Cybersecurity isn’t a game—unless you’re on MIISsion Critical’s team analyzing online threats during the recent Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge.
“I wanted to extend my understanding of U.S. cybersecurity infrastructure and response frameworks as well as think creatively to solve issues,” said Shayiq Ahmed Shah, a nonproliferation and terrorism studies student graduating in 2026.
He was on one of the two teams of Middlebury Institute students who participated in this spring’s Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge. One team joined virtually; Shah’s team traveled to the in-person competition held in Washington, D.C.
The cyber competitions are organized by the nonpartisan U.S. think tank Atlantic Council. Students are tested on their ability to work in teams, analyzing and responding to a fictional cyber catastrophe. Variables for each competition include national or international stakeholders and private sector versus government.
Cybersecurity Professor Karen Nershi coached two student teams from the Institute for Cyber 9/12 competitions, accompanying one to the recent competition in Washington, D.C.
“Students have to formulate a policy memo as well as a briefing to inform members of National Security about how they should respond to this evolving cyber scenario,” said Karen Nershi, assistant professor of cybersecurity and codirector of the Cyber Collaborative.
“It gives you a chance to engage in immersive learning and touches on topics related to national policy, national security, and international security, as well as emerging cyber topics more generally,” Nershi said. “This is a really fun, exciting way to get immersed in the space of cyber and policy.”
For Shah, the interactivity helped model the real-life experience of collaborating with diverse team members in a high-pressure situation.
“You are always a part of a team where team members bring in different expertise and experiences in different fields,” he said. “The ability to compile that collective knowledge and skills and construct a uniformed response is something that Cyber 9/12 simulates perfectly for you.”
Shah said he hopes to secure a career in the global security industry, either in the private or nonprofit sector.
“Cyber 9/12 seemed like a wonderful opportunity to dip my feet into the realm of cybersecurity,” he said. “I do not hold an extensive background in technical concepts of cybersecurity. However, the intersectionality of security challenges excites me the most.”
The second team from the Institute joined virtually and included Chip Myers, Lyndsey Breksa, Annamarie Sofranek, and Itfa Khurshid. They delivered a strong performance during the competition, building on their expertise in great power competition, international diplomacy and organizations, and cyber.
That intersectionality of topics provides a great opportunity for Middlebury Institutes to shine at the Cyber 9/12 competition, Shah said.
“Institute students are uniquely poised to compete in the competition, given that we have students who are interested in and experts in a variety of security fields,” Shah said. Programs and specializations like cybersecurity, threat intelligence, cryptocurrency, and international development are all relevant fields at the competition.
This is a really fun, exciting way to get immersed in the space of cyber and policy.
While MIISsion Critical, Shah’s team, did not win the competition, he feels like he walked away knowing what to tweak to take it all next time. Feedback from judges, also experts in cybersecurity, was particularly valuable, Shah said.
“I came away knowing we had approached the preparation for the competition with professionalism and integrity,” Shah said. “I’m looking forward to incorporating the feedback we received and striving for more next time around.”
As for the next time, Middlebury Institute has been selected as the location for a Cyber 9/12 competition—the first one ever on the West Coast.
Online Master of Science in Cybersecurity
Master of Arts in Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies
Cyber Collaborative
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