Key Takeaways
- UW‑Stout Polytechnic faculty Holly Yuan and Brandon Cross won the Pentagon‑sponsored ASCEND Challenge with their AI‑powered cyber range platform, “ASCEND‑AI: Cyber‑AI Launchpad.”
- The victory was selected from over 60 NSA‑designated Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity, positioning UW‑Stout as a national model for scalable cybersecurity training.
- The platform uses digital‑twin technology and AI‑driven red‑team simulations to give learners hands‑on, machine‑speed attack‑defense practice in a safe environment.
- Judges favored the submission because it was a working prototype that provided real‑time performance metrics and AI scaffolding for skill development.
- As winners, the team received a $1,000 cash prize, strategic grant mentorship from the CAE Community, and the opportunity to influence a future Department of War solicitation on nationwide cyber learning frameworks.
- UW‑Stout’s cybersecurity program continues to excel, ranked No. 14 nationally by Programs.com and consistently successful in state, regional, and national defense competitions.
- Student teams recently captured first and second place in the “Hack the Box” challenge at the Wisconsin Governor’s Cybersecurity Summit and secured a six‑year streak as Wisconsin state collegiate cyber defense champions.
Introduction
In May 2024, University of Wisconsin‑Stout Polytechnic Professor Holly Yuan and Instructor Brandon Cross presented their innovative cybersecurity training platform at the Department of War’s Aligned Skills Curriculum and Experiential Network Design (ASCEND) Challenge held in Pittsburgh. Their entry, “ASCEND‑AI: Cyber‑AI Launchpad,” emerged victorious among a competitive field of more than 60 applicants, all of whom were NSA‑designated Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity. The win not only earned a cash award but also positioned UW‑Stout as a leading contributor to the nation’s cybersecurity workforce development strategy.
The ASCEND Challenge and Selection Process
The ASCEND Challenge solicited scalable solutions capable of training the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. After an initial review, five finalist teams—including UW‑Stout—were invited to pitch their concepts in a “Shark Tank”‑style forum at the CAE Cybersecurity Community Symposium. A panel of cybersecurity experts from the Department of War and other federal agencies evaluated each proposal on criteria such as technical feasibility, alignment with workforce needs, potential for nationwide adoption, and evidence of practical implementation. UW‑Stout’s presentation stood out because it demonstrated a fully functional prototype rather than a mere concept.
Platform Overview: ASCEND‑AI: Cyber‑AI Launchpad
The winning platform is an AI‑powered digital‑twin cyber range that replicates real‑world computer networks, allowing learners to engage in authentic attack‑defense scenarios. By creating a virtual twin of a network environment, the system provides realistic conditions where students can practice defending against sophisticated threats. Integrated AI‑driven red‑team capabilities simulate machine‑speed adversarial behaviors, giving learners the opportunity to hone response times and tactical decision‑making under pressure. The platform also captures real‑time operational metrics, enabling instructors to assess not only whether a task was completed but how efficiently and quickly it was executed.
Why the Judges Favored UW‑Stout’s Submission
Professor Yuan noted that the judges appreciated the submission’s readiness for immediate deployment. Unlike many proposals that remained theoretical, ASCEND‑AI was a working platform that offered AI‑powered scaffolding—guided prompts and adaptive feedback—to support learners at varying skill levels. The combination of academic rigor, hands‑on learning, workforce alignment, and measurable performance outcomes resonated strongly with the evaluation panel. Yuan, who also serves as founding director of the UW‑Stout Cybersecurity Research & Outreach Center (CyROC), emphasized that the platform bridges classroom theory with the rapid pace of modern cyber threats.
Prize, Mentorship, and Future Influence
As first‑place winners, Yuan and Cross received a $1,000 cash prize and strategic grant mentorship through Tony Coulson, executive director of the Centers of Academic Excellence Community, which encompasses nearly 500 educational institutions nationwide. Moreover, the top three designs from the challenge are expected to inform a forthcoming Department of War solicitation aimed at establishing scalable cyber learning frameworks across the country. This opportunity allows UW‑Stout to help shape national cybersecurity education models beyond its own campus, potentially influencing curriculum development, funding priorities, and training standards for years to come.
National Recognition and Program Excellence
The ASCEND victory adds to a growing list of accolades for UW‑Stout Polytechnic’s cybersecurity program. Recently, Programs.com ranked the program No. 14 in the United States, reflecting its strong curriculum, faculty expertise, and industry connections. The program’s success is further evidenced by the consistent performance of its student teams in cyber defense competitions. Notably, the Collegiate Cyber Defense Team has captured the Wisconsin state championship for six consecutive years, underscoring the program’s ability to prepare students for high‑stakes, real‑world scenarios.
Student Competition Successes
Beyond faculty achievements, UW‑Stout students have distinguished themselves in several recent contests. At the Wisconsin Governor’s Cybersecurity Summit in Appleton, a team comprising Hannah Meyers, Daisy Hardwick, Chloe Kaneski, Kaonou Lor, and AuGust Ringelstetter secured first and second place in the “Hack the Box” challenge. Professor Yuan also contributed to the summit’s closing panel discussion on the future of Wisconsin’s cyber landscape. Earlier in the semester, the Collegiate Cyber Defense Team competed in the Midwest Regional Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition, facing the top schools from eleven other states. The team finished in a three‑way tie for fourth place and was praised by the competition director as a “top‑tier cybersecurity squad,” highlighting the program’s depth and competitive edge.
Broader Implications for Cybersecurity Education
UW‑Stout’s ASCEND win exemplifies how applied research, industry‑aligned technology, and experiential learning can converge to address the nation’s cybersecurity talent gap. By delivering a platform that simulates machine‑speed attacks and provides immediate performance feedback, the university offers a model that other institutions can adapt or adopt. The mentorship and potential influence on federal solicitation processes further amplify the impact, suggesting that UW‑Stout’s innovations may help shape standardized training pathways, funding mechanisms, and evaluation metrics for cybersecurity education nationwide. As cyber threats continue to evolve in complexity and speed, initiatives like ASCEND‑AI will be vital in ensuring that the next generation of defenders is not only knowledgeable but also agile, responsive, and ready to protect critical digital infrastructure.