The Augusta Metro area is moving toward becoming a major technology hub with the arrival of the U.S. Army Cyber Command Headquarters at Fort Gordon and the new Hull McKnight Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center in downtown Augusta. Due to the investments in the Augusta Metro, the community will be an internationally-recognized center for cyber professionals and cybersecurity education. The economic effect of being a cyber hub will strengthen the community’s local businesses, school systems, institutions of higher education, and local nonprofits.
Cyber Institute | MPA Cybersecurity Workforce Study
In the Augusta Metro area, cybersecurity is poised to be one of the fastest growing areas of employment.
Why Augusta?
To learn more about the community’s future as a cyber hub, the Augusta University Cyber Institute and Master of Public Administration (MPA) analyzed the current workforce and surveyed local businesses, government agencies, and nonprofits to project future cybersecurity growth and economic impact. The research finds that the Augusta Metro is already a cyber hub and is moving toward being an internationally-recognized cyber center.
IT and Cyber-related Workforce
(including Fort Gordon) is estimated at 12,716 occupations, which is 5.3% of the workforce.
Cyber Growth
138% increase in jobs contributing over $400 million in salary to the local economy.
IT and Cyber-Related Jobs:
Range from
$46,150 – $110,390
annually, with an estimated mean wage of
$72,324.
Highest Percentage of Positions:
Computer User Support Specialist19%
Computer Systems Analyst13%
Computer Occupations, All Others13%
Top 3 Paying Jobs:
Computer & Information Systems Manager (8% of total positions).
Software Developers, Systems Software (6% of total positions).
Computer Network Architects (3% of total positions).
4668
New jobs in five years.97778
Average salary for cybersecurity professionals400
Million dollars in salaryCybersecurity Workforce Study Quotes
About the Cybersecurity Workforce Study
The study was conducted by Dr. Mark Harris, a faculty member in the Hull College of Business and Cyber Institute and director of Graduate Studies in Information Security Management, Dr. William Hatcher, director of the MPA program, and Dr. Wesley Meares, a faculty member in the MPA program.
Dr. Mark Harris
Director | Graduate Studies in Information Security Management
Dr. Mark A. Harris is the Director of the Information Security Management program at the Augusta University Cyber Institute and Hull College of Business. He has a Ph.D. in Information Systems from Virginia Commonwealth University, a MS in E- commerce and a B.S. in Information Technology from Old Dominion University. His research interests include mobile device security, behavioral factors of security, security policy management, awareness training, and health IT security. He has authored many papers in well-respected refereed information systems security journals and conferences. Before academia, Mark was a senior network engineer for a large university, where he oversaw an expansive network.
Dr. William Hatcher
Director | Master of Public Administration Program
Dr. Hatcher is Director of Augusta University’s Master of Public Administration program and an Associate Professor of Political Science. His research focuses on the administrative features of community development and public finance. His research agenda tries to understand why public administration scholars and practitioners often have different opinions regarding the efficacy of certain administrative practices. His research has appeared in journals such as American Journal of Public Health, Journal of Public Affairs Education, Public Administration Quarterly, and The Review of Regional Studies.
Dr. Hatcher is active in NASPAA, the accrediting body for MPA programs, where he serves as chair of the organization’s small MPA programs section. In the Department of Political Science, he teaches courses on public administration and public policy. He has served as chair of the Board of Adjustment in Richmond, Kentucky. The Board of Adjustment is responsible for granting planning variances, conditional uses, and other adjudication of planning and zoning decisions.
Dr. Wesley Meares
Assistant Professor
Dr. Meares is an assistant professor in political science and public administration at Augusta University. In the Department of Political Science he teaches classes on public policy and public administration. His research agenda focuses on the effects of public policy on neighborhood and individual level outcomes and the administrative features of community and economic development policies. This research extends to the impacts of housing, urban revitalization, community development, and economic development policies. His research has appeared in journals such as Cities, Journal of Urbanism, Journal of Public Affairs Education, and Community Development.
In addition to his peer-review work Dr. Meares also served as an evaluator for a variety of programs. This includes his work as a co- principle investigator for a series of annual evaluation for the City of Covington’s (KY) HOPE VI program (2012-2014).
Allison Vick
MPA |PhD Student
Allison Vick is a doctoral student studying Political Science at the University of Georgia, concentrating in American Politics. She received her Master of Public Administration degree and Bachelor of Arts in History with Secondary Teacher Certification from Augusta University. She has worked with Augusta University’s Center for Public Service and Research and has been involved with research projects including topics in immigration policy, local policing, Administrative Agencies and the Supreme Court, and workforce trends.
