Cyber Center to cover distance

BOSSIER CITY The U.S. Air Force Cyber Command at Barksdale Air Force Base and a complementary Cyber Innovation Center in Bossier City could boost the economy across northern Louisiana, an expert said here Thursday.

"You're in the embryonic stage of something that could be transformational for the entire region," said Rick Davis, executive director of Cummings Research Park in Huntsville, Ala., where the aerospace industry spawned similar results.

"People have asked me if it's possible that the number of jobs eventually created could be 10,000 or 15,000," Davis said. "I'd say it's more than possible. It's probable."

Barksdale has already been designated as a provisional Cyber Command, which is responsible for defending the United States against attacks in cyber space that could cripple communications or hack into the nation's computer networks.

Congress has yet to grant it as a "major command," which would require that a four-star general be put in place, but that could come next year.

Meanwhile, the state, Bossier City and Bossier Parish have put up $100 million to build the Cyber Innovation Center in Bossier City, which will be a research park that officials hope will attract technology companies to support the Cyber Command.

"This pot is going to be so big that there is no need for parochialism," said Craig Spohn, director of the Cyber Innovations Center that is scheduled to break ground early next year. "We believe its economic impact will reach 150 miles from Shreveport. That's the area that we'll be drawing from for resources."

More than 1,000 people attended the cyber briefing at the Bossier City Civic Center.

"This will absolutely reach to northeastern Louisiana," said Bob Fudickar with the Louisiana Department of Economic Development. "It's going to be like a magnet."

Davis said Cummings Research Park, which was established in 1962, now has more than 25,000 jobs and Huntsville has about 45,000 directly related to the aerospace and defense industry.

"This Cyber Command and (Cyber Innovation Center) will change the way people view you," Davis said. "You will pop up on the radar."