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Celebrating Our World-Class Faculty and Staff
Engaging with industry, government, and community organizations keeps Georgia Tech’s faculty and staff members on the leading edge of identifying and resolving the world’s pressing challenges. These dedicated professionals ensure that Georgia Tech continually pursues what’s next.
Prestigious Honors
Obama Names Annie Antón to Cybersecurity Commission
President Barack Obama selected School of Interactive Computing Chair and Professor Ana (Annie) Antón to serve as one of 12 members of the Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity. The bipartisan commission, created by presidential executive order, is part of the Cybersecurity National Action Plan.
According to the executive order, the Commission “will make detailed recommendations to strengthen cybersecurity in both the public and private sectors while protecting privacy, ensuring public safety and economic and national security, fostering discovery and development of new technical solutions, and bolstering partnerships between federal, state, and local government and the private sector in the development, promotion, and use of cybersecurity technologies, policies, and best practices. The Commission's recommendations should address actions that can be taken over the next decade to accomplish these goals.”
“I look forward to working with the other members to address ways in which our nation can leverage technological advances to enhance cybersecurity while preserving privacy.”
Annie Antón
The Commission will submit its final report to Obama on December 1, 2016.
“It is an honor to be asked to serve on the Commission,” Antón said. “I look forward to working with the other members to address ways in which our nation can leverage technological advances to enhance cybersecurity while preserving privacy.”
An expert on software compliance with federal privacy and security regulations, Antón was previously a professor of computer science at North Carolina State University. A leader in privacy and cybersecurity since the late 1990s, she is an ACM Distinguished Scientist and senior member of IEEE.
Faculty Appointments
Former Fortune 50 CEOs Join Scheller College Faculty
The former CEOs of Fortune 50 companies The Home Depot and Walmart are now affiliated with the Scheller College of Business. Frank Blake, former chairman and CEO of The Home Depot, and Mike Duke, former president and CEO of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., are serving as distinguished executives in residence. They are working with Scheller College Dean Maryam Alavi on strategic initiatives and strengthening partnerships with the local and national business communities.
“Georgia Tech and the Scheller College are tremendous assets for Atlanta and Georgia,” Blake said. “Dean Alavi has an engaging vision for the role Scheller College can play locally, nationally, and internationally. She brings a focus on the future role of technology in business that fits well with Georgia Tech’s strengths and the community’s needs.”
“It is a great honor to be affiliated with the Scheller College, and I accepted this offer because of my love of Georgia Tech and the opportunity for the College of Business to make such a difference in the lives of the students,” said Duke, a Tech alumnus. “I want to impact the lives of students so they can have an outstanding future in whatever they pursue.” In doing so, he wants to help Georgia Tech “to be recognized as producing the best business leaders in the world.”
Prominent Military Leaders Join International Affairs Faculty
The Institute’s depth of expertise in security-related strategy, policy, and leadership took a giant step forward last year with the addition of two renowned military leaders: Admiral James “Sandy” Winnefeld, former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and General Philip Breedlove, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander in Europe.
Newly minted Distinguished Professors in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs in the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, both men are not only undergraduate alumni of Georgia Tech, but they were also Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity brothers during their time here.
A 1978 aerospace engineering alumnus, Winnefeld is working with Tech faculty, researchers, and students on a number of projects, classes, and presentations; he brings recent experience in the fields of strategy and policy, leadership, and defense investment to the Institute.
Breedlove, a 1977 civil engineering alumnus, works with faculty, staff, and students on security issues and policy. He brings a wealth of both deep and recent experience in the world’s toughest security and policy issues as well as leadership in situations spanning both peace and conflict.
Institute Cited for Outstanding Contributions to Campus Space
Georgia Tech administrators and facilities received four awards last fall at the University System of Georgia Board of Regents Facilities Conference.
- Steve Swant, executive vice president for Administration and Finance, received the Cornerstone Award for his strong and passionate leadership qualities and ability to navigate the institution with enthusiasm and perseverance.
- Chuck Rhode, vice president for the Office of Facilities Management, received the Distinguished Service Award. Rhode has led the effort to restructure the Facilities department, resulting in economies, efficiencies, and best practices throughout the organization.
- The Chapin Building Rehabilitation Project received the Sustainability Award. A renovation in 2014-15 restored the early character of the 1910 building by removing non-original walls and restoring the original historic fabric.
- Technology Square received the Regents Award of Excellence for its embodiment of a “spirit of place” on the Georgia Tech campus.
What's next? Making an Impact through Research
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