This research presentation explores the value of cybersecurity competitions in cyber defense education and its impact on the cybersecurity industry and workforce development. Competitions are considered active and challenge based learning that can be used as effective pedagogies to improve student interest, motivation, and problem solving in education. For cyber defense education quality assurance, student participation in cyber competitions is one of the criteria required for the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense designation by the National Security Agency. This presentation is based on the Challenge Based Learning (CBL) framework and explores the pedagogical benefits of cybersecurity competitions through the case study of the National Cyber League (NCL) competition. The case study focuses on mapping the features and knowledge and skill domains of the NCL competition to relevant NCAE-CD program criteria and knowledge units and presents sample data on students’ participation and performance from a NCAE-CD designated institution. This presentation also shares the results of quantitative data and qualitative observations as well as reflections on longitudinal student participation in the NCL competition and student performance in cyber defense educational programs.