<p>No cryptologist at Fort Gordon is required to break this code. A military installation that is hiring new workers and building a $230 million facility would seem to be in pretty good shape heading into a base closure round.</p><p>Officials at Fort Gordon and Augusta, Ga., leaders agree the signs are good for Fort Gordon _ certainly better than a few years ago _ but they remain anxious all the same.</p><p>"You can never say never with this," said James Hudgins, public affairs officer for Fort Gordon. "We just don't know."</p><p>As early as this week, the Pentagon will announce which installations should be closed or realigned in a cost-cutting move. Gordon's hopes are high thanks largely to its evolving role guiding the National Security Agency's efforts in Europe and parts of the Middle East _ including Iraq. It is one of three such regional centers, along with centers in Texas and Hawaii.</p><p>Amid some major budget cuts proposed by President Bush earlier this year was a huge piece of good news for the Augusta facility _ $61.5 million as a down payment on a state-of-the-art Regional Security Operations Center located on the base, which would house cryptologists and other security officials.</p><p>There was another positive signal in March, when the agency held job fairs in Augusta and Atlanta, advertising for such positions as mathematicians, cryptanalysts, computer scientists and language analysts. About 1,600 resumes were collected for 75 jobs, and plans call for about 100 new hires each year until 2012.</p><p>"Fort Gordon is in a lot better shape today than they were two years ago," said Bob Hurt, a partner in the Washington lobbying firm Hurt, Norton & Assoc., which represents Fort Gordon and some other bases in the closure process. "The community, the installation and the mission activities have all helped them a great deal."</p><p>NSA officials are tightlipped about what exactly is done at Gordon's regional hub, but it is generally responsible for converting raw intelligence data and sending it to field commanders in usable form. Members of Congress haven't heard specifics either about how the information is used, but they have received glowing reports about Gordon's role.</p><p>"We could not be doing what we're doing today in Iraq were it not for that facility," said Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga.</p><p>Rep. Charlie Norwood, R-Ga., said he had heard the same thing. "We're playing in the big leagues out there right now," he said. "We're in the mix of it."</p><p>Although there is no longer much speculation that Gordon could be on the closure list, community leaders in Augusta say they're concerned all the same. Even the money for the new facility could be diverted if the Pentagon decides the base's other missions should be moved.</p><p>"The first shovel doesn't go in the ground until next year," said Thom Tuckey, director of military affairs for Augusta's Chamber of Commerce. "It's in a design phase right now. Worst case scenario is they could close Fort Gordon and build this facility just about anywhere."</p><p>More likely, though, is the best case scenario _ that Gordon will not only survive but expand. That could have a major economic impact on the community. The elementary school located on the base ranks among the top in the county, and Tuckey said it's possible that school could expand along with the base.</p><p>Fort Gordon was established as Camp Gordon during World War II, specializing in infantry and armor training. Last year it had a workforce of 8,860 military, 2,310 civilians and a $685 million payroll.</p>
