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IIIA Vision


Our vision is a society strengthened and enriched by increasingly dependable infrastructures fostered by a strong university role in leadership, interdisciplinary education, research, and problem-solving.


IIIA Objectives

  • Be clearly established as the identity for James Madison University efforts in this area
  • Identify, facilitate, and support new educational, research, technology transfer, and consultative activities in this area
  • Leverage current activities and resources among existing funded projects (e.g. CISC, CIPP) in support of the outcomes of these projects and in applications to new areas
  • Build relationships and enter partnerships with other institutions of higher education, government organizations, and the business community to facilitate solutions to infrastructure assurance problems
  • Serve as a conduit and repository for disseminating infrastructure assurance information
    • from federal programs to state and local governments
    • from government organizations to private sector infrastructure owners, operators, and users
  • Facilitate multi-disciplinary efforts across the university
  • Organize information exchange venues related to infrastructure/ information assurance including colloquia, seminars, workshops, and conferences

IIIA History


The Institute for Infrastructure and Information Assurance at James Madison University was founded in August 2002 as an interdisciplinary research center focusing on homeland and national security issues.

    Named as one of the original seven Centers of Academic Excellence for Information Security Education by the National Security Agency, JMU has established on-line educational programs through a Masters of Computer Science in Information Security and Masters of Business Administration with a concentration in Information Security. Through these distinguished programs, JMU became known as a leader in computer security and in 2001 successfully competed for a grant through the Commonwealth Technology Research Fund to establish the Commonwealth Information Security Center. This multi-institutional research center helped establish JMU's growing ability to conduct applied research within the information security arena.

    In 2002, JMU partnered with George Mason University on the federally funded Critical Infrastructure Protection Project. During the fall of 2002, JMU's president, Dr. Linwood Rose, was appointed as higher education's representative to the National Infrastructure Advisory Council which provides the President through the Secretary of Homeland Security with advice on the security of information systems for critical infrastructure supporting other sectors of the economy.

    Through the growth of these research and education programs at JMU, the Institute for Infrastructure and Information Assurance was formed. Under the leadership of Dr. John B. Noftsinger, Jr., IIIA has provided funding for over forty research projects at JMU and other Virginia universities, has participated on the National Capital Region project with George Mason University, and conducted research for the National Park Service. Partnerships have been formed with George Mason University, the University of Virginia's Critical Incident Analysis Group, Virginia's Institute for Defense and Homeland Security, the Virginia Information Technologies Agency, the Center for Innovative Technology, and numerous private sector businesses. As one of the founding members of the Virginia Alliance for Secure Computing and Networking, IIIA has helped sponsor training and education programs for information security professional within higher education. The Institute for Infrastructure and Information Assurance will continue to actively engage in collaborative research, develop innovative education programs, and provide community outreach programs.




    About IIIA and JMU Education

    The Institute for Infrastructure and Information Assurance (IIIA) at James Madison University (JMU) integrates and supports the university's efforts in the increasingly vital area of homeland security. IIIA actively seeks research sponsorship and provides funding for cutting edge research within the broad context of improving the nation's security. Providing a balance between physical and cyber security is one of the main goals of IIIA's research agenda along with providing policy and technological solutions to the security issues facing our nation. JMU is currently closely partnering with George Mason University on the Critical Infrastructure Protection Program and National Capital Region Assessment Project, both of which directly address preparedness and security issues impacting rural and urban areas.

    James Madison University is a comprehensive co-educational institution of higher learning in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. The university comprises the Colleges of Arts and Letters, Business, Education, Integrated Science and Technology, Science and Mathematics, and Graduate and Professional Programs. JMU offers 66 undergraduate degree programs, as well as 29 masters, two educational specialist, and four doctoral majors. JMU is dedicated to the belief that an enduring and meaningful educational experience must be future-oriented, grounded in knowledge of one's cultural heritage learned from study in the liberal arts and sciences. For further information on JMU Education programs, click here.