SHREVEPORT, La. — LSU Shreveport is expanding its cybersecurity footprint beyond the classroom with the launch of a new cyber security club designed to give all students, regardless of their major, real-world defensive experience. The initiative is being spearheaded by Ched Wiggins Jr., lead of the university’s Security Operations Center (SOC).
The club’s first major challenge arrives this Saturday as a five-student team represents LSUS in the Southwest regional qualifier of the Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (CCDC). The event simulates 30 days of high-stakes business IT operations condensed into a grueling four-hour window where students must maintain network services while fending off active attacks from “friendly hackers,” known as the red team.
“There’s an outdated way of thinking that says to do everything you can to not be breached,” Wiggins said. “But the new way of thinking acknowledges that breaches are probably going to happen, so do you have a written plan that you’ve practiced in real time?”
This year’s team is led by captain Devesh Sarda, a master’s student in computer systems technology and one of two returning members from the university’s inaugural 2025 appearance. The team has grown from three to five members this year, including first-time participants like senior Trenton Choate, who noted that “getting your hands dirty” in a live simulation is vital to understanding classroom concepts.
While the club is currently in its formative stages—with Wiggins and co-chair Dr. Richard Watson finalizing a constitution and bylaws—it already hosts monthly MetaCTF challenges to build technical skills. The organizers aim to bridge the gap between academic theory and the professional workforce, where experience is often a barrier to entry.
“Just a degree won’t help students set themselves apart as they seek jobs,” Wiggins explained. “But if you’re an officer in the cyber security club who was part of a team that advanced to CCDC regionals or nationals… that makes you a much more competitive job candidate.”
Students interested in joining the club or attending future events can contact Ched Wiggins Jr. at wigginsjrr08@lsus.edu.
