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Maj. Gen. Stephen G. Fogarty, an alumnus of the University of North Georgia (ºìÁ«ÉçÇø) will be promoted to the three-star rank of lieutenant general and become commanding general of U.S. Army Cyber Command in Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

The April 26 Senate confirmation of the promotion and appointment was announced by the Pentagon. A date has not yet been set for the ceremonies, which will be held at Fort Belvoir. Fogarty, who currently serves as chief of staff for U.S. Cyber Command at Fort Meade, Maryland, earned a Bachelor of Arts in history from ºìÁ«ÉçÇø and commissioned as a second lieutenant in military intelligence in 1983. Fogarty previously commanded the U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence and Fort Gordon in Augusta, Georgia.  The U.S. Army headquarters to a new facility located at Fort Gordon that is estimated to be completed in 2020.

"With ºìÁ«ÉçÇø's rapidly expanding cyber education programs, we are especially excited about Maj. Gen. Fogarty's promotion and selection to lead U.S. Army Cyber Command," Dr. Billy Wells, senior vice president for leadership and global engagement, said. "We have been commissioning cadets as Army cyber officers since 2015, some with critical foreign language skills, and all with the outstanding leadership skills to lead tomorrow's cyber warriors in our nation's defense."

ºìÁ«ÉçÇø is designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency. ºìÁ«ÉçÇø also is one of six federally designated senior military colleges in the nation.

In November, Fogarty served as keynote speaker at ºìÁ«ÉçÇø's second annual Security Symposium, "Civil-Military Cooperation and the International Collaboration in Cyber Operations," held Nov. 8-9 on ºìÁ«ÉçÇø’s Dahlonega Campus.

Fogarty's message to attendees that included ºìÁ«ÉçÇø faculty and students, government agency leaders and active-duty military personnel, spanned a broad range of cyber-related topics, threats and challenges facing the U.S. and our allies, both now and in the future. He reinforced the importance of the symposium's theme of civil-military cooperation and international collaboration in cyber operations. He emphasized the U.S. Army is making progress in the cyber domain fight.

"For the first time in its history, you can join the Army, enter the cyber corps from the very beginning of your enlistment, and stay there your entire military career," Fogarty said.

Fogarty went on to say that this is a unique period in the history of the world, where one "bad actor," with a laptop can take over or cripple a nation's entire cyber network. To combat that threat, nations must go on the offensive.

"You better have game," Fogarty said. "You absolutely need to employ it if necessary, and not be afraid to use it."

Fogarty also holds a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University and a master's degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College. His military education includes Airborne School, the Military Intelligence Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Ranger School, Jumpmaster Course, Combined Arms & Services Staff School, Long Range Surveillance Leaders Course, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the U.S. Army War College.

Fogarty’s command tours include the Long Range Surveillance Detachment, 125th MI Battalion, 25th Infantry Division (Light); the 732nd MI Battalion; the 116th MI Brigade and National Security Agency-Georgia; and the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command.

His joint and combined assignments include Chief, Integrated Survey Program, for the United States Special Operations Command; Director, Joint Intelligence Operations Center—Afghanistan; Director of Intelligence, J-2, United States Central Command; and Deputy Chief of Staff, Intelligence, CJ-2, for NATO’s International Security Assistance Force, Afghanistan. During his Joint and Combined assignments, he deployed to Afghanistan three times in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal (two awards), Defense Superior Service Medal (three awards), Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal (two awards), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (five awards), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (two awards), Master Parachutist Badge (with bronze star), Air Assault Badge, and the Ranger Tab.