By Andrew Granger, CGC ’26

October, The Citadel joins other schools around the U.S. to celebrate Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a project aimed at increasing awareness of digital safety and strengthening cyber defenses. This year, The Citadel’s Department of Cyber and Computer Sciences and the DoD Cyber Institute, or CDCI, held various events throughout October designed to educate and engage members of The Citadel community to develop their skills and spread awareness.

“For the last four years, The Citadel DoD Cyber Institute has been hosting events during the month of October for Cybersecurity Awareness Month,” said Shankar M. Banik, Ph.D., professor and head of the Department of Cyber and Computer Sciences. “We are using the cyberspace in every aspect of our lives. It is important that everyone understands the basics of cybersecurity and follows basic cyber safety practices.”

Cyber and AI Workforce Panel

The first major event of the month, The Citadel Cyber/AI Workforce Panel, took place on October 8 in Capers Hall Auditorium. Sponsored by the Senior Military College Cyber Institute grant, this free event brought together industry professionals and members of the growing cyber and AI workforce for a panel discussion. Faculty, staff and students heard from experts in the field about the evolving cybersecurity landscape, career opportunities and the skills necessary to excel in the digital defense field.

The panel highlighted the importance of preparing cadets and students for a rapidly and constantly changing cyber environment. Attendees learned about the real-world applications of cybersecurity in both government and private sectors, making clearer the opportunities for developing interdisciplinary skills across artificial intelligence, data analytics and network defense.

Cyber Siege

From October 13 to 14, The Citadel hosted Cyber Siege, a two-day cyber competition held in the Pearson Club at Johnson Hagood Stadium. Funded by the SMC Cyber Institute grant, the event brought together cadets from all six senior military colleges — The Citadel, Norwich University, Virginia Military Institute, Virginia Tech, the University of North Georgia and Texas A&M University.

The teams competed in a series of cyber challenges that tested skills such as problem-solving, collaboration and technical skillsets in realistic scenarios. The event emphasized the critical role of teamwork in cybersecurity operations. Winners earned recognition and prizes, but the broader goal was clear – to build connections and strengthen the network of cyber leaders at the main military colleges.

CHARIoTS 2.0

Later in the month, The Citadel welcomed faculty, staff and students from across multiple institutions for the CHARIoTS, or Critical Infrastructure Hands-on Access control Research & Internet of Things Security, 2.0 Workshop on October 23 and 24. The event was funded by an NCAE grant.

CHARIoTS 2.0 offered attendees hands-on experience with cybersecurity challenges related to critical infrastructure and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. Attendees explored real-world case studies and took part in live demonstrations at The Citadel’s CHARIoTS Lab. The workshop provided a space for collaboration and sharing of ideas sharing between academic researchers and students, working on developing both awareness and technical understanding of the vulnerabilities in modern connected systems.

Citadel Cyber Village

One of the most popular events of the month, Citadel Cyber Village, took place on October 29 in Capers Hall, in the Cyber Range and Cyber Lab. Sponsored by the SMC Cyber Institute grant, the event was free to all Citadel students, faculty and staff, as well as local STEM teachers.

The Cyber Village showcased many aspects of cybersecurity education at The Citadel. Attendees participated in drone demonstrations, coding robot exercises, robotic arm controls, lock-picking activities and a Cyber Capture the Flag competition.

Banik explained that the Cyber Village initiative has three main objectives: promote cyber awareness, teach basic cyber skillsets through fun activities and showcase cyber outreach initiatives for K-12.These goals align with The Citadel’s mission to make cybersecurity accessible, engaging and practical for learners of all backgrounds.

K–12 Outreach and the COA Program

Beyond the college campus, The Citadel’s DoD Cyber Institute also impacts its surrounding community through K–12 outreach events, running from October 2025 through April 2026. These outreach efforts are part of The Citadel Leadership Development Program. Cyber Outreach Ambassadors, or COA, are part of an initiative designed to inspire the next generation of cyber leaders.

COA members — selected from the CDCI cohort — visit local schools to deliver presentations and hands-on demonstrations involving coding, robotics and drones. By engaging elementary through high school students in interactive sessions, COA ambassadors promote learning of cyber safety within the Lowcountry’s younger population.

Promoting Cyber Awareness for All

Through these events, The Citadel confirms its commitment to developing a community with better cyber-awareness that emphasizes a marriage of technical skill and ethical responsibility. From competitive challenges and research workshops to outreach that extend into local schools, Cybersecurity Awareness Month at The Citadel demonstrated how the school continues to lead both its community and nation in leadership initiatives.

As Banik emphasized, “We are using the cyberspace in every aspect of our lives. It is important that everyone understands the basics of cybersecurity and follows basic cyber safety practices.”

Andrew Granger of Atlanta, Georgia earned his bachelor’s degree from The Virginia Military Institute in English, Rhetoric and Humanistic Studies. He is currently working as a graduate assistant in the Office of Communications and Marketing while pursuing a master’s degree in Project Management.