MetroStar and George Mason University Launch Partnership to Fuel Federal Tech Talent and Innovation

RESTON, VA – Tues., Dec. 16, 2025 – More than two decades ago, three George Mason University (George Mason) students launched a company from their dorm room with a belief that technology would drive change in the federal government. Today, that company—MetroStar, a venture backed leader in AI enabled services—has come full circle and is proud to announce a multi-year strategic partnership with George Mason, solidifying a shared mission to empower the next generation of tech leaders and public servants.

Through the agreement, MetroStar will support students and programming across the university. It will become a Costello Corporate Partner in the Donald G. Costello College of Business and an Industry Partner in the College of Engineering and Computing.

Through these partnerships, MetroStar will launch a scholarship for undergraduate and graduate students with preference for those minoring in Government Contracting or Management Information Systems, and a Clearance Ready Scholarship for students interested in obtaining a national security clearance.

“MetroStar’s investment in the Costello College of Business’s Corporate Partners program aligns closely with our strategic priorities—particularly in fostering innovative business collaboration and advancing career readiness,” said Dean Ajay Vinzé. “Their support will expand access to education in government contracting for our students and strengthen the academic offerings of the Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting—the first university-based center in the nation focused on the business, policy, and regulatory dimensions of this vital sector.”

MetroStar will also support the Dean’s Excellence Funds in the College of Engineering and Computing and in the Costello College of Business, in furtherance of strategic academic initiatives. “We are extremely grateful for this gift from MetroStar, which will support the education and training of our students who are interested in serving our nation as federal employees or as employees of our government contractors. The partnership will also enhance our clearance ready programs by developing additional experiential learning opportunities, including internships and applied research projects involving classified technologies that protect our nation,” said Dean Ken Ball of the College for Engineering and Computing.

The philanthropic commitment deepens MetroStar’s long-standing relationship with its co-founders’ alma mater while advancing workforce readiness and innovation aligned to national priorities.

MetroStar’s CEO and co-founder Ali Reza Manouchehri, who earned a BA in philosophy from George Mason in 1999, is the 2025 Winter Commencement Speaker, a privilege that shows his enduring connection to the university and his passion for inspiring the next generation of innovators.

“This is more than a corporate partnership. It’s a personal return,” said Manouchehri. “George Mason is where we built the foundation for MetroStar. We’re investing in students who will one day shape the digital future of government just like we dreamed about doing back then.”

A Vision for the Future Federal Workforce

The three-year partnership, running through 2028, creates a new model of agile collaboration between academia and the public sector, bridging the fast-paced world of government innovation with the grounded mission of education. It reflects the growing need under the new federal administration to build talent pipelines that are not only technically skilled but clearance ready and public service minded.

Earlier this year, George Mason released its plan for advancing a responsible approach to harnessing artificial intelligence and driving societal impact. Through AI²Nexus, the university is building a nexus of collaboration and resources on campus, in partnerships like the one with MetroStar, and across the state.

As federal agencies embrace AI, digital transformation, and faster acquisition models, companies like MetroStar are reinforcing the importance of the human side of innovation, ensuring that the workforce of tomorrow is built on a foundation of collaboration, education, and civic commitment.

From College Campus to National Service

The partnership extends into the university’s forward-leaning spaces, places where creativity, entrepreneurship, and service intersect.

MetroStar’s partnership will fuel the Mason Innovation Exchange (MIX), a hands-on incubator for student-driven ideas, and power events like PatriotHacks, the university’s high-energy hackathon that challenges students to solve real-world problems with code and courage.

“Our partnership isn’t about one-off contributions but investing in people and the future of civil servants who will protect and guide the nation,” said Manouchehri. “We’re creating deliberate pathways from campus to cleared service, from idea to implementation, and from classroom projects to real-world impact.”

About MetroStar

MetroStar is a trusted provider of AI-enabled solutions for U.S. government agencies, advancing the nation’s most critical missions through speed, innovation, and purpose. With a focus on AI, digital transformation, and secure enterprise modernization, MetroStar delivers technology that translates mission needs into capability at record pace, empowering defense and national security leaders to outpace emerging threats and accelerate mission success. For more information, visit www.metrostar.com.

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. Learn more at gmu.edu.