AFCEA Atlanta Chapter

What AFCEA Atlanta Chapter does

AFCEA Atlanta Chapter is a non-profit local chapter of AFCEA International, founded in 1949 and based in Roswell, Georgia, serving the greater Atlanta metropolitan region — 39 counties, 6.1 million residents, and hundreds of Fortune 500 companies. The chapter operates as a professional membership association connecting active duty military, reservists, government civilians, defense contractors, and corporate technology professionals across communications, cybersecurity, and national security domains. Its core deliverables are not technology products but a recurring programming portfolio: monthly luncheon-networking events, free Brown Bag Lunch and Learn sessions on topics including 5G, quantum computing, AI, and critical infrastructure, the flagship Annual National Security Conference, and the Vanguard Shield cybersecurity tabletop exercise modeled on the Army Cyber Institute's Jack Voltaic series.

The chapter has no proprietary technology platform. Its "products" are services and convening functions: small business industry days, Teaching Tool Grants to STEM teachers, ROTC cadet scholarships (University of North Georgia, Georgia Tech Naval ROTC), and community programs such as the 20+ year USO Operation Holiday Block Leave at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, which assembles roughly 2,000 goodie bags annually for traveling troops. Operations are lean — 6 employees — and heavily volunteer-driven.

The business model is a hybrid of centrally administered membership dues (individual and corporate subscriptions sold through AFCEA International's portal), event registration and ticketing (free brown bag sessions, $30-$35 social tickets, conference registration fees), and in-kind sponsorship via partner-hosted events and venues. GTM is community-led and event-driven, with distribution anchored at venues including Atlanta Convention Center at AmericasMart, Atlanta Tech Park in Peachtree Corners, VECTR Center in Marietta, and Gas South Arena. The chapter does not develop or sell software; its value proposition is institutional access to a curated government-industry-defense network.

Name

AFCEA Atlanta Chapter

Legal name

AFCEA Atlanta Chapter

Website

https://atlanta.afceachapters.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AFCEA Atlanta Chapter is a 1949-founded non-profit professional association connecting defense, government, and industry professionals in the Atlanta metro through networking events, the Annual National Security Conference, Vanguard Shield cybersecurity exercises, and STEM education programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: AFCEA International charges individual and corporate membership dues. Individual rates and corporate rates are available through AFCEA International membership application portal.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

AFCEA Atlanta Chapter is a non-profit professional membership organization that connects defense, government, military, and industry professionals in the greater Atlanta metropolitan region through networking events, educational programs, and community service initiatives. It operates as a local chapter of AFCEA International, delivering monthly luncheon-networking events, an Annual National Security Conference, Vanguard Shield cybersecurity tabletop exercises, small business industry days, STEM scholarships, and USO support activities.

Product overview

AFCEA Atlanta Chapter is a professional membership organization serving the greater Atlanta metropolitan region. The chapter offers a unified portfolio of member services including professional membership, educational programs (Teaching Tool Grants and STEM scholarships), networking events (monthly luncheons, socials, and brown bag sessions), signature events (Annual National Security Conference, Vanguard Shield Cybersecurity Tabletop Exercise, Small Business Symposiums), and community outreach (USO Operation Holiday Block Leave support). The organization connects defense, government, and industry professionals through events, education, and career development opportunities rather than a traditional product platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AFCEA Atlanta Chapter Membership Professional membership program connecting individuals in the greater Atlanta metropolitan region with opportunities in defense, cybersecurity, and government contracting sectors through access to networking events, educational programs, and AFCEA International member benefits. Available in individual and corporate tiers with annual subscription billing.
• Annual National Security Conference Annual technology-focused conference addressing national and homeland security challenges covering cyber disruption, artificial intelligence, and cyber-physical convergence for critical infrastructure protection. Brings together senior leaders from Department of War, Department of Homeland Security, federal law enforcement, state and local governments, and private sector.
• Vanguard Shield Cybersecurity Tabletop Exercise A coordinated cybersecurity preparedness exercise assessing how events impacting critical infrastructure are handled, modeled after the Army Cyber Institute's Jack Voltaic exercises. Facilitates government-industry collaboration on critical infrastructure protection.
• Chapter Events and Networking Monthly luncheon-networking events, social gatherings, and brown bag lunch-and-learn sessions featuring speakers from regional military-industry organizations. Topics include 5G, Quantum Computing, AI career impact, and critical infrastructure.
• Small Business Programs Small business symposiums, roundtables, and industry days designed to help small businesses navigate the government arena and connect with contracting opportunities, including RFI/RFP navigation and federal market entry support.
• Teaching Tool Grants and STEM Scholarships Annual stipends awarded to STEM-focused teachers in the Atlanta region and scholarships for promising college/university students pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields.
• USO Operation Holiday Block Leave Support Annual volunteer support at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport providing assistance to approximately 2,000 troops traveling home during the holidays, including assembling 2,000 goodie bags and hospitality services for military members from Fort Benning and Fort Gordon.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,000 troops supported annually through USO Operation Holiday Block Leave
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• TEKsystemscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTEKsystems is one of the most active corporate members in the Atlanta area, hosting the annual goodie bag stuffing party for Operation Holiday Block Leave at their location (400 Perimeter Center Terrace NE, Atlanta, GA 30346). They contribute significant volunteer support and coincide the event with their holiday potluck.
• USO (United Service Organizations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership supporting annual Operation Holiday Block Leave at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The chapter has collaborated with USO for over two decades, providing volunteers, assembling 2,000+ goodie bags, and supporting thousands of troops traveling home for the holidays from Fort Benning and Fort Gordon.
• Homeland Security CISAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency facilitates the chapter's Vanguard Shield tabletop cybersecurity exercises, bringing together federal, state, local, and industry representatives to assess critical infrastructure protection capabilities.
• Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGTRI serves as a venue host and intellectual content partner. The chapter holds events at GTRI facilities, and GTRI researchers including Dr. Adam Meier from the Quantum Systems Division serve as speakers for educational programs.
• Curiosity Lab (City of Peachtree Corners)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChapter members tour Curiosity Lab, a 500-acre living laboratory for startups and established companies to deploy and prove developing technologies in a real-world testing environment for smart city and intelligent mobility technologies.
• Atlanta Tech Park / Peachtree CornersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAtlanta Tech Park at 107 Technology Parkway, Peachtree Corners serves as a regular venue for Brown Bag Lunch and Learn events and chapter programming, supporting the smart city ecosystem in metro Atlanta.
• AT&TmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAT&T provides speakers for 5G and Next G technology presentations. Brian Daly, AT&T Fellow and Assistant Vice President, has presented on critical communications, FirstNet, public safety initiatives, and national security solutions.
• US Army Cyber Institute at West PointcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Vanguard Shield cybersecurity exercises were inspired by the Jack Voltaic series of exercises developed by the Army Cyber Institute at West Point, establishing the methodology and framework for government-industry tabletop exercises.
• 57th Fighter Group RestaurantminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChapter social event venue at 3829 Clairmont Rd., Chamblee, GA. The restaurant is located along the flight line for Peachtree DeKalb Airport and features WWII-themed atmosphere for networking events.
• VECTR Center (Chattahoochee Technical College)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerChapter event venue at 980 South Cobb Drive, Building E, Marietta, GA 30060 for Brown Bag Lunch and Learn sessions, supporting technical education and workforce development collaboration.
• FirstNet (AT&T)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirstNet, the nation's public safety network, is highlighted as a key national initiative. Chapter programming includes FirstNet-related topics and involves FirstNet leadership in emergency communications discussions.
• Georgia Cyber CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipating agency in Vanguard Shield cybersecurity exercises, bringing together government and industry for critical infrastructure protection planning.
• University of North GeorgiamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive student chapter at UNG with ROTC cadets receiving chapter scholarships and recognition. The chapter honors outstanding cadets with AFCEA Honor Awards at military awards ceremonies.
• Atlanta Convention Center at AmericasMartmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPrimary venue for the Annual National Security Conference and Vanguard Shield tabletop exercises, hosting government and industry participants for cybersecurity and critical infrastructure events.
• Atlanta Gladiators HockeyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHeroes Night partnership at Gas South Arena (6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy, Duluth GA) for community engagement and fundraising events supporting military appreciation activities.
• Gwinnett Stripers BaseballminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCoolray Stadium partnership for Emerging Leaders social events and member networking, providing entertainment and community building opportunities.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ISACA: Global professional association for IT governance, cybersecurity, and risk professionals with local chapters, conferences, and certifications. Comparable membership-association model serving similar enterprise cybersecurity and assurance audiences.
• National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA): Major US trade association representing the defense industrial base, with chapters across the country. Comparable as a defense-focused professional association offering networking events, conferences, and small business support to government and industry members.
• AFCEA International: Parent organization and global professional association for defense, intelligence, and cybersecurity professionals. Directly comparable as the umbrella membership body governing local chapters including AFCEA Atlanta, with the same member-benefit model (events, SIGNAL Media, scholarships).

Direct peers

• Information Systems Security Association (ISSA): International nonprofit association for cybersecurity professionals with local chapters providing monthly meetings, education, and networking. Comparable member-driven, chapter-based association serving the same cybersecurity professional audience.
• Society of American Military Engineers (SAME): Nonprofit professional association uniting military, government, and industry members across engineering and infrastructure disciplines, with local posts offering events and scholarship programs. Highly comparable to AFCEA Atlanta in member-driven defense-community model.
• AFCEA DC (Washington DC Chapter): Another large AFCEA chapter serving government, military, and industry professionals in the National Capital Region. Most directly comparable peer to AFCEA Atlanta given shared mission, member structure, and event programming (luncheons, conferences, STEM scholarships).
• AFCEA NOVA (Northern Virginia Chapter): Sister AFCEA chapter serving the defense and intelligence community in Northern Virginia. Directly comparable membership association serving the same defense/IT professional audience with similar monthly events, scholarships, and small business programs.

Emerging players

• Internet Security Alliance (ISA): Trade association focused on cybersecurity policy and best practices for member organizations. Comparable to AFCEA Atlanta's mission of advancing cybersecurity through industry-government collaboration.

Regional players

• Tech Association of Georgia (TAG): Statewide industry association serving Georgia's technology sector with networking events, awards, and education programs. Comparable as a regional professional membership association operating in the Atlanta metro technology and government ecosystem.
• Cybersecurity Association of Georgia (CyGA): Regional industry association focused on cybersecurity growth in Georgia. Comparable as a community-focused cybersecurity association in the same Atlanta metro market; partial overlap with AFCEA Atlanta's defense-cybersecurity audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AFCEA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/AFCEAInternational
• Facebookfacebook.com/AFCEA.International
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/afcea-atlanta-chapter
• Instagraminstagram.com/afcea

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about AFCEA Atlanta Chapter