1. 2017 Palmetto Cyber Defense Competition
The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center (SSC) Atlantic, the Navy’s East Coast Engineering Center, in collaboration with the South Carolina Lowcountry Chapter of the Armed Forces Communications Electronics Association (AFCEA) facilitates a cyber defense competition each spring. The goal is to energize high schools, colleges, and their students to focus on the development of technical skills in the area of networking and cyber security. Pro Day teams use the event for workforce development/training, recruitment and the challenge of competing in the cyber arena
High Schools – Saturday, 8 April
Universities/Colleges – Sunday, 9 April
Pro Teams – Monday, 10 April
The Pro Day competition is held between a combination of industry and DoD teams. Each team may have up to six members and a team lead. Plus, two imbedded college students will be assigned. Q&A sessions will be provided for all Pro Day teams to help them prepare for the event. The current Secretary of the Air Force, Deborah Lee James is scheduled to speak on Pro Day.
Eight teams have six laptops from which to operate a live network and protect it from real hackers
Teams should include experts in the areas of networking, risk mitigation, databases, firewalls and operating systems
Teams are scored on keeping services running, performing business tasks and responding to attacks
Provides an opportunity for competitive workforce development in the Cyber Security profession
Fosters teamwork and opportunities for leadership and crisis management
Creates a recruitment opportunity for DoD and its Corporate Partners to see South Carolina’s finest STEM students in action
PCDC is NOT a hacking or capture the flag competition
1st place: Medals and a trophy
All teams receive: Challenge coins, lunch, beverages and snacks
Access to collected resumes of competing students
Palmetto Digital Forensics Competition
Saturday, 8 April 2017, Valuable Prizes
Separate divisions for High School Students and Collegiate/Pros
Individual participation only
Solve as many forensic scenarios as possible within the allotted time and accumulate the most points possible
To visit the PCDC website, go to To see a YouTube video on PCDC, visit or search YouTube for Palmetto Cyber Defense Competition.
Point of Contact: * Jeff Sweeney, SSC Atlantic, PCDC Director, or
Kenneth R. Dilks, AFCEA PCDC Committee Chair,