Keynote Speech

 

 

Design and Test of Network-Centric Systems

 

 

Ann Miller

Electrical and Computer Engineering Department

University of Missouri at Rolla

 

 

 

 

Abstract

Computer-based systems are ubiquitous.  Further, these systems are not only becoming larger, in terms of lines of code or function points or whatever metric is used, they are also becoming more complex.  This complexity occurs both internally, in terms of subsystems, and externally, in terms of interfaces with other systems.  Such a system has been termed a "mega-system" or a "system of systems".  Whatever descriptive phrase is used, there is one clear fact: these systems are designed to leverage the flow of information and the power of networking to enhance their product and/or service.  This is true in both commercial and military domains.  While performance of these systems increases, so, too, does the vulnerability.  Network-centric systems are at risk if they are not reliable or if they can be disrupted through a network attack.  This talk first provides an overview of network-centric systems.  It then presents some of the design, test, and information assurance aspects necessary to produce network-centric systems with the reliability, quality, security, and survivability necessary in today's environment. 

 

 

Key Words:

Network-centric systems, networked systems, reliability, security, survivability.

 

 

Biography

Ann Miller presently is the Cynthia Tang Missouri Distinguished Professor of Computer Engineering at the University of Missouri - Rolla.  Previously, she was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Command, Control, Communications, Computing, Intelligence, Electronic Warfare, and Space; for a portion of that time, she also served as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the U. S. Department of the Navy.  She also served as Director for Information Technologies, Department of Defense Research and Engineering.  Prior to that, Dr. Miller worked for over 12 years within Motorola, Inc.  She holds one U. S. patent in satellite communications, has co-authored two books, and is the author of numerous journal articles and monographs.  She is a Senior Member of IEEE and a member of the IEEE Communications Society, Computer Society, and Reliability Society.  Dr. Miller also is currently the chairperson of NATO's Information Systems Technology Panel and an Associate Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Software. 

 

Dr. Miller's research areas include information technology and computer engineering, with an emphasis on system trustworthiness and survivability, including computer and network security, and on the design and test of large-scale systems.  Dr. Miller received her B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Mathematics from Saint Louis University.  She can be contacted at milleran@ece.umr.edu or milleran@umr.edu.