Army Settles on Augusta for Cyber Forces Headquarters
Sgt. Nirundorn Chiv works in the virtual lab at Fort Gordon in 2010. Defense Department file photo
Fort Gordon location will require 150 fewer personnel and cost 23 percent less than other sites contemplated.
Army Cyber Command troops for the first time will be housed together under one chief, service officials said on Thursday, in announcing a collective move to Fort Gordon, Ga., home of the service's Signal Center and Signal Corps, which is responsible for electronic communications.
Until now, the command, established in 2010, has operated out of numerous facilities and leased space in the Washington metropolitan area. The Fort Gordon consolidated location will require 150 fewer personnel and cost 23 percent less than other sites contemplated, Army officials said
The Cyber Forces will neighbor the Army's Joint Forces Headquarters-Cyber and National Security Agency-Georgia, combining Army's operational cyber headquarters with most of its cyber mission forces. Under U.S. Cyber Command’s evolving organizational structure, each military service includes a Cyber Command component that coordinates with Command headquarters in Fort Meade near Baltimore, Md.
"Cyber threats are real, sophisticated, growing, and evolving," Lt. Gen. Edward C. Cardon, commanding general of the Army Cyber Command, said in a statement. "The Army's decision demonstrates support for unity of command and the importance of cyber to our Army and our nation."
Officials said the siting decision was based on factors such as installation capacity, environmental impact, and human resources needs. Fort Gordon area residents had the opportunity to comment on the changes this fall, they added.
A command liaison division will remain behind at Fort Meade, officials said.