The Military Cyber Professionals Association

What The Military Cyber Professionals Association does

The Military Cyber Professionals Association (MCPA) is a volunteer-fueled 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit charity that serves as a regimental association for the American military cyber community. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Alexandria, VA, MCPA operates with a paid staff of 1-10 and is governed by a Board of Directors and Board of Advisors drawn from senior military cyber leaders. Its membership base exceeds 2,000 individuals spanning Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Guardians, Marines, Guardsmen, Reservists, veterans, scholars, and innovators across all branches of the U.S. military. The organization maintains 21 geographic chapters across the United States and serves personnel associated with USCYBERCOM, NSA, and other defense/national security institutions.

MCPA delivers its mission through a portfolio of programs rather than a single product. Core offerings include the annual HammerCon national convention (with CORE, GIT, NERD, and STARS tracks), the Order of Thor medal recognition program, the peer-reviewed Military Cyber Affairs journal, the CYBER magazine, the Cyber Snackz™ elementary education activity book (developed with Virginia Tech and GenCyber-funded), the MilCyberSync podcast, the Lockdown Lunch & Learn (3L) virtual series, and the DEF CON Arcade Party. Additional programs cover K-12 STEM initiatives (Cyber Patriot, Coder Dojo, VICEROY), the CORES research scholars program (ONR-funded, co-hosted with the University of New Haven), veterans transition assistance, a $10,000 enlisted child's scholarship, legislative affairs led by Rear Admiral (Ret) Mark Montgomery, and a Legal Roundtable directed by Colonel (Ret) Gary Corn. The organization also operates the 91CBA program supporting the 91st Cyber Brigade and runs merchandise/fundraiser initiatives including the PCB Challenge Coin and Cyber Single Barrel Bourbon.

MCPA's business model is nonprofit sponsorship- and donation-funded rather than commercial. Membership is free for active duty military personnel, veterans, government employees, and scholars. Revenue comes from corporate sponsorships across Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze tiers (ranging from $500 to $10,000,000), individual tax-deductible donations, publication partnerships starting at $25,000 per issue, and limited product sales (bourbon at $75 per bottle, challenge coins). Named sponsors include Microsoft (Platinum), CACI (Gold), Google Cloud, EC-Council, Looker, Leidos, and Lockheed Martin. Distribution occurs through the chapter network, annual events, digital platforms, and a partnership with the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) providing free AUSA membership to all MCPA members. MCPA is rated 4 of 4 stars by Charity Navigator and is recognized as the only professional association exclusively serving the American military cyber community.

Name

The Military Cyber Professionals Association

Legal name

Military Cyber Professionals Association

Website

https://public.milcyber.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Military Cyber Professionals Association (MCPA) is a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit charity serving as a regimental association for the U.S. military cyber community. It offers free membership to 2,000+ service members, veterans, and government employees across 21 chapters, delivering recognition programs, an annual convention, publications, and STEM education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Military Professional Association

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920), Computer Training (611420), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAEANAF

Cybersecurity Training & Awareness Programs

Business & Public Services/IT & Digital Services (Managed Services, Systems Integration)/IT Training & Technical Enablement Services

SECONDARYEDAAANAA

Information Technology (IT) & Cybersecurity Certifications

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Professional Certification Programs

SECONDARYEDABAFAF

Cybersecurity Technical Skills (Security Engineering, SOC, Pen Testing)

Education/Corporate Training & Professional Development/Technical & IT Skills Training

SECONDARYEDAAAPAC

Cybersecurity

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Industry-Specific Training (Healthcare, Tech, etc.)

Keywords

• Military cyber community
• Professional association membership
• Cybersecurity education programs
• Veteran transition support
• STEM education outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Alexandria

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors at various tiers (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze) provide financial support ranging from $500 to $10,000,000. National sponsors receive recognition on website and at large events, priority placement for convention packages, and prioritized talk/article submissions.
2. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible charitable donations from individuals supporting the MCPA mission. The organization is a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit charity.
3. Publication Partnerships: Collaborative publication efforts with partners starting at $25,000 for a single publication issue and $50,000 for multiple issues.
4. Cyber Bourbon Sales: Cyber Single Barrel Bourbon whiskey sold at $75 + tax through Tobacco Barn Distillery partnership. A portion of proceeds donated to MCPA.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

The Military Cyber Professionals Association is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit charity that functions as a regimental association for the American military cyber community. It delivers free membership programs to eligible Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Guardians, Marines, Guardsmen, Reservists, veterans, scholars, and government civilian cyber professionals, including national recognition (Order of Thor medals), events (HammerCon, DEF CON Arcade Party, Gray Call chapter gatherings), publications (Military Cyber Affairs journal, CYBER magazine, monographs, MilCyberSync podcast), K-12 STEM programs (Cyber Snackz, CORES), and veteran transition support. Operations are funded through corporate sponsorships and individual donations.

Product overview

The Military Cyber Professionals Association (MCPA) is a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit charity serving as a professional association for the American military cyber community. The organization offers a portfolio of programs and services including: annual convention (HammerCon), peer-reviewed journal (Military Cyber Affairs), professional magazine (CYBER), cybersecurity activity book for children (Cyber Snackz), podcast (MilCyberSync), weekly discussion series (3L), DEF CON Arcade Party, Order of Thor medal recognition program, K-12 STEM programs, veterans programs, scholarship programs, legislative affairs, legal roundtable, Gray Call chapter gatherings, PCB challenge coins, Cyber Bourbon fundraiser, CORES research program, monographs, 91CBA, and 20+ geographic chapters nationwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HammerCon: Annual national convention of the Military Cyber Professionals Association
• Military Cyber Affairs
• CYBER
• MilCyberSync Podcast
• Order of Thor
• Cyber Snackz
• Cyber Bourbon
• 91CBA

Products and services

• HammerCon Annual national convention of the Military Cyber Professionals Association serving as the premier gathering of, by, and for the American military cyber community, featuring multiple tracks including CORE (Cyber Operations Readiness & Experiences), NERD (New Emerging Research & Development), GIT (Growing Innovations in Tech), and STARS.
• Order of Thor Medal Recognition program awarding Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals to recognize excellence and special contributions to the American military cyber community, inspired by the mythological warrior who wields a hammer symbolizing cyberspace's power to build and destroy.
• Military Cyber Affairs Peer-reviewed scholarly journal of the MCPA with editors and authors who are researchers and PhDs from institutions of higher education and think tanks, published periodically.
• CYBER Magazine Professional magazine of the Military Cyber Professionals Association featuring articles published online on a rolling basis from authors across the American military cyber community, with hard copies assembled periodically (usually annually).
• Cyber Snackz Introductory cybersecurity activity book created in partnership with Virginia Tech, featuring animal characters who work in different areas of cybersecurity to teach elementary school students age-appropriate cybersecurity principles through engaging activities and coloring pages. Made possible with a GenCyber grant.
• MilCyberSync Podcast Podcast bringing updates and insights from the intersection of cyberspace and national defense. Available on Amazon Music, Audible, Deezer, iHeartRadio, Podcast Addict, Spotify, and YouTube.
• Lockdown Lunch & Learn (3L) Weekly virtual discussion series launched in April 2020 that ran for 100 episodes over two years until 2022, featuring expert-led discussions on military cyber topics with continuing professional education (CPE) credit available. Sponsored by Lockheed Martin.
• DEF CON Arcade Party Annual event at the world's largest hacking conference (DEF CON) bringing together MCPA members, DEF CON leadership, and members of the national security community for a major social gathering.
• Cyber Single Barrel Bourbon Charity fundraiser bourbon whiskey distilled by Tobacco Barn Distillery from corn grown on their farm in southern Maryland, aged over 6 years in #3 American White Oak barrels, 90 Proof, non-chill filtered. Portion of proceeds donated to MCPA.
• CORES (Cyber Operative Research Scholars) One-year hands-on group research experience funded by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), training students in cybersecurity research with mentorship from principal investigators. Focus areas include offensive cyber operations, digital forensics, intelligence gathering, and AI/ML applications to cybersecurity. Co-hosted with University of New Haven's Connecticut Institute of Technology.
• Enlisted Child's Scholarship $10,000 scholarship program supporting an Enlisted MCPA member with a child going to college pursuing a STEM-related major, with eligibility requirements for currently serving enlisted military members in cyber occupational specialties.
• K-12 STEM Programs Educational programs supporting K-12 STEM and cybersecurity education through partnerships with existing programs including Coder Dojo, Infragard's Cyber Camp, Air Force Association's Cyber Patriot, Army JROTC Cyber Program, and VICEROY.
• Veterans Programs Support programs for veterans and those transitioning from military service, including free lifetime membership, Transition Assistance Program (TAP) classes, employment-focused mixers, and career counseling.
• Legislative Affairs Educational outreach to those in the legislative process on military cyber affairs, serving as the credible voice of the American military cyber community. Led by Rear Admiral (Ret) Mark Montgomery with focus on topics including occupational resiliency of the Cyber Mission Force.
• Legal Roundtable Program advancing the lawful and effective conduct of military cyber operations by bringing together judge advocates, civilian attorneys, and legal scholars to provide analysis and counsel on cyber operations across the spectrum of conflict. Inaugural Director is Colonel (Ret) Gary Corn.
• Gray Call Monthly gatherings of local communities of military cyber professionals hosted by regional MCPA chapters, inspired by the 'Orange Call' of the IT/communications community. 'Gray' refers to the branch color of the U.S. Army Cyber Corps.
• MCPA PCB Challenge Coin Uniquely designed challenge coin for military cyber professionals designed and fabricated entirely in the U.S., featuring an SAO (Simple Add-On) connector, single LED that shines through the printed circuit board (PCB), and expandable DIY learning opportunity with soldering components. Compatible with HammerCon access badges.
• MCPA Monographs Publications from the Military Cyber Institute featuring in-depth research papers on military cyber topics; inaugural monograph is 'Info-Strike at Santo Cristobal' by Major Gregory J. Touhill, USAF.
• 91st Cyber Brigade Association (91CBA) Program of the MCPA enhancing the mission of the 91st Cyber Brigade by supporting personnel who serve and served there. President is Colonel (Ret) Matt Wear.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,000+ members nationally
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Association of the United States Army (AUSA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership bringing free AUSA membership to all MCPA members. All MCPA members qualify for FREE AUSA membership, providing additional benefits and resources to the military cyber community.
• Capitol Technology UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBronze sponsor providing educational benefits. Active duty military receive reduced tuition ($250/credit bachelor, $350/credit master). MCPA members receive 25% off doctorate and 20-25% off regular bachelor/master tuition.
• VICEROY (Griffiss Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBronze sponsor and STEM program partner. VICEROY is resourced by Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. MCPA supports VICEROY CySER summer workshop.
• Virginia TechcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with MCPA to create Cyber Snackz™ Adventures in Cybersecurity activity book. Virginia Tech's Connecticut Institute of Technology and Dr. Ibrahim Baggili were key contributors.
• Tobacco Barn DistilleryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDistillery established 'Cyber Single Barrel Bourbon' to fundraise for MCPA. Limited batches available at national convention and holiday season. Distillery founder Rear Admiral (Ret) Scott Sanders serves as MCPA Advisor.
• University of New Haven (Connecticut Institute of Technology)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of CORES Symposium with MCPA. Dr. Ibrahim Baggili serves as PI and Director of Connecticut Institute of Technology.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ISACA: ISACA is a global professional association for IT governance, cybersecurity, and risk professionals, with chapters, certifications (CISM, CISA), and CPE programs — analogous to MCPA's continuing-education and credential-support offerings.
• EC-Council: EC-Council is a cybersecurity certification body (CEH, etc.) and a current MCPA Silver sponsor — directly comparable as a cybersecurity credentials and training provider.
• AFCEA International: Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association is a membership-based professional association serving U.S. military, government, and industry in IT, cyber, intelligence, and electronic warfare — the closest commercial analog to MCPA's mission.
• Military Officers Association of America (MOAA): MOAA is a volunteer-led professional association providing advocacy, transition support, and member benefits to military officers and veterans — comparable to MCPA's veterans-transition and advocacy programs.
• Air Force Association (AFA): AFA is a service-specific military professional association running CyberPatriot, the largest K-12 cyber defense competition — directly comparable to MCPA's K-12 STEM and Cyber Patriot involvement.
• Association of the United States Army (AUSA): AUSA is a professional association for the U.S. Army and broader defense community; MCPA already has a reciprocal membership partnership with AUSA, and both organizations share a defense-professional membership and convention model.
• (ISC)²: (ISC)² is the leading global cybersecurity professional association (CISSP, etc.), offering certifications, training, and chapters — directly comparable to MCPA's cybersecurity professional development and certification-support mission.

Emerging players

• SANS Institute: SANS is the leading commercial cybersecurity training and certification provider; it represents the more commercialized, paid counterpart to MCPA's free training, Lockdown Lunch & Learn, and CORES educational programs.
• National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA): NDIA is a defense-industry trade association with chapters, conferences, and STEM programs — comparable to MCPA's defense-cyber community events and educational outreach.

Broad incumbents

• Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW): VFW is a large incumbent veterans service organization offering transition support, advocacy, and community — relevant to MCPA's veterans programs as a broader alternative for transitioning service members.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/milcyberorg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/milcyberorg
• Facebookfacebook.com/milcyber
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/military-cyber-professionals-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Military Cyber Professionals Association