IN MEETING WITH AIR FORCE CHIEF-OF-STAFF NOMINEE, SCHUMER HIGHLIGHTS ROME LAB’S CRITICAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE NATION’S CYBER DEFENSE NETWORK & MOHAWK VALLEY ECONOMY; URGES GENERAL GOLDFEIN TO VISIT ROME & HELP INCREASE INVESTMENTS THAT HAVE MADE THE LAB A NATIONAL LEADER
In Recent Years, Schumer Has Helped Secure Millions of Dollars To Keep Lab Buzzing, Wants New Air Force Chief To Keep Dollars & Missions Flowing To Rome
As The U.S. Saw With SONY Cyber-Attacks & Other High-Level Breaches, Cybersecurity Is Something Our Military Must Continue To Focus On; Schumer Says Increasing Science and Technology Investments In Rome Air Force Research Labs Is An Important Part Of This Effort
Schumer: Air Force Leaders Should Help Grow Rome Lab
In a personal meeting with General David Goldfein, who is nominated to be the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force (USAF), U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer touted Rome Lab’s importance to the nation’s cyber defense network, and urged him to visit Rome Lab to witness first-hand the cutting-edge work being done. In their meeting, Schumer explained that, over the years, Rome Labs has established itself as a leader in the military community in gathering cyber intelligence. Schumer also said that Rome Labs’ essential work in serving as a research and development, communications and strategic planning facility for USAF personnel has allowed it to continue providing good-paying, high-tech jobs to hundreds of airmen and civilians in the Mohawk Valley. Therefore, as part of Schumer’s goal to increase science and technology investments in the Lab, he urged General Goldfein to visit Rome.
“In an era of constant hacking, cyber-spying and cyber-terror, Rome Lab is at the vanguard of countering cyber threats. It is also an economic engine for Mohawk Valley, employing over 1,000 talented intelligence and communications personnel. That is why I made it clear to General Goldfein that he needs to be a partner in keeping Rome Lab at the epicenter of cyber-defense and cutting-edge communications,” said Schumer. “Visiting the Rome Lab will give him a chance to see, in person, the work the Lab is doing to protect our nation’s cyber defense network as well as the innovation and spin-off economic activity the Mohawk Valley has come to enjoy as a result of the Air Force’s presence.”
Schumer explained that Rome Labs, the Information Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory, is a national leader in communications and cyber technology in the heart of the Mohawk Valley. Located in Oneida County, one of its primary focuses is gathering and processing cyber intelligence. Since 1997, it has been the USAF’s “Superlab” and is considered the nation’s premier research organization for Command, Control, Communications, Cyber and Intelligence (C4I) technologies. The lab focuses on developing information technology for air, space and ground systems, in addition to partnering with other federal agencies, universities and other state and local governments.
Rome Labs is a source of growth for the regional economy and a major source of employment. According to the USAF, it is estimated that Rome Labs generates over $290 million in total economic growth in Central New York, including over 2,400 direct and indirect jobs supported with a payroll of roughly $191 million. The lab generates more than $100 million in expenditures in the Central NY area and spawned more than $6.6 million in economic impact among visitors between 2010 and 2014 alone. Because of Rome Labs’ strong commitment to excellence in developing and enhancing this nation’s cyber security infrastructure, as well as its commitment to employing local residents with good-paying jobs, Schumer has long fought to ensure Rome Labs has what it needs to succeed and maintain its strong Central NY workforce.
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