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Tag: Centennial Distinguished Chair
National expert to lead broad cybersecurity initiative at SMU
Posted on September 6, 2013 Updated: September 6, 2013
Frederick R. Chang, a recognized national expert in cyber security, has joined SMU to develop a multidisciplinary program aimed at tackling the most pressing cyber challenges facing individuals, business and government today.
Chang, whose career includes leadership positions in academia, business, and in government at the National Security Agency, is the new Bobby B. Lyle Endowed Centennial Distinguished Chair in Cyber Security. The position is made possible by a financial commitment from SMU trustee and longtime benefactor Bobby B. Lyle, for whom SMU's engineering school is named.
> More about Fred Chang from SMU News
SMU's first Centennial Distinguished Chair provides a faculty position endowed at $2.5 million, plus start-up funding of $1 million for the first five years to provide immediate support for the position and related research. The establishment of a Centennial endowment is available only to donors during the SMU Centennial commemoration, March 1, 2011, through Dec. 31, 2015.
In addition to holding the Lyle Chair, Chang also will be a professor of computer science in the Lyle School of Engineering and a senior fellow in the John Goodwin Tower Center for Political Studies in Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences. His appointments to positions in both the Lyle School and Dedman College reflect the interdisciplinary approach he believes is key to effective cyber research.
"Economic and national security are bedrock issues for our country," said SMU President R. Gerald Turner. "Dr. Chang is prepared to take advantage of the University's commitment to education, research and dialogue to deal with these critical issues, and will bring to the table students and faculty in all disciplines to find solutions. We are delighted to welcome him to SMU, where our students fully expect to be world changers."
> Network World: Cybercrime service automates creation of fake IDs, other verification documents
Chang has aggressive objectives to:
Conduct broad programs of research aimed both at creating a science of cyber security and addressing national cyber security priorities.
Apply an interdisciplinary approach to challenging problems, incorporating elements from disciplines not traditionally associated with cyber security such as law, business and the social sciences.
Help close the skills gap in cyber security by educating and tapping the innovation capabilities of SMU students to meet the demand for trained cyber professionals.
"Professor Chang arrives at SMU Lyle at an important moment," said Lyle School Dean Marc Christensen. "The impact of cyber crime and cyber terrorism cannot be overstated. As Professor Chang joins SMU Lyle to lead our already strong cyber security researchers, he is poised to make a notable difference in this arena. We will be educating a generation of SMU graduates who understand the complexities of cyber-related issues whether their degree is in computer science or philosophy. These students will be better suited to live, work, and play in the modern interconnected world."
Chang served as the director of research at the National Security Agency (NSA) in 2005-06, where he was awarded the NSA Director's Distinguished Service Medal. In addition, he has held several senior executive positions at SBC Communications, prestigious positions at both the University Texas at Austin and the University of Texas at San Antonio, and was most recently president and chief operating officer of 21CT Inc., an advanced intelligence analytics solutions company in Austin.
> Learn more about Dr. Chang's CV
"Dr. Chang's experience at the highest levels of government, industry, and academia has given him a unique perspective on the cyber security landscape," said Paul Ludden, SMU provost and vice president for academic affairs. "He has influenced the national dialogue and policies on cyber security through his work at the NSA, his testimony before congressional committees, and his presence on academic and industrial advisory boards as well as his peer journal editorial board work. He will continue that influence at SMU."
"It is an honor and a privilege for me to have the opportunity to join SMU at this crucial time in the evolution of cyber security," Chang said. "From the Lyle School of Engineering, to the Tower Center for Political Studies and across campus, I feel a tremendous sense of chemistry and collegiality here. There is also a sense of urgency, purpose and mission that is especially appealing. To be part of this is tremendously exciting to me."
Written by Kimberly Cobb
> Read more of this story from SMU News
Categories: NewsTags: Bobby B. Lyle, Centennial Distinguished Chair, Centennial endowment, Computer Science and Engineering, cyber crime, cyber research, cyber security, cyber terrorism, Dedman College, endowed professors, endowments, Fred Chang, Frederick R. Chang, John Goodwin Tower Center for Political Studies, Kimberly Cobb, Lyle School of Engineering, Marc Christensen, Paul Ludden, political science, R. Gerald Turner, Second Century Campaign, SMU Centennial, Tower Center for Political Studies
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