Meet the Leadership Team Behind the Georgia Cyber Center at Augusta University’s Cyber Resiliency Center

Behind every successful mission is a team of experienced leaders committed to making a lasting impact.

As the Georgia Cyber Center at Augusta University launches the Cyber Resiliency Center (CRC), it does so with a leadership team whose experience spans higher education, military service, federal cybersecurity, governance, critical infrastructure protection and enterprise cyber operations. Together, they share a common goal: helping organizations across Georgia become more resilient while preparing the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.

The Cyber Resiliency Center was created to help organizations better prepare for, respond to and recover from cyber incidents. Through practical, vendor-neutral cybersecurity services and a workforce development model that gives students hands-on experience alongside industry experts, the CRC is strengthening both Georgia’s cybersecurity posture and its future workforce.

Meet the leaders guiding that mission.

Dr. John McLain, Director

For more than three decades, Dr. John McLain has helped organizations navigate complex cybersecurity challenges by building resilient teams, developing innovative programs and creating partnerships that deliver lasting results.

As Director of the Georgia Cyber Resiliency Center, Dr. McLain leads the center’s strategic vision, statewide partnerships and long-term growth. He previously served as the Cybersecurity Project Lead for the Georgia AI in Manufacturing (GA-AIM) initiative, where he led the development of the Cyber Resiliency Center from concept to reality before being appointed its inaugural director in 2026.

Throughout his distinguished military and civilian career, Dr. McLain has served as a Chief Information Security Officer, Chief Information Officer and senior executive responsible for protecting global enterprise networks in highly regulated, mission-critical environments. His leadership philosophy centers on empowering people, fostering collaboration and translating complex cybersecurity challenges into practical strategies that help organizations thrive.

A recognized expert in cybersecurity governance, compliance and risk management, Dr. McLain has led enterprise implementations of numerous cybersecurity frameworks, including NIST, CIS, FISMA, RMF and FedRAMP. His experience guiding organizations through audits, authorizations and enterprise risk management initiatives allows the Cyber Resiliency Center to deliver practical, proven cybersecurity solutions that help organizations improve their resilience while supporting innovation and operational excellence.

Dr. McLain earned a Bachelor of Science from Lander University, a Master of Science in Government Information Leadership from the National Defense University‘s College of Information and Cyberspace and a Doctor of Information Technology in Cybersecurity from Capella University.

Rodney “Rodd” Arthur, Assistant Director of Operations

As Assistant Director of Operations, Rodney “Rodd” Arthur oversees the day-to-day operations of the Cyber Resiliency Center while supporting its long-term strategy, mission and statewide partnerships.

Arthur brings decades of cybersecurity and operational leadership experience across higher education and the federal government. Prior to joining the CRC, he served as Director of Cybersecurity Operations at Augusta University, where he established and led the university’s Security Operations Center responsible for protecting university and academic medical center networks through threat prevention, threat detection and incident response.

Before joining Augusta University, Arthur held senior leadership positions with the National Security Agency, including Deputy Director of the NSA/CSS Georgia Capabilities Directorate and Director of the NSA/CSS Threat Operations Center–Georgia. During his tenure, he established the organization’s first cybersecurity mission, created its first malware analysis laboratory and launched the first 24/7 cybersecurity operations center in the NSA extended enterprise. He also helped establish a strategic partnership with the FBI Atlanta Cyber Division to strengthen cyber threat intelligence collaboration.

Arthur earned both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Electrical Engineering and brings decades of experience building high-performing cybersecurity organizations and operational teams.

Russ Parham, Assistant Director of Portfolio Management

Russ Parham serves as Assistant Director of Portfolio Management, overseeing project governance, strategic planning and program execution for the Cyber Resiliency Center. He ensures the CRC’s initiatives align with the strategic priorities of the Georgia Cyber Center at Augusta University and the State of Georgia while managing performance, risk, vendor coordination and organizational growth.

Prior to joining the CRC, Parham served as Governance, Risk and Compliance Manager for Augusta University’s Cyber Defense Department. Before entering higher education, he served 27 years on active duty in the United States Army, holding leadership positions in cybersecurity, communications, information systems engineering and modeling and simulation.

His military service included assignments in Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, the Republic of Korea and installations throughout the United States, where he led complex technology and cybersecurity initiatives supporting critical missions.

Parham’s expertise in strategic planning, governance and portfolio management helps ensure the Cyber Resiliency Center delivers scalable, measurable cybersecurity services that meet the evolving needs of organizations throughout Georgia.

Building Cyber Resilience Through Experience and Collaboration

While each member of the leadership team brings a unique background, they share a common commitment to strengthening Georgia’s cybersecurity ecosystem through collaboration, innovation and service.

One of the defining features of the Cyber Resiliency Center is its workforce development model. More than 80 percent of the CRC’s workforce will be comprised of Augusta University students, providing them with opportunities to work alongside experienced cybersecurity professionals while supporting organizations facing real-world cyber threats.

Instead of graduating with only classroom knowledge, students will gain practical experience conducting cyber risk assessments, participating in tabletop exercises, supporting operational technology reviews and helping organizations improve their cyber resilience. This experience prepares graduates to enter the workforce with the skills employers need from day one while expanding Georgia’s cybersecurity talent pipeline.

As cyber threats continue to evolve, the leadership team at the Cyber Resiliency Center is building more than a cybersecurity service. They are creating a statewide resource that helps protect critical infrastructure, strengthens organizations across Georgia and develops the cybersecurity workforce that will safeguard the future.