Mississippi Breaks Ground on New Cyber and Technology Center Near Keesler Air Force Base
By Lici Beveridge
Mississippi Clarion Ledger
August 19, 2025 — Mississippi is stepping firmly into the future with the groundbreaking of its new Cyber and Technology Center, a major initiative aimed at strengthening cybersecurity training, workforce development, and economic growth. The 100,000-square-foot center, located near Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, will serve as the home for the Mississippi Cyber Initiative led by Mississippi State University (MSU).
At the groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday morning, Governor Tate Reeves declared Mississippi a leader in innovation. “Mississippi’s future is already here,” he said. “On top of the enormously important role the cyber center will have in keeping America and Mississippi safe, we know it’s going to be incredibly important in training Mississippians, not for the jobs of the last 50 years, but for the jobs of the next 50 years.”
A Strategic Hub for Cybersecurity and Technology
The Mississippi Cyber and Technology Center will be built through an enhanced use lease agreement between the U.S. Air Force Civil Engineer Center and MSU’s Research and Technology Corporation, announced earlier this year. Designed by Dale Partners Architects, the facility will include headquarters for the Mississippi Cyber Initiative, space for Air Force training activities, event facilities, and secure office space for cybersecurity-related businesses.
The center’s focus on education and technology reflects a critical national emphasis on cybersecurity as a matter of national security, economic growth, and workforce development. Maj. Gen. Wolfe Davidson, second Air Force commander at Keesler, highlighted this connection: “I believe that the Mississippi Cyber and Technology Center invests first in education, then the cyber domain and then in technology. There’s no better way to ensure we will have a brighter tomorrow than to educate those that are going to be leading tomorrow’s efforts.”
Construction is expected to be completed by 2027. Building on Momentum from Major Data Center Investments
This project coincides with a wave of significant investments in Mississippi’s digital infrastructure. Just hours before the groundbreaking, Governor Reeves announced a $6 billion digital data center project by AVAIO Digital set for Brandon. This investment ranks as the state’s third-largest in economic development.
Earlier this year, Compass Data Centers revealed plans to build eight new data centers in Lauderdale County, representing a $10 billion investment. And in January 2024, Amazon Web Services announced an equal $10 billion investment for data centers in Madison County.
“These combined investments highlight Mississippi’s growing reputation as a hub for technology and digital innovation,” Governor Reeves noted.
Mississippi State University Leading the Charge
Julie Jordan, MSU’s Vice President of Research and Economic Development, described the Cyber and Technology Center as a project five years in the making. “It has been a long time coming and a lot of people have been involved in making the new Mississippi Cyber and Technology Center a reality,” she said. “This is a step forward for the state of Mississippi, for our national defense and innovation along the Gulf Coast.”
MSU President Mark Keenum emphasized the university’s existing leadership in the technology space, pointing to its digital forensics lab that supports over 50 Mississippi law enforcement agencies. “With the Cyber and Technology Center, we are taking another step in our work to move forward,” he said. The center aims to enhance student training and retention, fostering “high-tech career pathways” and attracting cutting-edge companies seeking secure infrastructure and skilled workforces.
“Cybersecurity is no longer just some IT issue. It is a national security priority, a workforce imperative, and a driver of economic growth and development, and Mississippi is leading the way,” Keenum concluded.
For further information, contact Lici Beveridge at lbeveridge@gannett.com. Follow her on X @licibev or Facebook at facebook.com/licibeveridge.
