George Mason University has numerous departments, research centers, and labs focused on cybersecurity in addition to its AI2 Nexus initiative and partnerships with state and federal agencies such as the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) and the All-In-Gov Council.

Key departments in the College of Engineering and Computing include the:

• Cybersecurity Engineering Department (CYSE)
• Information Science & Technology Department (IST)
• Data Analytics Engineering Department (DAEN)
• Computer Science Department (CS)
• Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE)

Key Research Centers, Labs, & Institutes include:

• Center for Secure Information Systems (CSIS)
• Center of Excellence in Command, Control, Communications, Computing, Cyber and Intelligence (C5I)
•  Institute of Digital InnovAtion (IDIA)
• NSI Cyber and Technology Center (CTC)
• Sun Security Laboratory (SunLab)
• Center for Assurance Research and Engineering (CARE)
• Center for Cybersecurity Analytics and Automation (CCAA)
• Center for Trusted, Accelerated, and Secure Computing and Communication (C-TASC)
• Wireless Cyber Center (WirelessCyber@Mason)
• Center for Assurance Research and Engineering (CARE)

Vision

The Institute of Digital InnovAtion (IDIA) is George Mason University’s commitment to inclusively shaping the future of our digital society, promoting well-being, security, and prosperity.

IDIA is a sector leader that provides transdisciplinary research, innovation, and next-generation workforce development strategy across the university for scaled, sustainable growth in digital innovation, leverages synergies, strengthening the innovation ecosystem and growing capacities for transdisciplinary research, scholarship, and innovation, supports placemaking, instigating and building research and innovation communities around places and activating and supporting a culture of transdisciplinary research and shared research infrastructure, and amplifies the visibility and awareness of George Mason University as a globally recognized leader for its world-class research, innovation, and economic impact activities, as well as its next-generation students and scholars.

I am a Professor and the Associate Chair for Research in the Department of Information Sciences and Technology at George Mason University, and I serve as the Executive Director of the Institute for Digital Innovation (IDIA) and the Director of the Center for Infrastructure Security in the Era of AI (ISEAI). I received my Ph.D. degree in Computer Science and Engineering in 2005 from the University of Naples Federico II. In 2011, I joined George Mason University after serving as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Maryland, College Park.

My research interests are in the area of Information and Network Security, with a particular emphasis on Modeling and Detection of Cyber Attacks, Cyber Situational Awareness, Network Hardening, Moving Target Defense, Configuration Security, and Vulnerability Metrics. I have participated in sponsored projects totaling $13M, with my personal share amounting to $3.5M. I hold six U.S. patents and have co-authored two books as well as over 90 publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings. In 2014, I was honored as one of the three recipients of the Mason Emerging Researcher/Scholar/Creator Award, one of the most prestigious honors at Mason.

I have served on the technical program committee of numerous conferences and am a member of the Editorial Board of Springer International Journal of Information Security, Elsevier Co

Source: Website

The Department of Cyber Security Engineering (CYSE) was established to meet the urgent and growing demand for professionals capable of protecting complex systems at the intersection of the physical and digital worlds.

Building on George Mason’s leadership in engineering and information security, CYSE launched the first bachelor’s program of its kind in the United States, creating a model that integrates cybersecurity into system design from the very beginning. Since then, the department has expanded to include master’s and accelerated degree programs, a thriving capstone experience, and a dynamic research enterprise recognized nationally and internationally.

Our Mission
To educate and inspire the next generation of cybersecurity engineers through rigorous programs that combine technical knowledge, practical application, and innovative thinking, while contributing impactful research that strengthens the security and resilience of society’s critical systems.

CYSE is committed to advancing research that anticipates emerging threats, develops adaptive defenses, and secures cyber-physical systems across critical domains such as infrastructure, communications, and smart technologies. We prepare future leaders through rigorous programs that build advanced technical skills and problem-solving abilities, while supporting students with scholarships, mentorship, and experiential learning. Through partnerships with government, industry, and academia, we ensure our work guides practice, informs policy, and strengthens the resilience of global systems.

Source: Website

Paulo Costa has applied his significant experience as a fighter pilot to a career specializing in the field of electronic warfare and flight safety, which in conjunction with his research on probabilistic reasoning has led to applications in cyber and transportation security, heterogeneous data fusion, and decision support systems in healthcare, defense, and other areas. These topics are at the core of his classroom activities at both graduate and undergraduate levels, as well as his research path. Costa leads the research of graduate-level students in understanding security objectives and verification protocols, bringing in the science of probabilistic reasoning and challenging PhD-level candidates to consider theory and methods for building computationally efficient software agents that reason, act, and learn in environments characterized by noisy and chaotic traffic.

Costa is a key researcher in the field of probabilistic ontologies and has developed innovative applications and extensions that aid in the fight against cyber-warfare. In addition to his Mason assignments as Chair of the Cyber Security Engineering Department and Director of the C5I Center, Dr. Costa is Vice President for Securing Automation and Supply Chain Security (cymanii.org). He is a former President and current elected member of the Board of Directors of the International Society of Information Fusion (isif.org), as well as an IEEE Senior Member (SM13).

Degrees

• PhD, Information Technology, George Mason University
• MS, Systems Engineering, George Mason University
• BS, Engineering, Brazilian Air Force Academy

Source: CEC Page

The Information Sciences and Technology (IST) department at George Mason is a vibrant community of coders, designers, cybersecurity specialists, AI/ML experts, and HCI researchers. Together we tackle real-world challenges-from smart technologies and transportation systems to cybersecurity and public safety solutions.

Our Vision
To lead excellence and innovation in research, teaching, and service in addressing societal problems using information sciences and technology.

IST promotes and maintains a departmental research culture by providing the facilities, means, and incentives for outstanding research. IST provides excellent education with leading-edge courses, by leveraging innovative instructional methods and emphasizing the enhanced student experience. IST provides continuous advising and mentorship to the students, faculty, and staff as well as ongoing service to the college, university, alumni, and the community.

onAir Post

Source: Website

Information systems security is of increasing importance in government, military and commercial arenas.  The Center for Secure Information Systems (CSIS) provides a dedicated environment to encourage the development of expertise in both the theoretical and applied aspects of information systems security.  CSIS emphasis on information security makes it unique among the institutions of higher learning in this country.

Securing the World’s Cyber Infrastructure

Established in 1990, CSIS has the distinction of being the first academic center in security at a U.S. university. CSIS differentiates itself from other centers by working in a broad spectrum of security topics and issues.  The Center resides within the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) at George Mason University.

Sushil Jajodia is a University Professor, BDM International Professor, and the founding director of the Center for Secure Information Systems in the College of Engineering and Computing. He is also the founding site director of the NSF IUCRC Center for Configuration Analytics and Automation at Mason. His research interests include security, privacy, databases, and distributed systems. His current research sponsors are the U.S. Army Research Office (ARO), the U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR), The U.S. National Security Administration (NSA), The National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Northrop Grumman, and The MITRE Corporation.

He was recognized for the most accepted papers at the 30th anniversary of the IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy. His h-index is 86 and Erdös number is 2; both indicate a broad citation in scholarly publishing. He is the founding consulting editor of the Springer International Series on Advances in Information Security and SpringerBriefs in Computer Science. He has served in different capacities for various journals and conferences. Sushil Jajodia has supervised 27 doctoral dissertations.

Source: GMU webpage

The C5I (Center of Excellence in Command, Control, Communications, Computing, Cyber and Intelligence) at George Mason University is the nation’s first and only civilian university-based entity offering a comprehensive academic and research program in military applications of information technology and cyber security.

Vision
To serve as a multi-disciplinary hub connecting faculty and researchers with interests in the Center’s mission and be widely recognized as a premier source of knowledge and innovation to military and civilian authorities.
Mission
The Center’s mission is to perform advanced research in defense, intelligence, and security-related applications in IT and Cyber; bridging cultural gaps and aligning requirements between government, industry, and academia.

George Mason is building a nexus of collaboration and resources on campus, throughout the region with our vast partnerships, and across the state, called AI²Nexus.

As a model for universities, AI²Nexus is based on four key principles: Integrating AI to transform education, research, and operations; Inspiring with AI to advance higher education and learning for the future workforce; Innovating with AI to lead in responsible AI-enabled discovery and advancements across disciplines; and Impacting with AI to drive partnerships and community engagement for societal adoption and change.

George Mason University is driving rapid AI adoption and advancements across the Commonwealth.

As the largest and most diverse university in Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C., George Mason University is leading the future of inclusive artificial intelligence (AI) and developing responsible models for AI research, education, workforce development, and community engagement within a modern university.

As AI reshapes industries, George Mason combines fearless ideas that harness the technology’s boundless potential to address the world’s grand challenges, while creating guardrails based on informed, transdisciplinary research around ethical governance, regulatory oversight, and social impact.

Led by the university’s inaugural vice president and chief artificial intelligence officer (CAIO) Amarda Shehu with an AI Visioning Task Force, George Mason is reimagining operational excellence in every facet of the university.

Source: AI Webpage

Shehu is an accomplished administrator, teacher, and scholar. She currently serves as George Mason’s Inaugural VP and Chief AI Officer in which capacity she also continues to provide leadership for the Institute of Digital InnovAtion (IDIA) for which she served as Associate Vice President for Research during 2022 and 2024.

Shehu also serves as an Associate Dean for AI Innovation in the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC), where she is also a tenured Professor in the Department of Computer Science.

Source: CEC webpage

Source: CEC Webpage

The NSI Cyber and Technology Center (CTC) expands NSI’s current efforts to promote American leadership in technology innovation and engage with policymakers on critical issues at the intersection of technology and national security.

NSI CTC’s mission is to promote – through dialogue with experts, engagement with policymakers, and cutting-edge research – American technology leadership and to tackle critical innovation, cyber, and emerging technology challenges.

Throughout much of the 20th century, the United States led the world in technological innovation, with the new systems and industries arising from this leadership driving sustained economic growth and underpinning U.S. national security capabilities. To maintain its global leadership, the U.S. must continue to promote rapid innovation and economic growth domestically, and create effective capabilities to protect and defend the U.S. and allied economic base.

NSI CTC’s focuses on critical issue areas for U.S. technological innovation:

• Harnessing and advancing U.S. technology innovation, including emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, as it relates to U.S. economic and national security;
• Bringing together the public and private sectors to create a collaborative, productive, and effective national cyber defense to confront the evolving cyber threat environment;
• Working with allies and partners to ensure a global tech ecosystem that promotes trusted systems and U.S. competitiveness;
• Affirming the U.S.’s dominance in blockchain innovation to protect U.S. national security; and
• Maintaining U.S. dominance in technology innovation through growing and strengthening the U.S. tech workforce.

Source: Website

The Wireless Cyber Center (WirelessCyber@Mason) is a chartered multidisciplinary research center within the College of Engineering and Computing. The center comprises top-notch researchers with diverse expertise and backgrounds from multiple departments and units across Mason including Electrical and Computer Engineering; Computer Science; Cyber Security Engineering; Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering; Geography and Geoinformation Science; and the Office of Technology Transfer.

Mission

Source: website

Center for Assurance Research and Engineering, or CARE, is a research center focusing on cybersecurity, housed in the College of Engineering and Computing, George Mason University. CARE’s research has the following unique approaches:

• Research to Practice Orientation – We transform our research into innovative technology and policy solutions to increase security in real-world settings including through research spinoffs and corporate startups.
• Multi-disciplinary Approach – Cybersecurity is multidisciplinary by nature and CARE expertise and approach to cybersecurity challenges spans technology, business and governance and policy.
• Wide Ranging Perspective – With engagement at the city and county level and internationally with governments, companies and universities in Asia, Europe, Africa and South America, CARE has perspectives and insights into cybersecurity issues in widely varying contexts and circumstances.

Source: Website

Mason Competitive Cyber (MCC) is a student club at George Mason University for students interested in cybersecurity and competitive hacking, offering skills-based learning and participation in events like Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions. The club provides professional development through tech talks from industry partners and connects members with alumni, while also organizing its own large-scale events, such as the PatriotCTF international competition.

• Purpose: To learn, practice, and compete in various types of cybersecurity competitions, including CTF, Network Defense, and Forensics.
• Activities: In addition to competitions, the club holds meetings for skills-based learning, hosts talks from industry professionals, and organizes social events.
• Membership: It is open to all students, including those in technical and non-technical majors, and has a large online and active in-person membership. 

Source: Gemini AI Overview - 11/1/2025

Hey, I’m Connor Wadlin! I’m a Junior here at George Mason University, where I am majoring in Cybersecurity Engineering.

I am on track to earn my Bachelor’s Degree and then a Master’s in Cybersecurity. I have been accepted into George Mason University’s Accelerated Masters program for Cybersecurity Engineering and I plan on pursuing a specialization in Artificial Intelligence. I currently work in a lab utilizing drone technology and AI to automatically detect flight errors and alert users. I plan on pursuing a variety of certifications after my Masters, as I plan on being a well-rounded Cybersecurity specialist!

While I do not have much work experience currently, I would love to change that. I am an amazing team leader as well as a public speaker due to my years of soft-skill training. I excel whenever I am working within a group and we can effectively delegate tasks based on good communication and trust!