HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The Malpasset Hydro-Electric dam in France is in trouble and more than 60 students are on the case.
"Today they are taking on the role of a DHS agent," Charlene Cooper, Curriculum Development Specialist for Cyber.org said. "The scenario that they're looking at is there was an attack on the Malpasset Hydro-electric Dam, which is in France, and there are sorting through briefing folders filled with evidence and information and trying to figure out who's responsible for the attack, what the motivations were, and what the response of the United States government should be."
The InfraGard Huntsville Member hosted a Cyber Forensics Camp for local students. This unique educational event is the result of a collaborative effort with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). "Every year we run a cyber camp focused on 11- to 14-year-old kids," Ed Dowling, President of InfraGuard said. "We bring in 60 of those children from the Huntsville, Madison area. and our focus is to get them exposure to cyber and to both the FBI and DHS, and how that partnership with the private community is important also.
The hands-on experience allowed participants to determine the cause and possible perpetrators behind a sudden, unexplained flooding event. Students worked across five stations, each manned by FBI Special Agents equipped with professional investigative tools.
The camp aims to provide a realistic insight into the world of cyber forensics and the techniques used by law enforcement agencies to solve complex cybercrimes.
With the presence of the FBI growing here in Huntsville, the chance to build the future workforce happens through events like these. "What we do is we partner with both the FBI and DHS and focus on the 16 critical infrastructures, everything from the defense industrial base to dams to energy, to education, to health care and how do we protect and keep the United States safe," Dowling explained. "It preps us to be able to hire them down the road for our corporations and so many of the companies that make up InfraGuard. We look for those younger people to build our ranks."
But for those who don't choose to go into cyber forensics, the skills learned can help them in any field they choose. " I think there's a misconception that if you're in cyber, you are on a computer, know, wearing a hoodie by yourself all the time," Cooper said. "Those skills of being able to collaborate and communicate with each other are so important. working as a team. and so, we really wanted to stress that."
About InfraGard Huntsville Member Alliance
InfraGard is a partnership between the FBI and members of the private sector, aimed at protecting U.S. critical infrastructure. The Huntsville Member Alliance is part of this broader network, focusing on local initiatives to enhance cybersecurity and increase public awareness.