The Rotary Club of Mexico, invited Missouri Military Academy cadets and instructor CW4 (R) Jason Landrum to present information on recent achievements of MMA’s cybersecurity program on Friday, Jan. 26. Cyber 1 Cadets Jacob Shellabarger, Sean Mumm and Jose Gabriel Elizondo Villarreal shared insights into what they are learning in the program. MMA is one of nine schools within the Army Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (AJROTC) Cybersecurity pilot program.

Among the MMA cadets’ cybersecurity achievements, the Cyber 1 cadets participated in a capture the flag competition against five other AJROTC cyber programs across the United States in November 2023. The timed competition required cadets to use deductive reasoning and research skills while working in a high-stress environment. It covered wireless technology, web browsing, data storage, risk assessment, peripherals, mobile devices, malware, hardware/hardware security, cyber warfare/defense, CIA triad and cyber history. 

Though MMA's Cyber 1 Cadets have only been in the cyber program for one semester, they successfully competed against schools that had students with one or two years of cybersecurity experience, says Landrum. MMA cadets finished the competition ranked first, fifth, eighth and 10th against fellow CY1 students, and they ranked second, sixth, ninth and 15th against the mixed CY1/CY2 teams. 

The following cadets competed in the competition: 

• Cadet Sean Mumm ’27 from Mexico

• Cadet Eric Shellabarger ’27 from Mexico

• Cadet Khoa Duong ’26 from Vietnam 

• Cadet Tiago Ruas Deluca ’25 from Brazil

• Cadet Hayden James ’27 from Mexico

• Cadet Brody Ruckman ’27 from Willard 

• Cadet Triet Bui ’25 from Vietnam

• Cadet Aidan Maristany-Diaz ’25 from Jupiter, Fla.

• Cadet Mbaye Diagne ’25 from Bronx, N.Y.

• Cadet Jose Gabriel Elizondo Villarreal ’26 from Mexico

• Cadet Dominick Brognano ’25 from Vero Beach, Fla.

• Cadet Charles McWilliams ’25 from Omaha, Neb.

Landrum says the competition's challenge was finding the most accurate answer — not just the correct one. "For example, if there are four answers to a question, one would be 100 percent while others would be partially correct,” he says. “Another challenge of this competition was attention to detail and formulating answers in the right syntax for the competition using the clues from the questions.” 

MMA’s cybersecurity program is designed to provide cadets with challenging, relevant experiences and prepare them to enter the cyber workforce, pursue postsecondary studies and/or enter military service.  The innovative, four-year cyber program is part of the Army's effort to infuse STEM curriculum in high schools nationwide.