October 17, 2024
Keelin Wolfe
National Security Institute
Arlington, VA – On October 16, 2024, the office of Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin announced the appointment of Jamil N. Jaffer, the Founder and Executive Director of the National Security Institute at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School, and Professor of Law at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School, and the National Security Institute Cyber and Tech Center Fellow, Zach Graves, Executive Director of the Foundation for American Innovation, to its Artificial Intelligence (AI) Task Force.
The AI Task Force brings together a group of ten of the most prominent AI experts located in the Commonwealth to provide advice to policy makers as they work to establish Virginia as a leader in the AI field, while balancing the need to create safeguards that promote responsible technology use. These experts will also provide guidance to state agencies on integrating AI into their operations, ensuring that any AI solutions implemented are both efficient and cost effective.
Jaffer and Graves were appointed alongside: John Bailey, Founder of Vestigo Partners; Bill Cleveland, Former Vice Mayor, Alexandria; Richard Cullatta, CEO, International Society for Technology in Education; Sam Hammond, Senior Economist, Foundation for American Innovation; Tim Hwang, Senior Technology Fellow, Institute for Progress; Lori Jennings, Founder, Jennings ProSearch; Paige Kowalski, Executive Vice President, Data Quality Campaign; and Naren Ramakrishnan, Professor of Engineering, Virginia Tech.
“The AI Task Force is a vital component of Virginia’s efforts to lead in the rapidly advancing field of artificial intelligence, providing crucial guidance to policymakers as they balance innovation with responsible technology use,” said Ken Randall, Allison and Dorothy Rouse Dean and GMU Foundation Professor at the Antonin Scalia Law School. “We are proud to see Professor Jamil N. Jaffer, Founder and Executive Director of the National Security Institute, appointed to this esteemed Task Force. We are confident that his expertise, alongside NSI CTC Fellow Zach Graves and other distinguished members, will significantly contribute to shaping Virginia’s AI future.”
“I’m thrilled to join the AI Task Force and contribute to shaping Virginia’s leadership in artificial intelligence,” said Jamil N. Jaffer. “I look forward to collaborating with the distinguished members of the Task Force to provide actionable insights that promote responsible AI use and drive meaningful advancements in both the public and private sectors.”
About Jamil N. Jaffer
Jamil N. Jaffer is a renowned national security expert, legal scholar, technology entrepreneur, and venture capitalist. Jaffer is the Founder and Executive Director of the National Security Institute at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School, where he teaches courses on counterterrorism, intelligence, and cybersecurity. Jaffer also serves as a Venture Partner and Strategic Advisor at Paladin Capital, a prominent Washington, DC-based venture capital firm focused on dual-use national security and cybersecurity investments. Jaffer holds several notable board and advisory positions, including serving as a member of the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB). Jaffer has held senior roles in both the public and private sectors, including Associate Counsel to President George W. Bush, Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for National Security at the Department of Justice, Senior Counsel to the House Intelligence Committee, and Chief Counsel and Senior Advisor to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Widely published on national security, intelligence, foreign policy, and technology issues, Jaffer is also a frequent expert commentator in major media outlets.
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 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 #28 nationally by US News—#3 among all 16 schools in Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland. The school offers JD, LLM, and JM degrees and is home to seven nationally acclaimed centers, including the Law and Economics Center, the National Security Institute and the NSI Cyber & Tech Center, and the first-in-the-nation Cyber, Intelligence, and National Security LL.M. 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