Gov. Nathan Deal, along with Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, visited the Cyber Center of Excellence, a training facility for cyberspace operations at Fort Gordon, and attended a mission briefing. The briefing was designed to provide state leaders with a greater understanding of the various cyber entities housed at Fort Gordon, how they work together and the tactical missions. During the visit, Deal and Cagle recognized military officials for their current work and reaffirmed the state’s commitment to the Georgia Cyber Training and Innovation Center.
 
“The decision to establish the Georgia Cyber Training and Innovation Center in Augusta further solidifies Georgia’s reputation as the Silicon Valley of the South,” said Deal. “The Department of Defense recognizes Georgia’s assets and the vital role our state will play in the future of cybersecurity. I would like to extend my thanks to Major General John Morrison, Col. Eric Toler and their respective staffs for their efforts and dedication to this critical initiative. This invaluable resource will put Georgia at the pinnacle of efforts to enhance American cybersecurity for both public and private industries with a resource unlike any other in the country. Georgia is already the No. 1 place in which to do business. Now, we’ll be the safest place for business as well.”
 
The center will be a state-owned facility designed to promote modernization in cybersecurity technology for both private and public industries. In conjunction with the Department of Defense and the National Security Agency, this resource will serve to enhance American cybersecurity in the public and private arenas. This initiative will be housed within the Georgia Technology Authority and will, in part, serve as an incubator for startup companies. It will also focus on research and development, tapping into the assets of Georgia’s research institutions and partnering with Augusta University Cyber Institute. This collaboration will also include the Georgia National Guard, Technical College System of Georgia, University System of Georgia, the Department of Economic Development, Georgia Bureau of Investigation and numerous private sector entities.
 
“I support Governor Deal and his commitment to further establish Georgia as a leader in cyber innovation and security,” said Cagle. “We have a tremendous opportunity as a state to leverage our resources with our research institutions and military bases, and this collaborative initiative will result in a better trained and equipped cyber force.”   
 
Less than two months ago, U.S. Army Cyber Command and the Second Army broke ground on construction for a new Army Cyber headquarters facility that will draw together the Army’s cyber operations, capability development, training and education in one location. The event marked the start of an approximately 2.5-year project to build a state-of-the-art focal point for Army cyberspace operations at Fort Gordon. A second phase of construction to support Cyber Protection Team operations is expected to be completed in early 2019.
 
“Fort Gordon has a diverse mission set and has become a focal point for cyberspace operations. With a population of over 25,000 military and civilian personnel, it is the home of cyberspace expertise from across the Army, Joint, and Department of Defense cyber communities,” said MG John Morrison, Commanding General of U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence and Fort Gordon. “The collocation at Fort Gordon of operational forces from the National Security Agency Georgia, Army Cyber Command, and Intelligence and Security Command with the Cyber Center of Excellence training force has initiated a convergence of operational insights and lessons learned that will transform cyberspace training and operations. The synergy gained from their proximity to each other will also enable the educational and operational forces to better poise the Army for the unpredictability of cyberspace operations. Fort Gordon welcomes the state's investments in cyberspace technologies, including the creation of a state cyber innovation and training facility in Augusta. Those investments strengthen the partnerships between the Department of Defense, Georgia, academia, and industry as we work together to attract, produce, and retain the caliber of workforce necessary to help our Nation to maintain its advantage in the cyberspace domain.”
 
“NSA-Georgia was honored to welcome Gov. Deal, Lt. Gov. Cagle and party for their first visit to Fort Gordon and NSA/CSS Georgia,” said NSA-Georgia Commander Col. Eric Toler. “As one of our Nation's top priorities, cyber security will take the combined effort of government, academia, and the private sector to effectively protect our nation against hostile cyber-attacks. As such, NSA-Georgia looks forward to the future collaboration and partnership with Fort Gordon, Augusta University, and the State of Georgia, and private industry to ensure that the United States and our allies maintain a decisive information advantage over our adversaries.”
 
“The governor’s vision for a facility that will allow the best and the brightest in academia, industry and government to work together to address global cyber security challenges is truly transformational,” said Augusta University President Dr. Brooks Keel. “Augusta is already home to national cybersecurity assets, including U.S. Army Cyber Command, the Army Cyber Center of Excellence and NSA/CSS Georgia. I look forward to working with Gov. Deal and all of our partners as we turn this world-class training facility into a vibrant reality.”