Founded via legislative action in 2001, ICASA is a research institute housed at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (also known as New Mexico Tech or NMT) and supported by faculty, staff, and students with backgrounds in computer science, mathematics, engineering, technical communications, and management. ICASA is partnered with government, commercial, and private sectors, and the broad range of supporting talents is used for applied research problems in the area of critical infrastructure protection, public interest data lead projects, and the development and operations for cyber training and research at the Playas Training and Research Center.

ICASA/NMT has been consistently recognized by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security as a “Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education” since 2001. Additionally, in 2009 this designation expanded to include being a “Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Research.” Moreover, the state of New Mexico utilizes ICASA/NMT personnel as first responders to perform forensic analysis of computer attacks and assist with the improvement of computer security as well as leveraging data.

ICASA’s vision is to train, equip, and deploy a generation of critical thinkers against the complex problems facing an ever-connected world. Since its founding in 2001, ICASA has employed 150 student interns with both undergraduate and graduate students. 

ICASA’s vision and future plans include continuing research efforts in support of information exploitation, protection, and time-critical information dissemination. Also included are sharing, developing and training in situational awareness and assessment that will allow decision makers to quickly and effectively deal with new threats. Additionally, it is a wish to continue development in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. ICASA will continue to educate and train individuals to understand the new threats and to develop strategies to defend our critical information infrastructures.