Augusta, Ga. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is continuing his work to support the Georgia Cyber Center in Augusta.
In a U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee hearing today, Sen. Ossoff asked President Biden’s nominee to be National Cyber Director, Harry Coker, for a commitment to join him at Georgia’s Cyber Center in Augusta to meet with key cybersecurity leaders in Georgia and discuss ways the White House can support efforts in Georgia.
“Georgia is increasingly a hub for technological innovation in the cyber sector, and the Georgia Cyber Center in Augusta is a world-class facility that I’d like to invite you to visit. This institution strengthens not just Georgia, but the nation and helps to train, develop, and implement technologies and techniques crucial to securing critical infrastructure and to securing the overall U.S. cyber environment,” Sen. Ossoff said in the hearing.
Mr. Coker committed to visiting Augusta and working with Sen. Ossoff to support the efforts of the Georgia Cyber Center, should he be confirmed to the position.
Sen. Ossoff continues to work to address the rise of cybersecurity threats and guaranteeing the safety of all Georgians.
Earlier this year, Sen. Ossoff’s bipartisan bill to authorize construction of new classrooms for Fort Eisenhower’s Cyber Center of Excellence passed the U.S. Senate as part of the Senate’s bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act.
Last year, Sen. Ossoff’s bipartisan bill to boost cybersecurity job training at HBCUs was signed into law.
Click here to watch Sen. Ossoff’s line of questioning:
Please find a transcript of the exchange below:
SEN. OSSOFF: “Mr. Coker, Georgia is increasingly a hub for technological innovation in the cyber sector, and the Georgia Cyber Center in Augusta is a world-class facility that I’d like to invite you to visit. This institution strengthens not just Georgia but the nation and helps to train, develop, and implement technologies and techniques crucial to securing critical infrastructure and to securing the overall U.S. cyber environment.
“So, my question for you is will you commit to joining me in Augusta, Georgia, at the Cyber Center, should you be confirmed to this post, to meet with key cybersecurity leaders in Georgia and discuss ways that the White House can support our efforts in Georgia?”
MR. COKER: “If confirmed, sir, I’d love to visit Augusta, Georgia, and the Cyber Center with you. I actually have experience there in Augusta. I had the honor of visiting and working with NSA Georgia in Augusta a number of times. I actually know some, I have former colleagues who work at the Cyber Center, so it would be again, my honor to visit Augusta on that topic.”
SEN. OSSOFF: “Excellent. And the men and women at NSA Georgia and the U.S. Army Cyber Center for Excellence at Fort Gordon [now Ft. Eisenhower] are doing an outstanding job protecting the nation.”
MR. COKER: “Yes, they are.”
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