An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Dec. 23, 2020

NC Soldier part of National Guard's championship cyber team

By Sgt. 1st Class Robert Jordan North Carolina National Guard

RALEIGH, N.C. – A North Carolina National Guard (NCNG) Soldier earned top national honors at the 5th Annual SANS Institute NetWars DoD Services Cup Championship, a virtual cyber problem-solving competition held online at various locations Dec. 17-18.

Sgt. Michael Gibbs, a cybersecurity analyst with the North Carolina Army National Guard's 883rd Combat Engineer Company, with five other Army and Air National Guard members beat teams from the U.S. Air Force, Air Force Reserves, Space Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard and the Defense Information Systems Agency.

"Cyber is always interesting," said Gibbs.

Gibbs was chosen for the six-member team due to years of experience working at Bank of America, military training and multiple state and federal real-world cyber missions – including incident response, state board of elections, and Republican National Convention duty.

Gibbs is also a member of the NCNG's Cyber Security Response Force, which deploys as needed to support local, state and national agencies.

"Gibbs is a great example of the cyber talent pool that resides in our force," said NCNG Army Lt. Col. Robert Felicio, the NCNG's chief information officer.

The Services Cup is a defense-focused competition testing skills in computer and systems administration, threat hunting, analysis, cryptography, and more. As the teams progressed, the problems became increasingly complex, with real-world attack scenarios from simplistic, brute-force attacks to complex ransomware campaigns.

"Basically, it is a cyber puzzle and you have to figure it out," said Army Col. Teri D. Williams, the commander, 91st Cyber Brigade, who chose Gibbs and the rest of the National Guard Services Cup team.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions and the remote nature of cyber defense, the event was held virtually with teams coordinating online and not at a central location.

The National Guard team took an early lead in the competition the first day. The second day had several lead changes, but the National Guard team pulled ahead and won.

"Gibbs is a big winner. I am super stoked," said Eric R. Gladman, SANS Institute Army national account manager.

It is not just bragging rights; the competition honed skills needed to meet current and future cyber challenges that Guard professionals face every day.

"People are amazed we can do this in the Guard," said Gibbs.

 

 

Related Articles
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Todd Hunt, the Adjutant General of North Carolina and His Excellency Mpho Churchill O. Mophuting, the Republic of Botswana’s Ambassador to the United States, greet each other during an official state visit to the Joint Force Headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina, May 22, 2025. The visit was part of the National Guard’s State Partnership Program and allowed leaders from both Botswana and North Carolina to discuss future engagement opportunities.
North Carolina Guard Creating Shared Experiences
By Paul Agada, | July 14, 2025
RALEIGH, N.C. – What does the Republic of Botswana, a landlocked country in Southern Africa, have in common with North Carolina, an American state bordered by the Atlantic Ocean? Initially, one may find very little in common...

Crew members from the 1-130th Attack Battalion, North Carolina Army National Guard, support a static display during the U.S. Army's 250th birthday celebration on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Saturday, June 14, 2025. The event honors 250 years of Army history and service to the nation.
North Carolina Guard Flies into Army’s 250th Birthday Celebration
By 2nd Lt. Bridget Pittman-Blackwell, | June 16, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The heart of Washington, D.C., became a landing zone June 14 when an AH-64E Apache helicopter touched down on the National Mall. It wasn’t a combat mission, but it was one just as powerful in symbolism. As...

The Republic of Zambia's Brig. Gen. Choonga Mutandalike speaks to senior leaders from the North Carolina National Guard, representatives from the Republics of Moldova, Botswana, Malawi, and Zambia at a hurricane response symposium in Raleigh, N.C. April 22, 2025. The symposium was part of a six-day event hosted by the National Guard’s State Partnership program, reviewing and sharing lessons learned from Hurricane Helene.
North Carolina Guard Welcomes SPP Partners to Hurricane Response Exercise
By Lt. Col. Ellis Parks, | April 25, 2025
RALEIGH, N.C. – Senior leaders from the North Carolina National Guard are hosting representatives from Moldova, Botswana, Malawi and Zambia this week for a hurricane response exercise. The six-day event, from April 21-26 in...