CIA Director John Brennan and the nation’s top authorities in cybersecurity will convene Oct. 12-13 for Cyber Georgia @ Augusta University. Brennan will be one of the keynote speakers at the summit, which will bring together government, academia and industry experts to provide intelligence and the latest updates on how to improve cybersecurity, education and research.

Registration is open for Cyber Georgia @ Augusta University, which will take place at the J. Harold Harrison, MD Education Commons on the university’s health sciences campus.

“It is an honor to welcome CIA Director John Brennan along with so many other members of the cyber community to our campus for what has become our annual cybersecurity conference,” said Augusta University President Brooks A. Keel, PhD. “This year we are also pleased to partner with The Georgia Chamber of Commerce in co-hosting the event. For the third consecutive year Augusta University has brought nationally and internationally recognized experts onto our campus to share insights on this critical issue. And as a result, we provide a unique opportunity for academicians to come together with military and business partners to discuss how we can best safeguard cyberspace. Such broad based collaboration is essential to meeting the cyber challenges of the 21st century.”

This year’s program is being co-hosted by The Georgia Chamber of Commerce and will focus on current threats and the imminent need to build a workforce through education and recruitment of the next generation of cybersecurity experts.

Former U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss will serve as this year’s honorary host. Chambliss previously served as vice chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

“Augusta University and our Cyber Institute are committed to excellence in teaching and education,” said Joanne Sexton, director of the Augusta University Cyber Institute. “Cyber Georgia @ Augusta University is one way to fulfill that commitment. By bringing cyber experts to our campus, we are providing our students, professors and community with an opportunity to learn about cyber from the best in the field.”

The Augusta University Cyber Institute, which provides the framework for all things cyber at the institution, was established in June 2015 to enable, support and champion meaningful, innovative, interdisciplinary research and education for cybersecurity. The institute was recently recognized as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. Its work focuses on collaborative partnerships to impact K-12 and higher education, health care, government and business communities.