ASTRA brings together business leaders, academia, industry leaders and technology professionals from the region to discuss ways to increase South Carolina’s competitiveness in one of the state’s fast-growing industry sectors. ASTRA has identified Cyber as an area of growth and focus for this region and for the State of South Carolina. The ASTRA committee believes that a collective focus on the cyber effort from all of our partners would increase awareness of the value of products and services coming out of our region. Another benefit is that existing industry becomes more engaged, and the region begins to differentiate itself from its competitors and align for stronger industry.

With nearly all U.S. Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security agencies represented here, coupled with one of the nation's largest ocean ports and military airlift bases, and a growing medical research center, Charleston has become a hub of research & development, practical testing and pilot initiatives for a wide range of Cyber solutions.

ASTRA is pursuing a Low Country Cyber Security Campaign Strategy to establish the region as a leader and innovator that will provide solutions to cyber security technology, help achieve sustained economic growth through public and private collaboration and partnership, create public advocacy and awareness and stimulate educational programs to build a highly skilled work force and foster emergence of a knowledge-based infrastructure to attract business opportunities and a talented work force.

ASTRA will focus on many goals to help sustain our region as a leader in cyber security. Sustained and balanced economic growth of information assurance (IA) and cyber security (CS), fully connected IA and CS laboratories and facilities, attracting and retaining talent and training and educational programs will be a top priority for the leaders of ASTRA. We will build our educational focus to compliment what the Office of Learning and Management is endeavoring to accomplish for SPAWAR Atlantic.

We have a vision to enhance the region by becoming a national leader and preeminent provider of information assurance and cyber security professionals, systems and solutions.

By collaborating with leaders in our industry, ASTRA will bring together business leaders and technology professionals from around the region to discuss ways to increase South Carolina’s competitiveness in one of the state’s fastest growing sectors.