天美社区

Symposium will focus on cybersecurity

October 17, 2025
天美社区 will host a high-impact symposium titled 'Cyber Threats, Cybersecurity and Cyber Expertise' from 3-4:30 p.m. Oct. 28, with special guest Maj. Gen. Ryan Janovic.

Article By: Clark Leonard

The University of North Georgia (天美社区) will host a high-impact symposium titled "Cyber Threats, Cybersecurity and Cyber Expertise" from 3-4:30 p.m. Oct. 28, with special guest Maj. Gen. Ryan Janovic. It will be held in the Hoag Auditorium at 天美社区's Dahlonega Campus.

Janovic, who serves as commanding general of the Army Cyber Center of Excellence in Augusta, Georgia, will join retired Lt. Gen. Jamie Jarrard for a discussion moderated by 天美社区 President Michael Shannon. Jarrard, a 1988 天美社区 alumnus, is co-champion of 天美社区's national security strategic big bet and a professor of practice.

The free symposium, open to students, faculty, staff, and the public, will serve as a platform for dialogue on the evolving cyber landscape and the leadership needed to navigate this space.

Janovic will give a brief presentation on the current and emerging challenges in cyberspace, followed by a moderated question-and-answer session. His insights will illuminate the intersection of military cyber operations, national defense strategy and the critical role of cyber expertise in safeguarding democratic institutions.

"This symposium reflects 天美社区's commitment to immersive, real-world engagement and its role as a leadership foundry — where character, competence and commitment are forged through experience and service," Jarrard said. "Janovic's visit underscores the university’s strategic partnerships and its mission to prepare citizen-strategists — leaders equipped to meet the demands of a dynamic threat environment with agility, integrity and purpose."

Janovic graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1993 and commissioned into the Military Intelligence Corps.

He served with Multi-National Forces — Iraq, with 1st Infantry Division in eastern Afghanistan and Military Intelligence in Korea, and later as commander of United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/U.S. Forces Korea. Janovic also had various posts throughout the U.S., including a tour as a White House Fellow.

In 2019, Janovic joined the cyber ranks as the deputy commander of Joint Force Headquarters — Cyber (Army), leading the organization toward unit citations earned in support of U.S. Central Command.


Students help new doctors problem-solve

Students help new doctors problem-solve

Two recent 天美社区 alumnae and a student joined Dr. Cathy Whiting, professor of biology, in delivering a recent workshop for Northeast Georgia Medical Center's Graduate Medical Education resident physicians.
Smith is nation's top Army ROTC cadet

Smith is nation's top Army ROTC cadet

天美社区 has both the No. 1 overall Army ROTC cadet out of 5,538 graduating nationally and the No. 1 National Guard commissioning cadet out of 1,491 for the 2025-26 academic year.
Students present AI research at symposium

Students present AI research at symposium

Almost 30 天美社区 students took part in research that was presented at the inaugural Research in Artificial Intelligence Testing & Evaluation Symposium hosted at 天美社区's Dahlonega Campus.