FORT GORDON, GA. – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, South Atlantic Division Command Sgt. Maj. Chad Blansett, U.S. Army Signal Regiment Command Sgt. Maj. Darien Lawshea, and USACE engineers Jan Bovier and Phil Payne toured the site of Fort Gordon's new U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence Sept. 29.
With more than $1.6 billion slated for the construction, the new facilities aim to strengthen the Army by improving cyber mission readiness through cutting-edge, innovative information technology, cyberspace operation capabilities, and an open, collaborative working environment to support the next generation of the Army's Cyber force.
“The Corps’ military construction projects, like the cyber center construction here at Fort Gordon, directly contribute to the readiness, effectiveness, and lethality of our Army,” Blansett said. “Today we had the opportunity to walk the site and see all the great work our Corps of Engineers and contractors have accomplished so far.”
The master plan for the cyber center includes the demolition of 12 buildings, eight building renovations, the construction of four new buildings, and the installation of campus-wide infrastructure systems in a ten-year, multi-phased design and construction effort. The combination of new and renovated facilities for the campus replaces Vietnam-era training buildings with modern digital classrooms and labs allowing access to all the operational and training networks used across the Army.
“One of the most important things we do as command sergeants major is make sure that our warfighters have everything they need to get trained and be ready for the next fight,” said Lawshea. “That happens here on the ground with facilities like these at Fort Gordon and by investing in capabilities that increase our lethality; maintain readiness; strengthen our alliances and partnerships; and ensure we retain the technological advantage across the Joint Force.”
Classroom design focuses on creating the optimal environment to foster collaboration, promote innovation and facilitate leadership. Once complete, the new training facilities will integrate cyber, signal, electronic warfare, and intelligence capabilities to build operationally relevant cyber capacity and training for soldiers and civilians, within a classified and secure environment.
Key tenants on the campus include joint and national security partners along with Army organizations such as Training and Doctrine Command’s Cyber Center of Excellence, Army Cyber Command and the Army’s Intelligence and Security Command.
“We will sustain readiness and ensure that the U.S. Armed Forces remains the best trained and equipped force in the world,” Blansett said. “We’re looking forward to handing off the first additions of this great cyber campus off to our Signal Corps partners and getting students in the halls early next year.”