Over the summer, 230 students from across the CSRA attended the annual CyberPatriot camps hosted by the CSRA Alliance for Fort Gordon and held at the Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center at Augusta University.
Augusta’s Standard Camp, which was held June 23-27, saw 140 campers attend during the week – the most in the nation. Standard Camp features an introduction to cybersecurity, virtual machines, Windows 10 and Mint, with a flexible curriculum designed to meet students’ interests and needs. Ninety campers then attended the Advanced Camp July 14-18, which built upon the Standard Camp material and drew from CyberPatriot competition activities, offering more in-depth learning.
Included in the 230 campers who attended the two camps, the alliance celebrated a major milestone with the 1,000th student attending cyber camp since its inception in 2019. Following this year’s camps, 1,118 youth have attended the free cyber summer camps.
Augusta University President Russell T. Keen and First Lady Karen B. Keen visited the final day of the Advanced Camp, taking an up-close-and-personal look at what the campers worked on during the week. The Keens then joined Lt. Gen. Maria Barrett, commanding general of U.S. Army Cyber Command, in presenting each camper with a medal to celebrate their accomplishments.
“Hosting the nation’s largest CyberPatriot camp right here at Augusta University is a powerful testament to the innovation and talent driving the Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center,” President Keen said. “Karen and I were thrilled to spend time with these bright middle and high school students, celebrating their achievements and encouraging their ambitions. Programs like these also reinforce our commitment to being a leader in advancing cyber education and innovation.”
For their efforts toward advancing cybersecurity training among youth, the Alliance for Fort Gordon has been designated a CyberPatriot Center of Excellence by the Air Force Association, a testament to the program’s national significance.
“CyberPatriot isn’t just a summer camp – it’s a launchpad for the nation’s future defenders,” Barrett said. “Watching students from across the country dive into complex cybersecurity challenges with such enthusiasm affirms our investment in the next generation. These young minds represent the frontline of tomorrow’s cyber force, and U.S. Army Cyber Command is proud to support this mission.”
The camps are part of a national movement to equip elementary, middle and high school students with essential cybersecurity skills, playing a vital role in the Alliance’s ongoing mission to develop the region’s cybersecurity workforce and inspire the next generation of STEM professionals.
“Hosting the nation’s largest CyberPatriot camp right here at Augusta University is a powerful testament to the innovation and talent driving the Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center.”
AU President Russell T. Keen
Camp instructors brought real-world expertise to the classrooms, with many hailing from Fort Gordon, the headquarters of U.S. Army Cyber Command. Their participation provided campers with authentic, hands-on insights into the kind of cybersecurity challenges professionals face daily. With over 400,000 cybersecurity jobs currently open nationwide, programs like CyberPatriot are not only timely but necessary to ensure the U.S. maintains a strong cyber defense workforce.
“Fort Gordon provides the instructors for our camps, and I tell our campers that they are the world’s best – it’s kind of like having your 16-year-old being taught to drive by Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon,” said Tom Clark, DM, executive director for the CSRA Alliance for Fort Gordon.
For James London Pace, a student at Briarwood Academy in Warrenton, Georgia, the camp offered him the chance to learn more about various operating systems.
“In only a week, I learned about Windows, Linux and Cisco, and now I feel confident I can defend my own computers,” Pace said.
Christine Bishop, a student at Lakeside High School in Evans, saw the camp as a chance to get involved with a new group of friends at her school.
“It was a good platform to jump off from when I wanted to join my high school’s team. It gives you a lot of structure to work with,” Bishop said.
The Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center, serving as the host site of the camps, underscores the importance of Augusta’s growing reputation as a center of cyber excellence in the state, region and nation. The GCITC fosters collaboration between government agencies, private industry and academia, all under one roof, and stands as a symbol of the region’s commitment to national security and technological innovation.
