Tampa City Council backs global security forum addressing foreign threats

The Tampa City Council has unanimously passed a resolution backing Tampa-based company Alliance for Global Security (AGS) and its upcoming AGS Frontiers Forum.

Introduced by Council member Luis Viera, the forum will convene elected officials, law enforcement leaders and international experts in a closed-door exchange evaluating how geopolitical competition is affecting state and local governments and economies. The international conference addresses homeland and national security.

The forum will be held April 9-11 at the University of South Florida’s Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS) facility.

“State and local leaders are increasingly on the front lines of challenges that were once considered purely national security issues,” said Rep. Danny Alvarez, who chairs the AGS Frontiers Forum. “This Forum brings those leaders into direct conversation with experts and counterparts from across the United States and abroad, ensuring they are better prepared for what’s already here, not what might come someday.”

The support comes after the Hillsborough County Commission last August unanimously passed its own resolution supporting AGS, a nonprofit that equips local and state governments with tools to defend against attacks, including cyberattacks. The Hillsborough Commission also cleared $25,000 in seed funding for the AGS Frontiers Forum.

“Tampa understands something that many communities are just beginning to confront: global threats are no longer distant,” AGS President Joshua Burgin said. “From cyberattacks on critical infrastructure to foreign influence efforts targeting local institutions, the operating environment has changed. This resolution signals that Tampa intends to lead, not react.”

The invitation-only AGS Frontiers Forum will bring together more than 300 elected officials, defense experts and civic leaders from across North America, Europe and the Indo-Pacific for two days of intensive briefings, strategy sessions and community engagement.

Hillsborough County’s $25,000 investment helped seed the planning and logistics necessary to convene one of the largest security gatherings for local and state elected officials in the country.

At the time Hillsborough provided the funding, Commissioner Ken Hagan said it was not merely symbolic.

“It signals that Hillsborough County is ready to lead, not follow, when it comes to defending our communities. By backing AGS, we’re helping our local leaders get access to the same security briefings, strategies, and partnerships national leaders rely on.”

Now, the Tampa City Council is also on board.