Cal Poly Pomona’s cybersecurity team clinched first place at the Collegiate Penetration Testing Competition (CPTC) Southern California Regional, held Nov. 1–2, 2025, at Cal Poly Pomona. The victory marks another milestone in the university’s growing legacy of excellence in cybersecurity education and competition and was especially sweet as Cal Poly Pomona hosted this year’s event.
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Ryan Miller (computer science), Luke Kimes (computer science), Warren Maxwell (computer science),
Alexander Chacon (computer information systems), Anthony Rivera (master of science, information systems),
Ryan Wong (computer information systems) and Prof. Indira Guzman.
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The team, composed of Ryan Miller (computer science), Luke Kimes (computer science), Warren Maxwell (computer science), Alexander Chacon (computer information systems), Anthony Rivera (master of science, information systems) and Ryan Wong (computer information systems) will advance to the CPTC Global Finals at the Rochester Institute of Technology in January 2026.
The team’s diversity and interdisciplinary collaboration also underscore the strength of Cal Poly Pomona’s cybersecurity community. Students from the College of Science and the College of Business Administration—many active in the campus cybersecurity club SWIFT—worked together to achieve their shared goal. “They are amazing. I was especially thrilled to see their performance, having witnessed some of them grow since their first competition (NCAE). It’s incredibly rewarding to see them now excelling at this more advanced level,” says Indira Guzman, assistant professor of computer information systems.
The SoCal Regional at Cal Poly Pomona hosted universities from across the western United States. UC Irvine and Cal State Fullerton placed second and third, respectively.
This victory builds on the team’s strong track record at CPTC events. In 2022 and 2023, Cal Poly Pomona secured first place at both the SoCal Regional and the global competition. The team continued its momentum by earning first place at the regionals in the 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 seasons. This year’s first-place finish highlights their sustained growth and advancing expertise in cybersecurity strategy, communication, and professionalism.
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Senior IT security Analyst and Adjunct Professor Curtis Carpenter, and
Prof. Indira R. Guzman, Professor Brandon Brown, Professor emeritus Dan Manson, and
Assistant Professor Deepti Agrawal
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Curtis Carpenter, senior IT security analyst and adjunct professor, and Indira R. Guzman, assistant professor of computer information systems, provided key support to the team throughout their preparation and participation in the event. The organization of the event was led by adjunct professor Brandon Brown, professor emeritus Dan Manson, and assistant professor Deepti Agrawal, who ensured everything ran smoothly.
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2026 CPTC Global Trophies
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Unlike traditional “capture the flag” cybersecurity competitions, CPTC mirrors real-world consulting scenarios. Student teams perform professional penetration testing engagements for a mock organization, identifying vulnerabilities, drafting client-ready reports and presenting their findings to company “executives.” Teams are evaluated not only on technical skill but also on their ability to communicate clearly and professionally.
The Global Finals, hosted at the Rochester Institute of Technology’s (RIT) ESL Global Cybersecurity Institute in January 2026 will bring together regional champions from across the world. Cal Poly Pomona’s team will spend two full days assessing complex client environments and presenting to industry judges.
With back-to-back regional victories and consistent top three finishes over the past three years, Cal Poly Pomona’s cybersecurity program continues to stand among the nation’s best—poised for another strong showing on the global stage.
