Massimiliano AlbaneseView profile
Professor
Massimiliano Albanese is a Professor and Associate Chair for Research in the Department of Information Sciences and Technology at George Mason University. He serves as the Executive Director of the Institute for Digital Innovation (IDIA) and Director of the Center for Infrastructure Security in the Era of AI (ISEAI). Previously, he was the Associate Director of the Center for Secure Information Systems (CSIS). Dr. Albanese earned his PhD and MS in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Naples Federico II. After completing a postdoctoral position at the University of Maryland, College Park, he joined George Mason University in 2011. His primary research focuses on Information and Network Security, with particular emphasis on Modeling and Detection of Cyber Attacks, Cyber Situational Awareness, Network Hardening, Moving Target Defense, Configuration Security, and Vulnerability Metrics. His recent work has expanded into election security, AI-enhanced cybersecurity, and vulnerability scoring frameworks. He has developed innovative approaches to cyber defense that integrate machine learning, game theory, and formal modeling techniques. Dr. Albanese's publication record shows a clear evolution from foundational work in moving target defense and attack modeling toward more applied research in vulnerability metrics, election security, and AI-assisted cyber defense. His recent publications demonstrate growing interest in practical security implementations, election infrastructure protection, and the intersection of AI with cybersecurity. 2014 Mason Emerging Researcher/Scholar/Creator Award Best Paper Award at IEEE CNS 2020 for SCIBORG Best Paper Award at SECRYPT 2018 Best Paper Runner-up Award at IEEE CNS 2015 Dr. Albanese has participated in 33 sponsored projects totaling $13.1M, with a personal share of $3.5M. His research has been funded by prestigious organizations including the National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, National Security Agency, and Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority. He has served as Principal Investigator on 18 projects, demonstrating strong leadership in securing research funding. His current projects focus on election security, cybersecurity scholarships, and AI-enhanced threat detection. Dr. Albanese leads multiple research centers and initiatives, including the Center for Infrastructure Security in the Era of AI. His work bridges academic research with practical applications, particularly in securing election systems and developing frameworks for vulnerability assessment. He actively collaborates with government agencies and industry partners to translate research into real-world security solutions.












