USC Aiken partners with the National Guard and Batelle for new cybercenter

USC Aiken is the host for a new cyber training center, sponsored by the South Carolina National Guard.

The new facility, which is being called DreamPort Cybersecurity Collaborative, will act as a new way to train students for cyber security. It will act as a space for classes, training spaces, and an area for operations. It will also work with the Savannah River National Laboratory’s Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative, Aiken Technical College, Aiken County Public Schools, the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center and Fort Gordon, according to a press release.

It is working in conjunction with Battelle, a non-profit research and development group who works with other universities, including Clemson University and Georgia Tech. It will also include a “Readiness Center,” used for training the South Carolina National Guard. It is also planned to provide students with mentorship and experience from the USCA campus.

The facility is expected to cost slightly more than $20 million. This will come from both federal and money from the state that can also come from the community, according to reports. The main stipulation is that federal money cannot be used beyond the already allotted amount. Construction is expected to begin in fall 2022 and is expected to take approximately two years to complete.

Students can learn more about the school’s computer science program, which the cybersecurity program is a part of, here.