UAlbany Students Earn Top Honors at National Cyber Strategy Challenge

Amal Imad, Philip Akekudaga, Brenda M. Padilla De Jesus, and Davida Lewis
Students Amal Imad, Philip Akekudaga, Brenda M. Padilla De Jesus, and Davida Lewis

ALBANY, N.Y. (Oct. 16, 2025) — Students from the University at Albany’s College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity (CEHC) and Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy earned a national award for policy response for their recommendations to meet a complex scenario involving cyber attacks by a nation state on U.S. critical infrastructure coupled with high tensions in the South China Sea at the Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge, hosted virtually by Columbia University in collaboration with the Atlantic Council. 
 

Twenty-one teams from universities around the country competed in the Columbia University event, which featured two days of competition and prominent keynote speakers and panels. 
 

The UAlbany team, Brenda M. Padilla De Jesus, Davida Lewis , Philip Akekudaga, and Amal Imad, received the Most Creative Policy Response Award, marking the first time a UAlbany team has earned an individual honor at the competition. The individual award recognizes teams that propose the most original and effective policy strategies for addressing the complex cybersecurity threats.
 

The Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge, now in its thirteenth year, brings together undergraduate and graduate students from around the world to respond to evolving cyber crisis scenarios. In the U.S., the teams make their written and oral presentations as if they were advisers to the U.S. National Security Council, and in competitions outside the United States, to similar authorities in the applicable region of the world. Participants analyze simulated cyber incidents and present policy responses to panels of experts who act as judges and evaluate the teams’ creativity, practicality, and strategic understanding.
 

UAlbany’s achievement highlights the interdisciplinary strength of UAlbany’s undergraduate and graduate programs, with the team representing majors in cybersecurity, homeland security, and criminal justice:
 

  • Brenda, a sophomore majoring in CEHC’s Cybersecurity program, was the youngest member of the team and drew on her crisis experience as an EMT
  • Davida, a graduate student in CEHC’s Emergency Management & Homeland Security program, contributed expertise in crisis management
  • Philip, a graduate student in CEHC’s Cybersecurity & Risk program, brought an international perspective and cyber expertise to the team’s strategy
  • Amal, a senior in the Honors College majoring in criminal justice, offered insights rooted in public policy, ethics, and international relations
     

“The competition was an eye-opener. It expanded my perspectives beyond just cybersecurity to encompass broader issues and, crucially, highlighted the importance of thinking creatively and communicating effectively,” Philip Akekudaga said. “Sincere appreciation goes to my dedicated team members as well as Professor Turetsky for this learning experience.”
 

"I am deeply honored to have been chosen to represent UAlbany at the 2025 Cyber 9/12 Competition,” said Davida Lewis. “Though this year was virtual, my team and I strived to make the most out of our connection, and I feel that made us stronger!" 


"This competition has helped me better understand cybersecurity risks and issues from a holistic perspective, instilling the fundamental principle that if not addressed properly, these issues can have serious ripple effects across communities, industries, and even nations", said Amal Imad. "It was incredibly rewarding to develop innovative yet realistic policy recommendations."
 

The team was coached by CEHC Professor of Practice David Turetsky with support from Elisabeth Dubois, a recent Ph.D. graduate in Information Science. Cybersecurity faculty including Brian Nussbaum, Omer Keskin, and Benjamin Yankson also helped prepare the team through practice rounds and mentorship.
 

“This was a high-achieving team that worked hard and showcased not only technical knowledge but also policy innovation that met and balanced a plethora of interdisciplinary considerations, supported with outstanding communications and crisis response skills” Turetsky said. “Their recognition reflects CEHC’s commitment to developing the next generation of cybersecurity leaders.”