UA Power Group Students Participate in Cyber Shield 2026 and ShieldCon, Win NetWars Competition

Ten students from the U of A represented the UA Power Group and RIOT Lab at Cyber Shield 2026 and ShieldCon in Little Rock. These students earned hands‑on experience by working side by side with military, government, industry and international cybersecurity professionals.

Cyber Shield, the Department of Defense’s largest and longest‑running cyber‑defense exercise, took place from July 12 to 25 at the Professional Education Center at Camp Robinson. The 2026 exercise brought together more than 1,000 participants from 44 states and territories and 23 nations. This event was designed to improve cybersecurity capabilities through training and collaboration.

During the event, U of A students showcased their research projects on cybersecurity while taking part in ShieldCon, a specialized cybersecurity conference that was part of Cyber Shield.

“This was an opportunity for students to learn, compete and showcase their research," said Chris Farnell, assistant professor of electrical engineering and computer science and associate director of the National Center for Reliable Electric Power Transmission.

Students also entered the NetWars Capture the Flag competition, where students could test their skills in a competitive cybersecurity environment. One of the student teams won first place for this four-hour long competition. "Our students represented the RIOT Lab and the UA Power Group extremely well, and I know the students are going to remember this experience for years to come," Farnell remarked.

The students’ participation was made possible in part through support from AAEE, which provided $2,000 toward student travel expenses. The UA Power Group is grateful for this support that enabled students to participate in the event and gain experience outside of the classroom.

The opportunity also helped strengthen ties between the U of A and the Arkansas National Guard. Students were invited to participate by CW4 Gregory Backus and LTC Baron, who helped facilitate the UA group’s involvement in the event. Cyber Shield focuses on partnerships between civilian cybersecurity professionals with participants training to detect, respond and defend against real‑life cyber assaults.

The 2026 exercise featured scenarios involving infrastructure and power systems, highlighting the growing importance of cybersecurity in safeguarding the systems communities rely on every day. For U of A students, the experience was an opportunity to use their research and technical training in a real‑world cybersecurity environment and to build relationships with professionals working in government, military and industry. The UA Power Group is excited to continue this partnership and seek opportunities to collaborate with the Arkansas National Guard and Cyber Shield.