It might be expected for a technical conference attended by a host of U.S. military officials, industry heavyweights, and other experts to be targeted by some sort of cyber attack or espionage gambit. However, organizers have reported that a “criminal investigation” has been opened amid speculation that someone attempted to disrupt the annual TechNet conference in Augusta, Ga. using a different tactic: a foul smell.
As attendees entered the conference’s main ballroom Tuesday morning, they were greeted with a pungent odor, prompting whispers about the source of this olfactory interference. Some speculated it must have been a sewage leak, while others pointed to carpets that had been cleaned the night before and left to dry.
The general consensus was that the situation was unpleasant, but the hundreds of individuals and companies gathered to discuss military technology innovation at the event, organized by the Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association (AFCEA), maintained their professionalism. Susan Lawrence, a retired Army lieutenant general and the president of AFCEA, addressed the issue on Wednesday morning.
“As you know, yesterday was very uncomfortable as you came in here. Both AFCEA International and the Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center are aware of the odor in the vicinity of Oglethorpe Ballroom [the main ballroom] and are working diligently to remedy the situation,” she remarked. “In cooperation with local authorities, the affected areas have undergone tests for the presence of hazardous materials, and those authorities have confirmed that it is safe to proceed with this conference.”
“We will continue to cooperate with local authorities on this ongoing investigation. I’m going to add a word – […] this ongoing criminal investigation. All authorities investigating this incident are currently involved, and based on the evidence gathered to date, it has been alleged that it was a willful act,” she added.
It remains unclear who the local authorities investigating the case are and what, if anything, they have discovered so far. Howard Wahlberg, senior director of marketing for AFCEA, told Breaking Defense that multiple authorities are involved, but he could not disclose which ones since it is an open investigation. An official from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation stated that their office was not involved at that point, while another representative from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, which has jurisdiction in Augusta, confirmed they did not have information to provide. An FBI official also mentioned to Breaking Defense that they are aware of the incident but are not involved in the investigation, as it is considered a local matter and no assistance has been requested.
The smell has not yet dissipated completely, but it has lessened over the past two days. This report, however, was drafted outside the facility’s walls, where a breeze kept the odor at bay.