The US Department of Energy announces Xander Newlun as the 2025 Conquer the Hill Command Competition winner
A realistic and engaging cybersecurity competition helps prepare collegiate students to protect vital U.S. energy systems
image: n/a
Credit: (Image by Argonne National Laboratory.)
Cyberforce’s Command Edition provides opportunities for the future cyber workforce to outwit simulated cyberattacks and keep energy systems functioning.
Representing 56 universities, 100 students competed virtually in the Conquer the Hill® Command Competition on Saturday, Feb. 22. It was an exciting event that is part of the CyberForce® Program hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) and conducted by DOE’s Argonne National Laboratory.
The Command Competition challenged participants’ technical skills by having them perform tasks that increased in difficulty. Participants gained practical, hands-on experience in information technology (IT) by building and managing a simulated server and associated hardware in the role of a cybersecurity professional in an energy company.
After eight hours of problem-solving, Xander Newlun from the University of Texas at San Antonio, claimed the title. In second place was Noah Jacobson from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, followed by Caleb Gindelberger from Baldwin Wallace University in third place.
“Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 DOE CyberForce® Conquer the Hill® Command Competition,” said DOE’s Acting Under Secretary for Infrastructure, Steven Winberg. “This competition is a critical training ground for the next generation of cybersecurity professionals in the energy sector. These students are not just competing; they are honing the skills necessary to defend our nation’s energy infrastructure and secure our future.”
Kirsten Laurin-Kovitz, Associate Laboratory Director of Argonne’s Nuclear Technologies and National Security Directorate, stated: “Competitions like the Command Competition are essential for preparing the next generation of cybersecurity leaders. They inspire creativity and innovation among students, helping to ensure that the United States remains competitive in protecting our vital systems.”
Preparing Future Cybersecurity Leaders
The CyberForce Program seeks to inspire and develop the next generation of cyber defenders to address a growing challenge: the need for skilled cybersecurity professionals to defend America’s energy infrastructure and assets.
According to CyberSeek’s 2024 Cybersecurity Supply and Demand Heatmap, almost 460,000 U.S. cybersecurity jobs are unfilled. Programs like CyberForce and the Command Competition assist students by giving them insight into various energy, operational and information technology, and cybersecurity scenarios, cultivating a skilled cybersecurity workforce critical for protecting the nation’s energy infrastructure.
The Conquer the Hill Command Competition is a task-based contest that focuses on IT, system administration and security skills. Participants virtually simulate the daily responsibilities of an IT administrator and learn to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and practical application.
The Command Competition provides students exceptional exposure to energy sector cybersecurity challenges and an opportunity to test and hone their technical skills.
A National Effort to Keep America Safe
The CyberForce Program works to strengthen collegiate students’ skills and help prepare future cybersecurity professionals who will protect the systems that power our daily lives, including America’s energy infrastructure. As cyber threats evolve, workforce development efforts like the CyberForce Program help build a pipeline of qualified individuals, the future defenders of the energy sector.
For more information about the CyberForce Program and upcoming events, visit https://cyberforce.energy.gov.
The Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) addresses the emerging threats of tomorrow while protecting the reliable flow of energy to Americans today by improving energy infrastructure security and supporting the Department of Energy’s (DOE) national security mission. CESER’s focus is preparedness and response activities to natural and manmade threats, ensuring a stronger, more prosperous, and secure future for the Nation.
Argonne National Laboratory seeks solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology by conducting leading-edge basic and applied research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit https://energy.gov/science.