Mark your calendars for the first-ever West Coast Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge in Monterey this fall.
The Middlebury Institute is partnering with the Atlantic Council to host the global cyber competition November 7–8, 2025. The event will be open to both undergraduate and graduate students from across the country.
“Hosting Cyber 9/12 aligns with the Middlebury Institute’s mission to contribute our policy analysis skills, analytical expertise, and intercultural and strategic communication capabilities to build a more peaceful and secure world,” said Dr. Karen Nershi, cybersecurity professor and codirector of the Institute’s Cyber Collaborative.
The event is structured as a policy and strategy competition that brings together multidisciplinary teams from across the region to tackle a realistic evolving cyber crisis scenario. The goal is to test a team’s ability to craft strategic recommendations for high-level decision makers.
“The Institute is the perfect place to bring together the kind of diverse networks and interdisciplinary expertise we need to address emerging challenges,” said Dr. Allison Stanger, who has been teaching courses on AI and global security at the Institute this year and may serve as one of the competition judges.
Join us in Monterey November 7–8.
Dr. Nershi shares details about why you don’t want to miss the first West Coast edition of the Cyber 9/12 competition.
Nershi notes the event is not a hackathon, where programmers rapidly write code and develop digital solutions. Students from diverse academic areas are encouraged to compete.
“This competition is not restricted to those with cybersecurity backgrounds,” said Nershi. “In fact, multidisciplinary teams will produce the unique policy solutions required to address these global challenges.”
Middlebury College undergraduate Owen Thornton spent spring 2025 taking graduate courses at the Institute through Study Away at Monterey and working as a research assistant at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies.
“Engaging with cybersecurity issues here in Monterey has been incredibly rewarding,” said Thornton. “I’m excited about the idea of helping put a team together of Middlebury College students to participate in the competition this November. It’s a great opportunity to think critically, collaborate under pressure, and get hands-on with real-world cyber policy challenges.”
Hosting Cyber 9/12 aligns with the Middlebury Institute’s mission to contribute our policy analysis skills, analytical expertise, and intercultural and strategic communication capabilities to build a more peaceful and secure world.
The Institute is currently recruiting cybersecurity, policy, and national security professionals to serve as judges. They have a chance to engage with the next generation of cyber leaders by providing feedback, mentorship, and evaluation. Those interested in judging can sign up here.
Sponsorship and other partnership opportunities will also be available, with more information to come about a career fair and networking event that will be part of the occasion. Potential sponsors can contact email Jake Lopata at cybercollaborative@middlebury.edu.
“Organizations in the public and private sectors have the opportunity to connect with top talent, contribute to workforce development, and support an event that is shaping the future of cybersecurity leadership,” Nershi said.
Middlebury Institute students have participated in virtual and in-person Cyber 9/12 competitions for years, with increased presence and success in recent years.
“This isn’t just a competition. It is an opportunity to gain leadership experience, develop critical decision-making skills, build connections between academia, government, and industry, and strengthen the global cyber policy community,” Nershi said.
Since its launch in Washington, D.C., in 2012, Cyber 9/12 has grown into a global competition, engaging students at the critical intersection of cybersecurity, national security, and policy decision making. Competitions are regularly held in cities across the U.S. and internationally, including in the United Kingdom, Costa Rica, and South Africa. Now, for the first time, the Middlebury Institute will host this one-of-a-kind learning experience on the West Coast, bringing together the next generation of cyber policymakers and industry leaders.
Registration will open in mid-August. Email cybercollaborative@middlebury.edu to be added to our email distribution list for news and reminders about the competition.
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