Along Pendleton Street in the heart of the University of South Carolina campus, a unique neoclassical-style building stands out. With its stately white columns, vibrant flower beds and rows of Carolina rockers, it resembles a smaller White House in the middle of downtown Columbia.
But the building’s significance goes well beyond its appearance. It is home to the National Advocacy Center, where the U.S. Department of Justice brings together training, lodging and support services for federal prosecutors and law enforcement professionals.
Much of what makes that possible happens behind the scenes, where USC Business Affairs and the Justice Television Network manage operations, hospitality and the technology systems that keep the facility running day to day.
Since opening in 1998, the NAC has served as a hub and the preeminent place for federal legal education. The 262,000-square-foot facility was designed as an all-in-one training center, bringing together learning spaces, meeting areas, lodging and dining under one roof to create an immersive environment for government attorneys and legal staff from across the country.
The center includes 264 hotel-style guest rooms, allowing participants to stay on site throughout their training, while featuring a full-service dining hall, fitness center, library, lounge spaces and a business services center. Classrooms, courtrooms and conference areas are located throughout the building, creating an environment where instruction and collaboration can take place in one connected space.
In addition to its on-site accommodations and training facilities, the NAC offers a range of support services designed to enhance the visitor experience, including shuttle transportation to and from the airport as well as service to downtown Columbia for dining and activities plus a concierge desk to encourage visitors to experience the city.
USC Business Affairs plays a central role in ensuring those services and the NAC’s day-to-day operations run seamlessly for the thousands of federal professionals who visit each year.
“Business Affairs serves as the primary hub for coordination and communication,” says Joe Fortune, director of Business Affairs and contract management. “We bring together financial, contractual and operational considerations so engagement between USC service units and NAC leadership remains seamless.”
Support also extends beyond the building itself through the Justice Television Network, a multimedia production and distance-learning unit housed at the NAC. The network provides live broadcasts, course recordings and on-demand training for Department of Justice attorneys and staff across the country.
“Our primary focus is on the distance side,” says Don Mills, media services manager for the Justice Television Network. “For the thousands who are unable to physically attend a class at the NAC, our services provide a way to participate virtually in live instruction from their offices, as well as the flexibility to learn on their own schedule.”
The program was originally designed to expand access to required training across the Department of Justice regardless of geography or scheduling constraints, ensuring attorneys and staff could meet mandatory training requirements without being limited by travel.
In addition to supporting remote learning, the network assists with in-person instruction at the NAC through live production services, multimedia development and prerequisite course materials that allow classroom sessions to focus more on discussion and applied learning.
The network team also reflects strong ties to the university. Of its 15 full-time employees, 12 are graduates of the University of South Carolina, many from the School of Journalism and Mass Communications and the Media Arts program. Their backgrounds in storytelling and technical production continue to support the NAC’s training mission.
Today, USC Business Affairs and the Justice Television Network continue to provide the operational, hospitality and technology support that allow the NAC to function as a fully integrated training environment for Department of Justice professionals nationwide.
“Together, these groups work diligently to ensure the NAC campus operates safely, efficiently and in full alignment with our shared standards and expectations,” Fortune says.