The AFCEA TechNet conference is returning to Augusta in mid-August with more than 5,000 anticipated attendees and an estimated economic impact of $3.72 million.
Scheduled for Aug. 15-18 at the Augusta Convention Center at the Marriott, AFCEA TechNet Augusta has a theme of “Designing and Deploying a United Network” and bridges the U.S. Army and its divisions (including its cyber divisions), government in general, agencies, industries and academia.
“U.S. Army leaders from Fort Gordon and from around the country gather at TechNet Augusta to examine and explore the intricacies of the cyber domain, specifically the design and deployment of a unified IT network to support both cyber offense and defense,” said Howard Wahlberg, Director of Marketing for AFCEA International.
The multi-faceted conference features a variety of speakers with a wide range of topics such as “Hackers Guide to Environmental Catastrophe,” “Securing the Software Supply Chain” and “Building a Data Curriculum at the Signal School.” There are panel discussions including one with a focus of “recruitment, retention, modernization and readiness in support of the UN.”
Confirmed keynote speakers include Lt. Gen. Maria R. Gervais, deputy commanding general and chief of staff at U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Eustis, Va. and Lt. Gen. Maria Barrett, commanding general, U.S. Army Cyber Command, Fort Gordon.
In addition to the multiple conference talks, there’s a large vendor exhibition with more than 200 participants scheduled to attend.
“With assistance from the U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence and industry experts, the conference is designed to open the lines of communication and facilitate networking, education and problem solving,” Wahlberg said. “U.S. Army leaders and operators also discuss procurement and programmatic challenges the military, government and industry face during a time of great power competition, uncertain budgets and runaway technology advances.”
The event brings a great economic boost to the Augusta area, and tourism officials are glad to see it returning in full force.
“We never take for granted how fortunate we are for Augusta to have hosted this significant conference over the years. It underscores the importance of having Fort Gordon in our community, and in this new day of hybrid meetings, this reflects that there is no substitute for in-person connections that are so important to TechNet attendees and vendors,” said Bennish Brown, president/CEO of Destination Augusta.
It won’t be all seminars, however. Social events are planned during the conference as well. A golf tournament is scheduled as is a dress ball.
AFCEA is a “member-based, non-profit international organization that has helped members advance information technology, communications and electronics capabilities since 1946,” according to its website.
Ron Baxley Jr. is a correspondent for The Augusta Press.
