber activities.

“Our inaugural Industrial Control Systems Capture the Flag competition provided a memorable, high-energy, engaging, hands-on cybersecurity experience centered on protecting critical infrastructure,” said Alfa Nyandoro, Ph.D., Chair of Regent’s Engineering & Computer Science Department. “The event sparked strong collaboration across institutions, bringing together students and faculty in a dynamic environment that fostered innovation and teamwork. This exciting initiative significantly boosted student engagement and workforce readiness while highlighting the department’s growing impact on the community and leadership…

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