Tuesday’s groundbreaking for two projects at the University of South Carolina Aiken (USCA) will be felt across South Carolina and Georgia.
The South Carolina National Guard (SCNG) is building a 26,000 square foot Cyber Integration Center (CIC) next to the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative. The CIC will include a student-run Regional Security Operations Center (RSOC).
Regional was a word heard often during the groundbreaking ceremony. Speakers told attendees the work done at CIC will benefit both South Carolina and Georgia.
“In leveraging the power and proximity with a centralized location, bridging cyber assets in Georgia to the Midlands, the Upstate and the coast of South Carolina, as well as our strategic partnerships, state of the art infrastructure and growing talent pipeline and workforce development goals that have inspired key partnerships between USCA and the South Carolina National Guard and the Savannah River National Laboratory and others,” said USCA Chancellor Daniel Heimmermann in his prepared remarks.
Among the partners is the U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence. MG Ryan Janovic, Commanding General of the Center, told ABD his drive from Fort Eisenhower to USCA illustrated the far-reaching impact the CIC will have.
“I just don’t think about it in terms of two different regions,” he said. “I don’t think about it in terms of geographical boundaries. I think cyberspace demands that we’re all achieving outcomes together and finding new ways to thwart our adversaries.”
Leaders from economic development agencies and the business community also celebrated the new center.
Jim Tunison, President and CEO of the Aiken Chamber of Commerce, called it a catalyst for the business community, students, and the talent pipeline.
“Not only for USC Aiken, but our whole region,” he said. “I couldn’t be more excited for our community in Aiken County, but when you start to expand your view and you start to think regionally, how does this connect to Fort Eisenhower and the Cyber Center (Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center) over there? What opportunities will this bring for our region? We’re really going to see something exciting happen here in the CSRA.”
Terra Carroll, President and CEO of the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce, believes the CIC will also be a rallying point for all of Aiken County.
“I think what’s going to happen for North Augusta is going to pull us further into what’s happening in Aiken County, as opposed to what’s happening across the river in Georgia,” she explained. “Having something like this on the South Carolina side is beneficial for our community and our citizens to wrap their arms around. Something that’s in our state, in our county, in our community. So, super excited about it.”
Will Williams is President and CEO of Western SC Economic Development, making his job the very definition of regional cooperation.
“This is extremely huge. Growing cyber on this side of the river is really, really important, and not only for the Aiken community, but also for the state of South Carolina,” he said, adding it puts the spotlight on local education institutions.
“We’re starting to look kind of like an innovation area when you’ve got the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative coming online, and then you’ve got the cyber building here with USC Aiken and National Guard, just great opportunities. And that kind of ties into where we were trying to take the (No Boundaries) pitch contest earlier in the spring.”
Janovic said the CIC, coupled with other regional facilities, can benefit the workforce pipeline by keeping trained, local people close to home while drawing in new residents.
“I think there’s a strong correlation between when you can create environments where the minds of our young men and women in uniform and the civilians working alongside of us, when they can find like-minded individuals working against a purpose and an objective that’s clear, noble, and challenging,” he said. “If we’re doing that and finding the next horizon of where we need to be as a nation, that, to me, is where we find talent staying with us and saying, ‘I want to be a part of this team. We’re cutting edge. We’re doing something important, and I want to serve.”
It is a sentiment echoed by Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, who said it is important to continue to diversify the state’s opportunities.
“We lead the world in advanced manufacturing. The more we can look at bringing research here and development here, and tech jobs here. The more we can keep our best and brightest right here in the state, because we have the best colleges, universities, and technical colleges in the country. We want to make sure to keep all of our young people staying right here.”
The CIC, a $44.8 million investment, will focus on cyber defense activities. It will also host training, education, and applied research to support national security. In the RSOC, more than 400 cybersecurity students will get hands-on training, mentorships, and real-world experience.
Construction on the CIC is expected to be completed in 2026. The Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative is expected to be open this fall.
