Sierra Cyber Summit Unites Partners to Build Tomorrow’s Cyber Workforce
The Sierra Cyber Summit, co-hosted by Cerro Coso Community College, the Griffiss Institute, and TechGrid, recently had a full weekend of innovation, teamwork, and discovery that left participants energized about the future of cybersecurity in the Eastern Sierra and beyond.
Held October 24–25 at TechGrid in Ridgecrest, the two-day event welcomed students, educators, and community members to explore cybersecurity through hands-on workshops, a career networking session, and an exciting Capture-the-Flag (CTF) hackathon.
The summit’s mission was simple yet powerful — to connect learners with real-world experiences that spark curiosity and build pathways to high-demand careers.
The CTF hackathon featured teams tackling simulated cybersecurity challenges that tested creativity, collaboration, and technical skill.
Teams competed side-by-side with guidance from a technical team, to think like defenders in real-world cyber scenarios. The goal was to solve technical challenges to “capture flags” — small pieces of data (like secret codes or tokens) hidden in problems, and the team who “captured” the most flags won.
Congratulations to the winning team, “Little Bits,” for taking the top spot in the hackathon!
“Hearing and seeing supportive connections emerging in real time, between a truly diverse range of people and applied topics in cybersecurity, was vitalizing,” said Tim Randolph, Professor of Information Technology at Cerro Coso and Program Coordinator for the Sierra Cyber Summit. “It was fascinating to watch participant confidence and cohesion grow through the physical challenges — especially the lockpicking and 3D printing stations.”
The Griffiss Institute emphasized the impact this type of event has.
“The Griffiss Institute was proud to partner with Cerro Coso Community College and TechGrid to make the Sierra Cyber Summit a success,” said Matthew Mroz, Executive Vice President for Strategic Programs at the Griffiss Institute. “Developing the next generation of STEM talent is essential for military mission readiness and serves as a catalyst for economic opportunity in Kern County. Initiatives like this directly advance the county’s economic priorities, and the Griffiss Institute is honored to support such meaningful work.”
From TechGrid’s perspective, the event also reflected the strength of regional partnerships.
“The Sierra Cyber Summit was a tremendous success and a powerful example of what happens when education, innovation, and community come together. Cerro Coso Community College along with our TechGrid partners, Griffiss Institute, delivered an outstanding event that inspired the next generation of cyber professionals through hands-on learning and collaboration” stated Tammy Schiller, Director of TechGrid. “We’re proud that the TechGrid could serve as a launchpad for this experience and be a space where curiosity meets capability. Together with our partners, we’re building pathways that prepare students not just for careers in cybersecurity, but for leadership in the digital future.”
The Sierra Cyber Summit acknowledges the generous contributions of Desert Valleys Federal Credit Union, OSSEM Holon, Maltek Solutions, Big R Flight Clearance, and APIsec University, whose support helped fund the event’s prizes.
Cerro Coso Community College extends a heartfelt thank-you to these partners for their commitment to education, innovation, and the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.
As cybersecurity continues to grow across every industry, events like the Sierra Cyber Summit highlight the critical role community collaboration plays in building the workforce of tomorrow.
For more information about Cerro Coso’s cybersecurity programs, visit Cerro Coso's website
Photo: Sierra Cyber Summit participants.
