NDIA San Diego Chapter participates in annual STEM Robotics and Cybersecurity outreach activities such as:
- Southern California Cyber Cup Challenge (SoCal CCC)
- San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering
- Navy Gold Coast Student STEM Days
- Navy Fleet Week Student STEM Days
- Cyber Patriots National Youth Cyber Education Program
The NDIA San Diego Chapter sponsors/participates in the following STEM Events
2023 Southern California Cyber Cup Challenge (SoCal CCC)
The SoCal Cyber Cup Challenge is sponsored by the San Diego Chapter of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) as one of its science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) outreach initiatives.
Registration and Practice Gym start Feb 7, 2023
Qualifier Rounds (6-hr periods) April 27-29, 2023
Final Round May 13, 2023
Cybersecurity is one of the fastest growing professions on the planet generating more than a $1.5 billion impact on the local San Diego economy alone. Organizers of the SoCal Cyber Cup Challenge have brought together the best and brightest students from Southern California to compete for the prestigious Cyber Cup here in San Diego. The cyber defense competition was open to all high school and middle school students and expanded into Imperial, San Diego, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. This event is the hallmark of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) outreach initiatives.
The SoCal CCC is a cybersecurity training program and competition includes approximately 700 students (including underrepresented communities) from 55 Southern California middle schools, high schools and community colleges, participating in teams with a dedicated coach and access to subject matter experts. National University will provide the teams with twenty tutorials and Cyber Skyline will provide a virtual computer-based practice gym for students to exercise their skills as they prepare for the Team Qualifier Round in April 27-29, 2023. Team scores will be evaluated and posted, and the top 8 teams will go on to compete in the Final Competition on May 13th, 2023, with the highest scoring team receiving the Mayor’s Cup Trophy awarded by the Mayor of San Diego.
Many of the Cyber Cup Challenge students go on to secure college acceptances as well as internships and job opportunities at local companies and public agencies to fill the urgent need for talent with hands-on experience — better protecting our digital community and creating greater regional resiliency.
Seeing firsthand how important this cybersecurity training program is to the local community and the cyber defense of our nation, it is imperative to provide the funding to keep this competition alive. Of the 700 students and 55 schools that participate, 200 students and 22 schools are from San Diego, with the remaining students from Orange, Imperial, San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Teachers, coaches, students and families of these participating schools are highly committed to this program, and regional cybersecurity companies and college admissions are supportive of the competition as they see a direct benefit from the students’ hands-on experience.
See Our 2023 SoCal Cyber Cup Challenge Sponsors and how to be a sponsor
2023 San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering
Returning to PETCO Park In-Person! March 4th from 10a-5p
For more information about the Science Festival, click here
https://www.lovestemsd.org/2023-festival
The San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering Week is the largest event of its kind in Southern California. It’s a collective effort between industry, business leaders, government, community organizations, public outreach centers, academia, schools and school districts, and parents. The Festival began 15 years ago primarily science and engineering-focused, with a goal to provide experiential activities in these fields to diverse populations. The overwhelming success of the formative years of the Festival proved to be a catalyst for what the Festival would swiftly evolve into – a comprehensive San Diego County community event that celebrates the diverse cultures, communities and populace of San Diego, and works to inspire the curious young minds of our region to become tomorrow’s STEAM leaders. The San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering Week is ever-evolving and continually responding and meeting the desires and needs of the community. The Festival is the flagship event of Generation STEAM, a 501c3 nonprofit affiliate of Biocom California.
NDIA San Diego Chapter is a Titanium Level Sponsor of the Biocom San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering. The Corporate Engagement Menu cover photo was taken in 2022 at the Mura Oka Elementary School, Chula Vista Classroom Connection vehicle demonstration to 160 3rd graders.
For more information about the Science Festival, click here
The NDIA STEM committee members have also attended Classroom Connections bringing robotics experiences to underserved communities in San Diego.
2023 Robotics at Navy Gold Coast
The San Diego Chapter of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) is proud to present the 35th Annual Department of the Navy Gold Coast Small Business Procurement Event from July 26 – July 28, 2023.
Students will have the opportunity to meet government and industry contracting personnel – the hallmark of Gold Coast. On the virtual exhibit floor, you will have an opportunity to visit over 200 government agencies and industry organizations, including the ten Navy Systems Commands.
2023 Navy Fleet Week
The Innovation Zone will host “Student Stem Days” which will allow participating organizations to showcase interactive displays to local and regional students. Students will get an upfront view of new and emerging technologies, many of them encouraging STEM education programs. Dates are November 3-5, 2023.
- Event Hours – 8:30 am -2:30 pm at Broadway Pier 1000, The Embarcadero, San Diego, CA
• Students and adults should wear comfortable shoes and clothing. Open toe shoes are NOT recommended.
• Everyone over 18 must have a valid picture ID for security.
• Student meals will be available to purchase for $5 or bag lunches can be brought to the event.
• Large groups will be broken up into groups of 20-25. Please have a chaperone for each group.
• Registration is required.
2023 Cyber Patriots
The focus of the NDIA San Diego Chapters STEM Committee Outreach for Cybersecurity is to provide and promote cyber security educational opportunities for youths in the San Diego and neighboring Counties in Southern California. NDIA San Diego Chapter has worked closely with the Brigadier General Robert Cardenas San Diego Chapter of the Air & Space Forces Association (AFA) to maximize the amount of cyber education opportunity and information to all youths in the area.
The General Cardenas Chapter focuses specifically on the CyberPatriot Competition and NDIA coordinates other student-related cyber education activities. From 2009 -2018/19, NDIA, their Organizers and corporate sponsors initially organized and sponsored the Annual Mayor’s Cyber Cup Competition for high and middle/junior high school students. In 2016/17, this Challenge became known as the SoCal Cyber Cup Challenge and continues into the future. During 2016, NDIA worked with the Los Angeles Unified School District “After the Bell” program and other cyber educators throughout California to help establish the California Cyber Innovation Challenge (CCIC). Two teams from San Diego won the Southern California Regional Competition.
2023 Festival of Science and Engineering Petco Park
Festival of Science and Engineering North County STEAM Block Party
Festival of Science and Engineering Classroom Connections at Saburo Muraoka Elementary School, Chula Vista
2022 US Navy Fleet Week
2022 Gold Coast Photos
