Jindal promises $50 million for Air Force initiative
Staff Report
01-22-2008
Louisiana Tech University officials believe an investment of $50 million in state funds to the Cyber Command Center at Barksdale Air Force Base will send a ripple of benefits down Interstate 20 all the way to Ruston.Louisiana Tech University President Dan Reneau, Vice President for Research and Development Les Guice and Vice President for Academic Affairs Kenneth Rea were all present for the groundbreaking of the Cyber Innovation Center in Bossier City on Monday.
During the ceremony, Gov. Bobby Jindal announced he will commit the first $50 million of Louisiana’s state budget surplus to the infrastructure and transportation improvements needed to support the Cyber Command Center
“Louisiana Tech as well as others in the community and state will benefit enormously by this investment,” Guice said.
The Cyber Innovation Center is a venue that will support collaborations between university research, industry, the Air Force and other government agencies that should lead to innovative solutions to threats faced by the nation in both the military and civilian environments.
The Air Force announced plans in 2006 to create a Cyber Command to bring full-scale military operations to the realm of computer networks and the Internet. Air Force officials said the new command would coordinate network and electronic warfare.
On Monday, Jindal spoke about Cyber Innovation Center’s role in the economic vitality of northwest Louisiana.
“The Cyber Innovation Center has the potential to have an extraordinary impact on the economy of northwest Louisiana, as well as the entire state,” he said. “It has the potential to bring hundreds if not thousands of high-paying jobs to our state. With a research park here, we will attract technology companies and defense contractors to support the Cyber Command.”
Jindal spokeswoman Melissa Sellers said the governor has spoken with legislative leaders and promised Monday that the funds would be forthcoming during an upcoming special session.
“These funds will create the environment that has been essential for encouraging the Air Force to establish the Cyber Command here and also to attracting the industries into the region that will be doing some of the contract work necessary to support the Air Force’s goal of defending the nation in the cyberspace domain,” Guice said.
Jindal emphasized that his goal is to have the Air Force name Barksdale Air Force Base the permanent home of the Cyber Command Center.
Guice and his colleagues have regular interactions with others from industry and the government involved with this project. They are interested in capitalizing upon the resources that Louisiana Tech has developed to support this initiative, Guice said.
“We are working closely with the CIC to ensure that we have some activities in place that can foster these interactions that are so important for stimulating innovations,” he said.
“The opportunities for us are great, and we are thrilled with the commitment that has been made to establish the CIC in Bossier City.”
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