Georgia DoD State Operations (GDSO) first and foremost provides service support capabilities to the Georgia National Guard and the State Defense Force. Additionally, the GDSO manages and resources the youth programs of the Ga. DoD. Comprised of over 400 employees, the GDSO provides the manpower to manage and maintain nearly 300 primary mission facilities and manage the contracts that support them. In addition to facility maintenance, the GDSO manages the state budget and federal cooperative agreement funds of nearly $130 million that supports the maintenance of buildings, youth programs, and payroll. The GDSO is an integral part of the Ga. DoD emergency responses to events such as hurricanes and ensures Guardsmen are paid for state active duty and necessary emergency supplies are purchased amongst other duties. The Youth ChallaNGe Academy, Job ChallaNGe Academy, and Peach State STARBASE serve Georgia communities by showcasing interactive learning activities in STEAM or helping highschoolers set good patterns as they enter the workforce. The GDSO keeps the National Guard operational in Georgia and is positively impacting local communities through their youth programs.