Symposium will focus on cybersecurity

The University of North Georgia (UNG) 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 UNG'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 UNG President Michael Shannon. Jarrard, a 1988 UNG alumnus, is co-champion of UNG'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 UNG'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.