Ft. Gordon is plagued by security vulnerability and problems, including serious breaches of security. In one case a man impersonated an Army officer and stole military explosives. The base is also beset with problems in terms of power reliability and supply problems – this doesn’t bode well for Army Cyber command and its thousands of computers systems. Pictured here: Base map of Ft. Gordon indicating major building locations.
The United States Army announced its decision to located the Army Cyber Command at Ft. Gordon, Ga.
It is the first time in history the Army is consolidating and coordinating Army cyber and network operations under one commander.
Some question this decision as ill advised as Ft. Gordon has been plagued by security breaches recently, including a man arrested with explosives in his car while impersonating an Army officer.
This same man breached security at the base on numerous occasions. Ft Gordon is also plagued by thefts and robberies and has had problems in the past with civilian contractors accessing restricted areas.
In addition Ft Gordon is currently home to a National Security Agency facility already, which is another concern. Having multiple high value targets in one location is not a good idea, some say.
Ft. Gordon is also a continuing target of foreign spies already believed to be targeting the NSA facility there. There are currently approx. 30,000 individual from various branches, as well as govt contractors who work there – many are believed to have not been adequately vetted in terms of proper security clearances. A situation the Army has refused to comment on.
Fort Gordon is the home of the Signal Corps and TRADOC. One hundred and fifty miles east of Atlanta. Fort Gordon covers approximately 87 square miles (that can be accessed at multiple unsecured points) and serves a population of 61,519 – as such you have a constant flow of people in an out of the facility.
Ft. Gordon has been described as a security nightmare by professional who look at numerous ways the base is unsecured or otherwise vulnerable to being infiltrated or attacked.
Ft. Gordon also has significant problems in terms of power outages – indicating substantial vulnerability there in terms of reliability and operation (see: http://www.gordon.army.mil/NEWS/power_outage/ and http://www.ftgordonsignal.com/news/2013-12-20/Community_Events/Installation_power_outage_damages_not_claimable.html).
Officials say the mot recent power outage situation is linked to an “equipment issues” – a situation that really hasn’t been address by the military in any substantial way. We can imagine this is not good in terms of the Army cyber command being located there, before addressing power reliability issues which has caused all sorts of problems at the base already.
See also: Power outage reported at Georgia Army base http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/story/21962219/power-outage-reported-at-ga-army-base#axzz2o7E0YZOp
Despite these and many other very serious security concerns the Army decision is final in this case.
What follows is the official DOD news release: