Participants were asked to submit articles identifying threats and offering novel solutions, including emerging technologies, training, tactics, techniques, procedures, policies and partnerships. The example problem presented was Volt Typhoon, the criminal hacker group backed by the Chinese Communist Party. A panel of judges, which includes members of AFCEA’s Cyber, Homeland Security, Technology and Intelligence Committees, reviewed the submissions to help select the winners.
The winners will receive engraved awards, monetary prizes and recognition during an awards ceremony on May 5, 2025, in conjunction with TechNet Cyber, a flagship AFCEA International event. Their articles will be published in the July issue of SIGNAL Magazine and posted online to SIGNAL Media.
The Cyber Edge Writing Award 2025 Winners
The first-place award recipient is Evans Mugari, who wrote an article titled “Kyyivstar Cyber Attack: A Deep Dive into Cyber Warfare in Ukraine.” Mugari is an ardent advocate for cybersecurity, dedicating his career to safeguarding digital landscapes. With a deep-rooted passion for protecting data integrity and privacy, Mugari has immersed himself in various aspects of cybersecurity, from ethical hacking to network security. His journey began with a fascination for technology's potential and its vulnerabilities, leading him to pursue specialized education and certifications in the field. Mugari often shares his insights through workshops, blogs and conferences. Murgari is also a vocal proponent for cybersecurity education, aiming to empower individuals and organizations with the knowledge to navigate the digital world securely.
In second place, Staff Sgt. Logan Houston, USAF, penned the article “Silence on Cyber Crimes Endangers Critical Infrastructure.” Houston is an active-duty member of the U.S. Air Force, serving at the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Directorate. He specializes in system administration, scripting and automation. He has also previously written for Crosstalk: The Defense Software Engineering Journal. Houston holds an associate’s degree in information systems technology and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in software engineering from Arizona State University.
The third-place award recipient is Matthew Maynard, with his article titled “Moving Beyond Traditional Risk Labels: Redefining Patch Management.” Maynard is a cybersecurity researcher with more than 18 years of experience in information technology and information security. He currently serves as an incident response analyst III and purple team lead at BJC HealthCare, where he focuses on proactive threat hunting, adversary emulation and strengthening cyber defenses in the health care sector. Outside of his role at BJC, Maynard specializes in researching dark web forums and cyber criminal ecosystems. He is also a regular contributor to cybersecurity, having presented at events including RSAC, ShowMeCon and the CISO Platform.