Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) is the new unit in the US Department of Defense that is responsible for the “defense of specified Department of Defense information networks” and, when needed, to “conduct full-spectrum military cyberspace operations in order to enable actions in all domains, ensure freedom of action in cyberspace for the U.S. and its allies, and deny the same to adversaries.”

Their logo as an encrypted message in its inner gold ring:

          9ec4c12949a4f31474f299058ce2b22a

An article in Wired quotes a USCYBERCOM source:

“It is not just random numbers and does ‘decode’ to something specific,” a Cyber Command source tells Danger Room. “I believe it is specifically detailed in the official heraldry for the unit symbol.”

“While there a few different proposals during the design phase, in the end the choice was obvious and something necessary for every military unit,” the source adds. “The mission.”

Here’s your chance to use those skills you learned in CMSC 443. Wired is offering a T-shirt to the first person who can crack the code. With that hint in hand, go crack this code open. E-mail us your best guess, or leave it in the comments below. Our Cyber Command source will confirm the right answer. And the first person to get it gets his/her choice of a Danger Room T-shirt. USCYBERCOM might offer you a job.