Army holds first Cybersecurity Summit at Fort Bragg with local partners
Army holds first Cybersecurity Summit at Fort Bragg with local partners
https://abc11.com/post/army-holds-first-cybersecurity-summit-fort-bragg-local-partners/19101831/
Publish Date: 2026-05-14 18:55:00
Source Domain: abc11.com
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (WTVD) — Local and federal leaders gathered Thursday at Fort Bragg for the U.S. Army’s first Defense Critical Infrastructure Summit, focusing on strengthening cybersecurity through local partnerships and technological innovation.
The summit brought together 14 agencies, including representatives from Duke Energy, Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC), and various military and civilian organizations. The goal: to develop integrated strategies to protect the nation’s critical infrastructure and ensure the Army can continue operating amid cyberattacks and emerging threats.
“We cannot survive in a vacuum. True resilience requires integrated partnerships,” said Brandon Pugh, principal cyberadvisor to the Secretary of the Army. “Interagency industry, state and local partners, soldiers and civilians all have a role to play.”
Army officials emphasized that local partnerships are vital to national security, particularly as threats to power grids, water supplies, and other essential utilities become more sophisticated. Leaders said collaboration with organizations such as Duke Energy and FTCC will help bolster Fort Bragg’s cyber defenses and identify vulnerabilities.
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“Because preparing for and responding to high-stakes events like this and the issues we discussed today takes trust, coordination, and a shared commitment to getting it right,” said Kodwo Ghartey-Tagoe, executive vice president and chief financial officer for Duke Energy Carolinas.
Throughout the summit, participants identified four major operational challenges related to drones and cybersecurity: physical threats, cyber impacts, dependencies on force projection, and information delays. With its 288 camps and installations, the Army relies heavily on outside agencies for utilities such as power, water, and natural gas. Officials hope this collaborative approach will enable partners to quickly identify and alert the…
