Staying Safe and Smart Online

The Strategy Behind Capture the Flag

What does it take to succeed in a Capture the Flag competition? In this episode, we go inside the world of CTFs from both the competitor and challenge designer perspective. From strategy and team dynamics to challenge design and career pathways, we break down what makes CTFs such a powerful tool for learning cybersecurity and preparing for the workforce.

AP Cybersecurity and the Path Forward

We're joined by Dane Brown, an AP Cybersecurity Reader and cybersecurity professor at the United States Naval Academy, and Andy Tucker of the College Board’s Advanced Placement Program to discuss the development of AP Cybersecurity and its role in preparing students for what comes next.

Scaling Cyber Ranges for Real-World Readiness

In this episode, we talk about how people actually build cyber readiness through practice, repetition, and learning in environments where it is okay to try, fail, and try again. The conversation focuses on what helps learners build confidence and practical skills over time, beyond just tools or theory. Guest Jessica Gulick (Katzcy / U.S. Cyber Games) joins the discussion to share insights from her experience working across education, cyber ranges, and competition-based learning.

Staying Safe and Smart Online

Shannon Beck talks with teacher Kristi Rice and student Jake Goodwin about what internet safety looks like in schools today, how students navigate digital life, and how these early lessons connect to cybersecurity awareness.

Cybersecurity Challenges That Shape Voter Confidence

As election season approaches, how do cybersecurity experts help safeguard one of democracy’s most essential processes: voting? In this episode of NextGen Cyber, host Shannon Beck, Director of the U.S. Cyber Range and Virginia Cyber Range, talks with Jeremy Epstein, Principal Research Scientist and Co-Director of the Institute for Cybersecurity and Resilient Infrastructure Studies (ICARUS) at Georgia Tech Research Institute. Together, they explore how thousands of local jurisdictions manage election technology, why cybersecurity is as much about public trust as it is about technical defense, and how education and workforce development play a vital role in protecting the integrity of our elections. Tune in for an insightful look at the intersection of technology, policy, and democracy, and learn how the next generation of cybersecurity professionals can help defend the systems that make every vote count.