Apostol Vassilev is a leading authority on trustworthy and responsible AI, AI security, and cybersecurity at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE). His research focuses on adversarial machine learning (AML) and robust physical AI for autonomous vehicles, helping organizations build AI systems that remain secure, resilient, and trustworthy in the face of evolving threats.
Working closely with industry, government, and academia, Apostol plays a key role in advancing the development, standardization, and adoption of AI and cybersecurity technologies. His work contributes to national and international standards that shape the future of trustworthy AI.
A recognized leader in the AI security community, Apostol serves on the Distinguished Expert Review Board of the OWASP GenAI Security Project and is a founding member of the OWASP AI Vulnerability Scoring System (AIVSS) project. He earned his Ph.D. in Mathematics from Texas A&M University, has authored more than 70 scientific publications, and holds five U.S. patents.
His contributions have earned numerous honors for leadership, excellence in standards development, and public service, including a medal from the U.S. Department of Commerce. His work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Politico, and Forbes. A sought-after keynote speaker and guest editor for leading scientific journals, Apostol is widely recognized as one of the foremost experts shaping the future of AI security and cybersecurity standards.