Center for Infrastructure Security in the Era of AI

Center for Infrastructure Security in the Era of AI

Welcome to the Center for Infrastructure Security in the Era of AI

The Center for Infrastructure Security in the Era of AI (ISEAI) is an interdisciplinary research center housed in the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) at George Mason University. ISEAI, which was officially established in April 2025, collaborates with external partners at the University of North Dakota and the University of Arkansas and a broad range of industry partners.

ISEAI will host the 40th edition of the Annual IFIP WG 11.3 Conference on Data and Applications Security and Privacy (DBSec 2026).

DBSec is one of the longest-running conferences dedicated to data security and privacy. Organized under the International Federation for Information Processing, the conference brings together researchers and practitioners working on database security, privacy-preserving technologies, access control, and secure data systems.

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Vision and Mission

ISEAI envisions a future where Artificial Intelligence (AI) seamlessly integrates into the security fabric of modern infrastructure across a wide range of domains. including energy and transportation, among others.

ISEAI’s mission is to address current and future challenges in Infrastructure Security through collaborative research between interdisciplinary academic researchers, government labs, and industry partners. The Center will address both traditional and AI-enabled cyber threats and will develop advanced AI techniques to tackle these challenges and increase the resilience of critical national infrastructure.

ISEAI’s mission aligns closely with national research and development priorities that emphasize advancing artificial intelligence while ensuring the security and resilience of critical infrastructure. On September 23, 2025, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) released their Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Administration Research and Development Budget Priorities and Crosscutting Actions memo, which highlights the importance of strengthening the robustness and security of AI systems, improving cyber defense capabilities, and protecting the nation’s critical sectors from emerging threats. ISEAI contributes to these priorities through interdisciplinary research on AI-enabled cyber security, resilient infrastructure systems, and advanced threat detection, working with government and industry partners to develop technologies that enhance national security and infrastructure resilience.

The Center for Infrastructure Security in the Era of AI has launched Project NoéMI, an AI fluency and applied literacy initiative delivered in partnership with NewPush. The program is designed to help organizations build internal capability for responsible, secure, and strategically aligned AI adoption.

Learn more about Project NoéMI

National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C)

George Mason University is a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) and an active member of the CAE in Cybersecurity Community. It is one of the National Security Agency’s original Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education (CAE-IAE), later rebranded as CAE in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD).  In 2008, NSA established a new designation, the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Research (CAE-R), later rebranded as CAE in Cyber Research, a designation that Mason earned for the cutting-edge research being conducted at CSIS.  Mason is designated for CAE-CD through 2027 and CAE-R through 2028.

The NACE-C validated cybersecurity Programs of Study (PoS) at George Mason are the BS in Information Technology (BS IT) with a concentration in Cyber Security and the MS in Applied Information Technology (BS IT) with a concentration in Cyber Security. Both programs are offered by the Department of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) and are regularly updated based on the recommendations of the IST Industry Advisory Board.

Dr. Albanese serves as George Mason’s Point of Contact (POC) for the NCAE-C Program, and Dr. Torabi serves as the Alternate POC.

ISEAI News

In the News

GRIT powers George Mason’s Center for Infrastructure Security in the Era of AI
February 17, 2026 / By Teresa M. Donnellan
College of Engineering and Computing, George Mason University

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