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National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) 

Community Coordinating Council

Community of Interest Charter: Competitions

1. Purpose 

This Community of Interest is a forum for anyone who is interested in sharing and learning 

how to empower a public and private competition ecosystem by promoting a wide spectrum 

of competitions and effective practices for players, teams, schools, coaches, sponsors, 

organizers, and others that advances cybersecurity knowledge, skills, and competencies to 

grow and sustain a diverse national talent pool.

2. Goals and Objectives 

This Community of Interest serves as a forum to provide a mechanism in which public and 

private sector participants can:

● exchange ideas and resources among interested stakeholders to promote

cybersecurity competitions and effective practices that advance cybersecurity 

knowledge, skills, and competencies to grow and sustain a highly qualified national 

cybersecurity talent pool

● generate discussion around accessibility of cybersecurity competitions, including 

topics such as remote vs. in-person, proficiency levels, awareness, cost, IT 

accessibility/508, etc

● foster activities that advance the diversification of cybersecurity competitions that

encourage new and different populations to consider a career in cybersecurity

● converse on educational aspects of current, emerging, and at times novel 

cybersecurity competition paradigms, frameworks, and standards to provide input to 

coordinate, revise, and advance competition diversity (e.g., tabletop-style vs. 

technical vs. Jeopardy-style, team vs. individual, technical vs. non-technical, vs. 

policy, etc.)

● develop concepts, design strategies, and pursue actions that promote cyber 

competitions as an excellent “stage” for competitors to learn new and exhibit 

existing proficiencies and skills, reiterate to employers how cybersecurity 

competitions serve as a great opportunity for recruitment, and advance the public 

image of cybersecurity competitions highlighting the relevance and real-world 

experience
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3. Organization and Operation 

The following sections describe the Community of Interest structure, membership functions, 

meeting times and locations, and new member acceptance. 

3.1 Structure 

Communities of Interest are constituent or topical groups that are designated, reviewed, and 

renewed annually by the NICE Community Leadership Team.

Communities of Interest are intended to be open forums to discuss topics and share resources. 

Communities of Interest may choose to meet regularly or simply collaborate via collaboration 

tools provided by the NICE Program Office. 

Communities of Interest do not have a defined lifecycle but will operate as long as there is a 

need and interest for the group. 

3.2 Membership Functions 

3.2.1 Community of Interest Co-Chairs 

The NICE Competitions Community of Interest co-chairs will serve two-year terms with a 

possibility of renewal for an additional two years. Terms will be staggered with other co-chairs. A 

NICE Staff Liaison is assigned to support the Community of Interest.

Community of Interest Co-Chairs have the following responsibilities: 

a. Complete requested tasks towards the development of the NICE Community and NICE 

Community deliverables 

b. Attend and actively participate in meetings of the NICE Community 

c. Provide input on meeting agendas and minutes 

d. Preside over Community of Interest meetings 

e. Engage in discussion with members in the Community of Interest listserv 

f. Provide updates on the Community of Interest during NICE Community Coordinating 

Council meetings 

g. Provide input into the NICE Community Coordinating Council meeting standing items. In 

consultation with the NICE Community Co-Chairs, review, deliberate on, and revise or 

adopt any recommendations of Communities of Interest prior to forwarding or presenting 

to the full NICE Community membership. 

h. Abide by the mailing list etiquette

3.2.2 Community of Interest Members 

Community of Interest members have the following responsibilities: 
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a. Complete requested tasks towards the goals of the Communities of Interest 

b. Attend and actively participate in group meetings as necessary 

c. Contribute input to group project(s) 

d. Serve as Subject Matter Experts to the group co-chairs

e. Abide by the mailing list etiquette

3.3 Meeting Times and Locations 

This group meets remotely on the third Thursday of every month at 3:00 p.m., Eastern Time. 

Meeting details will be provided in advance of the meeting date.

Blue Jeans will be used for virtual meetings. If you are new to Blue Jeans, here are some 

support training videos. You can test your video connection here.

3.4 New Member Acceptance Process 

To join this Community of Interest, email nicecompetitions+subscribe@list.nist.gov. Members of 

this Community of Interest are part of the broader NICE Community Coordinating Council and 

will be added to it automatically.
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3.4 NICE Competitions Draft Meeting Agenda 

NICE Competitions 

Community of Interest 

Meeting Agenda

Date: Time: 

BlueJeans Meeting Link | Dial: XXXX | Meeting ID: XXXX

Shared Folder | Website | NICEcompetitions@list.nist.gov| NICE Strategic Plan

I. Introductions & Opening Statements

II. Roll Call & Ground Rules

III. Review of Recently Completed Projects/Status Update

IV. New Business

V. Upcoming Events & General Announcements

• NICE Webinar Series: Third Wednesdays, 2-3 p.m. ET 

• Federal Cybersecurity Workforce Summit: <insert date and time>

• Federal Information Security Educators (FISSEA) Conference: <insert date and time>

• Cybersecurity Career Awareness Week: 3rd week in October

• NICE 2021 Conference & Expo: <insert date and time>

• NICE K12 Cybersecurity Education Conference: <insert date and time>

• OPEN FLOOR

VI. Action ItemReview

VII. Next Meeting Reminders

• NICECommunity Coordinating Council: <insert date and time>

• NICE Working Group Meetings <insert date and time>

• NICE Competitions Community of Interest: <insert date and time>

VIII. Closing 

This Community of Interest is a forum for anyone who is interested in sharing and 

learning how to empower a public and private competition ecosystem by promoting a 

wide spectrum of competitions and effective practices for players, teams, schools, 

coaches, sponsors, organizers, and others that advances cybersecurity knowledge, 

skills, and competencies to grow and sustain a diverse national talent pool.