When Georgia Trend releases its annual Georgia 500: Georgia’s Most Influential Leaders list, it’s more than a recognition of individual achievement, it’s a snapshot of where leadership, innovation and influence are shaping the future of the state.
This year, one of those leaders is yet again, our own Eric Toler, Executive Director here at the Georgia Cyber Innovation & Training Center.
For those working in cybersecurity, workforce development, education or public-private collaboration, this recognition reinforces what many already know: Georgia’s cyber foothold is growing strong and the Georgia Cyber Innovation & Training Center is at the center of it.
A Leader Helping Shape Georgia’s Cybersecurity Ecosystem
Eric Toler’s inclusion on Georgia Trend’s Georgia 500 list highlights his impact not just as an individual leader, but as a driving force behind one of the most significant cybersecurity initiatives in the state.
As Executive Director of the Georgia Cyber Innovation & Training Center, Toler leads an amazing team in a facility designed to do something ambitious: bring together government, academia, industry and the military to solve real-world cyber challenges.
Located in downtown Augusta, we serve as a hub for:
- Cybersecurity education and training
- Workforce development initiatives
- Cyber research and innovation
- Collaboration across public and private sectors
- Cybersecurity services for local-level organizations
From National Defense to Statewide Cyber Leadership
Before leading the Georgia Cyber Innovation & Training Center, Eric Toler spent more than two decades serving the country as a U.S. Army intelligence officer. His career included seven combat tours and senior leadership roles supporting U.S. Cyber Command, Army Cyber Command and the National Security Agency (NSA).
That experience informs GCITC’s real-world approach to cybersecurity training and readiness.
Rather than focusing only on theory, our team emphasizes:
- Hands-on cyber range training
- Exposure to realistic cyber threat scenarios
- Skill development aligned with current workforce needs
This approach ensures students, professionals and partners gain skills that translate directly to today’s cyber landscape.
Why the Georgia Cyber Innovation & Training Center is so Important Right Now
Cyber threats aren’t slowing down, and neither is the demand for trained professionals who can defend critical infrastructure, businesses and communities.
Under Toler’s leadership, the Georgia Cyber Innovation & Training Center plays a vital role in addressing that challenge by:
- Strengthening Georgia’s cyber workforce pipeline
- Supporting education pathways from students to professionals
- Creating space for collaboration and innovation
- Providing vital cybersecurity services to rural local governments, hospitals, and public schools
- Helping position Georgia as a national cybersecurity leader
Our work impacts far more than Augusta. It supports statewide initiatives, national partnerships and organizations looking for practical cyber solutions.
Recognition That Reflects a Bigger Mission
Eric Toler was named to Georgia Trend’s Georgia 500 list alongside other Augusta-area leaders, including Augusta University President Russell T. Keen and Georgia Cancer Center Director, Dr. Jorge Cortes. Together, they represent the growing influence of Augusta as a hub for innovation, health sciences and cybersecurity.
But for the Georgia Cyber Innovation & Training Center, this recognition is less about a single moment, and more about momentum.
It reflects:
- The importance of cybersecurity leadership in Georgia’s economy
- The value of cross-sector collaboration
- The growing role of the Georgia Cyber Center in preparing the next generation of cyber professionals
Looking Ahead
As cyber challenges continue to evolve, so will the role of the Georgia Cyber Innovation & Training Center. Under Eric Toler’s leadership, we remain focused on our vision: to lead a revolution in cyber security through unprecedented collaboration and innovation, and on our purpose to protect the citizens and government institutions of Georgia and the nation.
Recognition like the Georgia Trend Georgia 500 reminds us that leadership in cybersecurity isn’t just about technology, it’s about people, collaboration and vision.