the CHAIR

Security


by William B. Rouse

Security has demanded our attention for the past two years. Challenges to our physical security became painfully compelling with September 11th. Our financial security has been challenged by the weak economy and corporate financial scandals. SARS has threatened our health security. Viruses, worms, and other creations have continually assaulted our information security.

Security is the theme of this issue of Engineering Enterprise. Industrial and Systems Engineering is concerned with security at several levels. First, of course, many of us are personally apprehensive. Second, we are concerned with the ability of our enterprises to function efficiently in light of heightened measures to address security. Finally, we are very interested in applying our competencies in optimization, stochastics, statistics, and so on to enhance security.

This issue includes an interview with Rich DeMillo, Dean of Georgia Tech's College of Computing and former CTO of Hewlett-Packard. This interview is based on his recent keynote presentation at the Georgia Tech Business Network, where the spring program focused on security. He provides an overview of "asymmetric warfare" in enterprise security and IT security, and argues for some new ways of thinking about these issues.

Also in this issue is an interview with John Gilligan, CIO of the U.S. Air Force. His remarks focus on the changing nature of security issues for the Department of Defense in general and the Air Force in particular. He considers the R&D; issues where Air Force investments are most focused, as well as those issues where investments are coming from the broader IT community. He points out the challenges of electronic collaboration and interoperability vs. security and information assurance.

Chip White, a Chaired Professor in Industrial and Systems Engineering, considers the role of the School in addressing security challenges. He articulates the ways in which security concerns are affecting private and public enterprises and where these issues fit in the School's portfolio of research initiatives. Chip also outlines the types of problems most amenable to solution using our core competencies, and briefly summarizes a few initiatives in these areas.

We are all concerned with security, whether it is physical, health, financial, or information security. Our families, communities, and enterprises are threatened, and we feel compelled to do something. Of course, these problems also represent opportunities for Georgia Tech faculty, staff, and students to both discover fundamental knowledge and create innovative solutions. We are committed to doing our part.

William B. Rouse is the H. Milton and Carolyn J. Stewart Chair and Professor of the School of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology.



• Fall 2003 Engineering Enterprise Table of Contents
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