Locked Shields is the world's largest and most complex international live-fire cyber defense exercise. As a participant in both the 2023 and 2024 editions, I played a role in defending simulated national IT systems and critical infrastructure under intense pressure. My involvement required rapid decision-making, in-depth technical knowledge, and collaboration with international teams. Throughout the exercises, I honed skills in incident response, forensics, and network defense, contributing to my team's strategic and tactical success.