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Agency official says President’s Cup sharpens federal cyber workforce
Summary
An agency official said the President’s Cup competition gives federal cyber professionals hands-on scenarios to sharpen tactics, identify talent for agencies including NCIS, and lets CISA shape advanced training aligned with real-world threats.
An agency official said the President’s Cup cybersecurity competition gives federal cyber personnel a hands-on setting to sharpen defensive and offensive skills, identify top talent and feed recruits into agencies such as the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
Because of CISA’s central role, "as the lead for operational response for the federal enterprise, we can shape training programs and curriculum that go beyond 101 and 201 type offerings and translate specific insights and advancements into teachable techniques," the agency official said, describing how the competition ties into federal workforce development.
The official said the competition is designed to mirror real-world threats and train practitioners in tactics, techniques and procedures. "The President’s Cup is all about pushing the boundaries of cybersecurity talent within the federal workforce," the official said, adding that the event lets participants "test their skills in real world scenarios, think on their feet under pressure, and collaborate to solve tough challenges."
Organizers run three main tracks: Track A (defensive), Track B (offensive) and a Teams track that mixes both approaches. The official said the challenges map to the NICE framework and allow competitors to use open-source tools such as Kali and Linux and free artificial intelligence models in areas including exploit development, reverse engineering and cryptography.
The speaker also described the competition’s career impact. "The way that I was actually able to get the position at NCIS was through this competition," the official said, and noted the event is used as a recruiting platform to identify individuals with the skills agencies need.
Beyond recruitment, the official said competitions help experienced practitioners stay current. "Cyber talent is our most strategic asset," the speaker said. "Without skilled defenders and investigators even the most advanced systems can fail." The official added that competitors often report promotions, academic opportunities or new professional connections following their appearances.
The official framed the President’s Cup as part of a broader effort to cultivate a culture of continuous learning and partnership across federal cyber teams. Calling it "almost like a special ops cyber proving ground," the official closed by urging participants to carry the skills back to their agencies and the broader national security mission.
The remarks focused on training, recruitment and the competition’s structure; there were no formal votes or policy decisions recorded during the address.
