The Making of a Defender is a yearlong chronicle of USF’s CyberHerd, a cybersecurity competition team rising from ambitious challengers to national contenders. Tampa has always celebrated its underdogs and champions (“ChampaBay,” anyone?), and the CyberHerd embodies both. This is more than a competition story. The Making of a Defender reveals how tackling the nation’s cybersecurity challenges is becoming a defining strength of the Tampa Bay community. As CyberBay grows, this story stands at its foundation.
Photos from the CyberHerd documentary premiere at USF on September 24, 2025.