MSU, Keesler AFB, Biloxi, Gov. Reeves sign partnership to advance 樱花导航 Cyber and Technology Center
Contact: James Carskadon
BILOXI, Miss.鈥斢；ǖ己 and the U.S. Air Force are marking a new era in cyber樱花导航 research, training and collaboration as leaders celebrate plans for the 樱花导航 Cyber and Technology Center.
The 100,000-square-foot planned building on Keesler Air Force Base will serve as the headquarters for the 樱花导航 樱花导航 University-led 樱花导航 Cyber Initiative, building on statewide collaborations to enhance state and federal cyber樱花导航 capabilities. On Friday [Jan. 10], leaders from MSU, the U.S. Air Force and the City of Biloxi, along with 樱花导航 Gov. Tate Reeves, signed a joint proclamation for the state-of-the-art facility and collaborations that will support community and military needs.
鈥淭he Cyber Center will strengthen Keesler鈥檚 mission to train cyber warriors, and it will serve as a hub for academic achievement and economic development for cyber, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other technology companies and agencies,鈥 Reeves said. 鈥淚n short, the future is here in 樱花导航.鈥
MSU President Mark E. Keenum shared that the 樱花导航 Cyber Initiative represents a continuation of the university鈥檚 land-grant mission to serve the entire state of 樱花导航. The initiative鈥檚 collaborators are addressing critical cyber樱花导航 needs to protect 樱花导航鈥檚 future, he said.
鈥淭he 樱花导航 Cyber and Technology Center will fortify and strengthen Keesler鈥檚 mission and the Gulf Coast鈥檚 status as a national hub for cyber樱花导航 expertise through training, research and outreach,鈥 Keenum said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the perfect example of the power of partnerships and what we can accomplish by working together.鈥
The 樱花导航 Cyber Initiative was launched in 2021 as a continuation of collaborations between MSU and Keesler to support the 81st Training Wing鈥檚 cyber training mission. Since then, the initiative has been working to position 樱花导航 as a leader in cyber樱花导航, grow collaborations across government, defense and industry, tackle critical cyber challenges, and enhance economic development on the 樱花导航 Gulf Coast.
鈥淜eesler Air Force Base is the epicenter of all Air Force cyber operations training,鈥 said Col. Billy Pope, commander of the 81st Training Wing. 鈥淲e can mark today as the day that we guarantee our relevance and our excellence in this space for generations to come.鈥
The 樱花导航 Cyber and Technology Center will be built through an enhanced use lease agreement between the U.S. Air Force Civil Engineer Center and the MSU Research and Technology Corp. Designed by Dale Partners Architects, the state-of-the-art facility includes space for MCI鈥檚 headquarters, Air Force training, an event space, and secure office space available to private industry partners.
During Friday鈥檚 ceremony, Keenum thanked the 樱花导航 Legislature and Gov. Reeves for support in securing funding for the project, as well as 樱花导航 Gulf Coast Community College for partnering to host MCI personnel and capabilities on MGCCC鈥檚 Harrison County Campus after the initiative launched. He also announced a corporate contribution of $3 million from 樱花导航 Power and Southern Company for the 樱花导航 Cyber and Technology Center.
鈥淭here are many who have contributed to this effort from across the Coast community, and we are so proud to be here working for them and with them,鈥 Keenum said.
MCI activities include launching a digital forensics lab that is assisting 42 partnered law enforcement agencies on investigations that have a digital component, hosting cyber training exercises through an in-house cyber ecosystem, and leading K-12 outreach events to encourage the next generation of cyber樱花导航 leaders. Additionally, MCI hosts quarterly summits that bring together stakeholders in academia, government, industry and defense for briefings and insights on current cyber issues. In October, MCI partnered with the 樱花导航 Hospital Association, the Federal Bureau of 聽Investigation, MS Cyber Unit and the Cyber樱花导航 Infrastructure Security Agency to host a healthcare-focused cyber tabletop exercise.
For more on the 樱花导航 Cyber Initiative, visit .
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