June 5, 2026
Communications and Media
National Security Institute
Arlington, VA — The National Security Institute (NSI) extends its heartfelt condolences to the family of Dr. Eric Cole, a dedicated and driven Cyber and Tech Center Visiting Fellow and a highly accomplished leader in cybersecurity and technology innovation.
Over a dedicated career spanning four decades, Eric was a leading innovator in cybersecurity and national security. Beginning his career as a Central Intelligence Agency hacker and programmer in the 1990s, he went on to serve as President Obama’s Commissioner on Cybersecurity and was inducted into the Information Security Hall of Fame. As founder and Chief Executive Officer of Secure Anchor Consulting, he advised Fortune 500 companies, the Pentagon, and leaders across industry and government.
A Wall Street Journal bestselling author of six books, Dr. Cole had a gift for making the invisible threats of the digital world understandable and actionable for any audience. His mission to defend individuals, families, and organizations from the growing dangers of the digital age guided everything he touched.
Dr. Cole inspired the NSI community with his deep commitment to cyber protections and his ability to bridge complex technical realities with practical action. His enthusiasm and wisdom left a profound mark across NSI. He will be greatly missed.
About the National Security Institute:
The National Security Institute at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School serves as a platform for research, teaching, scholarship, and policy development. NSI incorporates a realistic assessment of the threats facing the United States and its allies, as well as an appreciation of the legal and practical challenges facing our intelligence, law enforcement, national security, technology, innovation, and cybersecurity communities.
About the NSI Cyber & Tech Center:
The NSI Cyber and Technology Center (CTC) advances American technology leadership and engages policymakers on issues at the intersection of technology and national security. Its mission is to promote American technology leadership through expert dialogue, policymaker engagement, and cutting-edge research. NSI CTC is part of the National Security Institute (NSI), which serves as a platform for research, teaching, scholarship, and policy development.
About the Antonin Scalia Law School:
The Antonin Scalia Law School was founded in 1972 as the International School of Law in Washington, DC. In 1979 it merged with George Mason Law School and was named after the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in 2016. The school is located in Arlington, VA, and is ranked #32 (tied) nationally by US News and #3 among all law schools in DC metro area. The school offers JD, LLM, and JM degrees and is home to five nationally acclaimed centers, including the Law & Economics Center, and is the home to additional key national security and technology organizations, including NSI, the NSI Cyber & Tech Center, and the first-in-the-nation Cyber, Intelligence, and National Security (CINS) LLM program.
About George Mason University:
George Mason University is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., George Mason enrolls more than 40,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. George Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility. In 2023, the university launched Mason Now: Power the Possible, a one-billion-dollar comprehensive campaign to support student success, research, innovation, community, and stewardship.