The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security have designated George Mason University as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/Cyber Defense Research and Education for academic years 2014 through 2021. This designation is a renewal of the exising certification and will be announced at the 18th Colloquium for Information Systems Security Education (CISSE) Monday, June 16, 2014 in San Diego, Ca.
Mason's ability to meet the increasing demands of the program criteria will serve the nation well in contributing to the protection of the National Information Infrastructure. The Presidents' National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace and the International Strategy for Cyberspace, address the critical shortage of professionals with these skills and highlight the importance of higher education as a solution to defending America's cyberspace. Like all nations, the United States has a compelling interest in defending its vital national assets, as well as our core principles and values, and we are committed to defending against those who would attempt to impede our ability to do so. Education is the key to promoting these ideals.
The Center for Secure Information Systems (CSIS) at Mason was established in 1990, and has the distinction of being the first academic center in security at a U.S. university. It is one of the National Security Agency's original Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education.