Atlanta, January 17, 2006 – The College of Computing at Georgia Tech, a national leader in education and research that creates real-world computing breakthroughs to drive social and scientific progress, today announced that Howard A. Schmidt, chief security strategist for the US CERT Partners Program and former special advisor to the White House for Cyberspace Security, has joined its Georgia Tech Information Security Center (GTISC) as an Adjunct Professor. In this role, Schmidt will work with GTISC faculty and students on research efforts to improve the state of information security by lending his vast knowledge and expertise in this growing technological area.

“I have spent my career trying to raise national awareness of information security issues through my various corporate and public policy positions,” said Schmidt. “By joining the College of Computing at Georgia Tech, one of our nation's most progressive and innovative academic environments for computing, I can now provide my vision and insight to those research and educational initiatives that will drive the future development of cyber security solutions for the everyday computer user.”

Schmidt's distinguished career as an information security advocate includes leadership positions with both public and private sector organizations. He has served on the President's Critical Infrastructure Protection Board, was an augmented member of the President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology and held executive positions with the Information Systems Security Association (ISSA), the Information Technology Information Sharing and Analysis Center (IT-ISAC), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Information Security Privacy Advisory Board (ISPAB). Schmidt also served as vice president and chief security strategist for eBay and chief security officer for Microsoft Corporation, forming and directing the computer giant's Trustworthy Computer Security Strategies Group.

“The College of Computing continuously seeks out industry experts and visionaries such as Howard Schmidt to take our faculty and students to greater heights in computing research,” said Richard A. DeMillo, dean of the College of Computing at Georgia Tech. “We are thrilled to be able to tap into Howard's expertise and apply it to the College of Computing's academic and research programs surrounding cyber security.”

GTISC, a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education, believes that research and education form the basis for developing effective solutions to safeguard personal digital information against current cyber security threats such as phishing, spoofing and identity. GTISC addresses these threats using an innovative and unique approach of “usable security” – the integration of usability and security research with the goal of empowering everyday users to better protect themselves and take charge of their online security and privacy.

About the College of Computing at Georgia Tech
The College of Computing at Georgia Tech is a national leader in the research and creation of real-world computing breakthroughs that drive social and scientific progress. With its graduate program ranked 12 th nationally by U.S. News and World Report, the College's unconventional approach to education is pioneering the new era of computing by expanding the horizons of traditional computer science students through interdisciplinary collaboration and a focus on human centered solutions. For more information about the College of Computing at Georgia Tech, its academic divisions and research centers, please visit www.cc.gatech.edu.

About Georgia Tech Information Security Center (GTISC)
The Georgia Tech Information Security Center, a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education, is an interdisciplinary center involving faculty from the College of Computing, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs and the School of Public Policy.