Brigadier General Bernie Skoch (USAF, Ret.) was named the Commissioner of CyberPatriot, the Air Force Association’s national high school cyber defense competition, in 2010. Skoch graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1974 with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and upon graduation was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Air Force. His 29-year Air Force career took him throughout the United States and on permanent and temporary duty in Europe, Asia, the Pacific and the Middle East, retiring at the rank of brigadier general.

Skoch has more than 20 years experience in leadership positions developing, managing and implementing communications and information systems for the United States Air Force and the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). He has served as the Principal Director for Customer Advocacy at DISA, as well as the Principal Director for Network Services. Within the USAF he served as Director of Mission Systems, Director of Communications Operations, and Director of Chief Information Officer Support where he was responsible for aligning information technology systems with business process improvements. He has developed policies for global telephone, video, radio, voice, data and satellite systems.  Before joining CyberPatriot, Skoch was a consultant in the cyber and IT industry.

As Commissioner, Skoch oversees the planning and implementation of CyberPatriot as well as provides leadership and support for the program’s development. In this role, Skoch is able to further student interests in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)-related studies, as well as increase their awareness of cyber security threats.