George Mason is the director of the Counter Terror Unit based in Los Angeles. A graduate of the USC with a degree in criminal science, he joined the CTU first an agent before rising through the ranks to a senior leadership position. He has a son, John, with whom he has a somewhat strained relationship. He originally wanted to be a teacher, but was attracted to his current line of work due to the money and the intrigue. In retrospect, teaching might have been a much more secure and safer line of work for George.