DULLES, Va., May 2, 2025 — The University of California, Irvine emerged as the victor at the 2025 National Collegiate Cyber Defense Championship (NCCDC), surpassing nine other finalist teams to claim the Alamo Cup. This national competition involved teams defending a hypothetical company’s network from continuous cyberattacks. Security experts acted as hackers, attempting to infiltrate the systems.
The NCCDC, hosted by The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) in its twentieth year, was held virtually from April 25 to 27, with Nightwing serving as the Presenting Sponsor. Over 200 colleges and universities participated in cybersecurity events nationwide during the Collegiate Cyber Defense Championship season. The top 10 teams then advanced to the national championship. As one of the largest collegiate competitions of its kind, this year’s NCCDC challenged participants to manage, operate, and protect the network infrastructure of a biotechnology company. They had to address customer needs and routine business tasks while simultaneously defending against hacker attacks.
Akshay Rohatgi, the captain of the winning University of California, Irvine team, stated, “The UCI team is incredibly honored and validated by this national victory. Our success is a result of months of rigorous preparation, with many of us dedicating our spring breaks and weekends to training. The team has learned a tremendous amount, especially considering that for some members, this was their first experience with cybersecurity. We are immensely proud to be national champions in such a prestigious cybersecurity competition.”
“As cyberattacks become more common and targeted, the potential for serious damage increases,” said Nightwing’s Chief Technology Officer, Chris Jones, during his closing remarks. “The digital defenses needed are complex and diverse, spanning government institutions, public and private organizations, and critical infrastructure. The individuals competing in NCCDC and similar competitions will be instrumental in determining how we safeguard our most vulnerable assets in the years ahead.”
Organized by the UTSA Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security (CIAS), the NCCDC Championship aims to evaluate students’ abilities to defend against simulated cyberattacks and to foster interest in cybersecurity careers. Alongside the University of California, Irvine’s first-place finish, the University of Virginia secured second place, and Dakota State University achieved third place.
Nightwing contributed over 20 volunteers to this year’s national competition, filling roles such as employees, customers, and even the hackers attempting to infiltrate the competitors’ networks.
Nightwing will host the University of California, Irvine team for a winners’ tour in Washington, D.C. later this year.
About the National CCDC
The National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (CCDC), managed by the Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security at The University of Texas at San Antonio, offers institutions with cybersecurity programs a controlled, competitive environment. This allows them to assess their students’ comprehension and operational skills in managing the challenges involved in protecting a corporate network infrastructure and business information systems. For more information, please visit .
About Nightwing
Nightwing is an intelligence solutions company pushing the boundaries of what’s possible to enhance national security. The company offers cutting-edge cyber, data operations, systems integration, and intelligence services to government agencies, businesses, and other organizations. Nightwing is dedicated to partnering with its government and commercial clients to safeguard their most vital information, systems, and operations through advanced technology and top-tier talent. Headquartered in Dulles, Virginia, Nightwing became independent in April 2024 after previously being part of a leading Fortune 100 company. More information is available at .
SOURCE Nightwing Group, LLC
“`