{"693885":{"#nid":"693885","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Richard DeMillo Celebrated for Decades of Contributions to Computing","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERichard DeMillo\u003C\/strong\u003E, former dean of the College of Computing, was lauded by a crowd of nearly 200 people for his decades of contributions to the computing field at his retirement celebration on October 21 in the Christopher Klaus Advanced Computing Building. He was inducted into the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/computing-celebrates-its-new-rising-stars-and-hall-fame-inductees\u0022\u003ECollege\u2019s Hall of Fame\u003C\/a\u003E two days later.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDeMillo became dean of the College of Computing in 2002. In seven years, he launched three new schools, seven new degree programs, three international programs, and two new research centers. Georgia Tech\u2019s graduate computer science ranking rose from 14th to 9th nationally. Annual expenditures doubled. He oversaw the groundbreaking and construction of the 200,000-square-foot, $80 million Christopher Klaus Advanced Computing Building.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter leaving the dean\u2019s office, he founded the Center for 21st Century Universities, which helped catalyze the launch of the Online Master of Science in Computer Science (OMSCS). He then served as the founding chair for the School of Cybersecurity and Privacy.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERemarkably, DeMillo\u2019s work at Georgia Tech is only a fraction of his incredible achievements. To learn more, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/honorary-fund-honor-richard-demillo\u0022\u003Eread this profile\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe highlight of the retirement celebration was a talk by DeMillo himself, titled \u003Cem\u003EThe Questions that Find Us\u003C\/em\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe was introduced by \u003Cstrong\u003EThomas E. Noonan\u003C\/strong\u003E (ME 1983)83, who served on the GT Computing Advisory Board under DeMillo and other College of Computing deans.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuring the talk, DeMillo highlighted the research questions he addressed throughout his expansive career. Unlike some researchers who go out searching for questions to answer, DeMillo\u2019s work found him. Often, he would walk into a room, identify a problem, and work to solve it.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUsing the Threads curriculum as an example, DeMillo showed the crowd a graph of declining enrollment that began after the dot-com bubble burst in the early 2000s. As Dean, he saw that the students enrolled in the course were picking and choosing classes to customize their computer science degrees.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThey were weaving \u2018threads\u2019 through our curriculum,\u201d he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy working with the college faculty, DeMillo created the Threads program, which reinvigorated the computer science undergraduate degree and gave Georgia Tech a something new to offer enrolling students.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFrom his groundbreaking paper, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cs.umd.edu\/~gasarch\/BLOGPAPERS\/social.pdf\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003ESocial Processes and Proofs of Theorems and Programs\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, which he co-wrote with Richard Lipton and Alan Perlis, to how artificial intelligence is shaping the current higher education landscape, DeMillo walked the audience through the questions that shaped his career and how he changed the landscape of computing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBefore DeMillo spoke, a panel of computer science higher education experts discussed the impact of Rich\u2019s contributions:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e1ebb77491c4b2ead95fc988d516a4cde\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlessandro Orso\u003C\/strong\u003E, Dean, College of Engineering, University of Georgia\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e9c7a7e9ecda712bf5f43bf2dd7c09b45\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECharles Isbell\u003C\/strong\u003E, Chancellor, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e483d7e9a6ddae3e0b4ad4db6d571fc58\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJeff Offutt\u003C\/strong\u003E, Chair, Department of Computer Science, University at Albany\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022ecb60d1a050f78b0816a13bfd4509dc3a\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEugene Spafford\u003C\/strong\u003E, Distinguished Professor, Purdue University\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e0741fab9a6895db17fef1a237e691fe1\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAaron Bobick\u003C\/strong\u003E, Dean, McKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe panel shared anecdotes about DeMillo, from visiting retro video game arcades to the printer-centered job talk he gave when he became dean, and everything in between.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe day ended with toasts and tributes from DeMillo\u2019s friends and colleagues, including a few who had flown in from other countries to attend.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EAnn Claycombe of the College of Computing contributed to this report.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EPhotos by Terence Rushin and Kevin Beasley\/ College of Computing\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ERichard DeMillo was honored for transforming Georgia Tech\u2019s College of Computing through lasting academic innovation. The October 21 celebration preceded his October 23 Hall of Fame induction.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2022\u2002As dean, DeMillo launched three schools, seven design programs, three international programs, two research centers, and the award-winning Threads curriculum.\u003Cbr\u003E\u2022\u2002His later work helped catalyze the Online Master of Science in Computer Science and establish the School of Cybersecurity and Privacy.\u003Cbr\u003E\u2022\u2002In his talk, \u201cThe Questions that Find Us,\u201d DeMillo connected career-defining research questions with his influence on computing and higher education.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Richard DeMillo was honored for transforming Georgia Tech\u2019s College of Computing through lasting academic innovation."}],"uid":"36253","created_gmt":"2026-11-09 15:30:38","changed_gmt":"2026-11-09 15:40:10","author":"John Popham","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-11-09T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-11-09T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"681701":{"id":"681701","type":"image","title":"Richard-DeMillo-Celebration.jpg","body":null,"created":"1794238259","gmt_created":"2026-11-09 15:30:59","changed":"1794238259","gmt_changed":"2026-11-09 15:30:59","alt":"Rich DeMillo standing at a podium in the Klaus building. He is speaking and delivering a lecture. ","file":{"fid":"266140","name":"Richard-DeMillo-Celebration.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/11\/09\/Richard-DeMillo-Celebration.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/11\/09\/Richard-DeMillo-Celebration.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2031969,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/11\/09\/Richard-DeMillo-Celebration.jpg?itok=z3UMuW0E"}},"681699":{"id":"681699","type":"image","title":"Richard-DeMillo-Celebration_P9A5301.jpg","body":null,"created":"1794238259","gmt_created":"2026-11-09 15:30:59","changed":"1794238259","gmt_changed":"2026-11-09 15:30:59","alt":"Two men in suits standing next to each other. One is holding a crystal Buzz statue. On the left is Dean of the College of Computing Vivek Sarkar and on the right holding the statue is former dean Rich DeMillo.","file":{"fid":"266138","name":"Richard-DeMillo-Celebration_P9A5301.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/11\/09\/Richard-DeMillo-Celebration_P9A5301.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/11\/09\/Richard-DeMillo-Celebration_P9A5301.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":17873967,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/11\/09\/Richard-DeMillo-Celebration_P9A5301.jpg?itok=U729yICr"}},"681700":{"id":"681700","type":"image","title":"Richard-DeMillo-Celebration_P9A5329.jpg","body":null,"created":"1794238259","gmt_created":"2026-11-09 15:30:59","changed":"1794238259","gmt_changed":"2026-11-09 15:30:59","alt":"A group photo of Rich DeMillo and several well wishers at DeMillo\u0027s retirement celebration.","file":{"fid":"266139","name":"Richard-DeMillo-Celebration_P9A5329.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/11\/09\/Richard-DeMillo-Celebration_P9A5329.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/11\/09\/Richard-DeMillo-Celebration_P9A5329.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":25530992,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/11\/09\/Richard-DeMillo-Celebration_P9A5329.jpg?itok=WCL0URns"}},"681696":{"id":"681696","type":"image","title":"Rich-DeMillo-Celebration--149A2074.jpg","body":null,"created":"1794238259","gmt_created":"2026-11-09 15:30:59","changed":"1794238259","gmt_changed":"2026-11-09 15:30:59","alt":"A crowded room of people listening to a panel of speakers.","file":{"fid":"266135","name":"Rich-DeMillo-Celebration--149A2074.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/11\/09\/Rich-DeMillo-Celebration--149A2074.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/11\/09\/Rich-DeMillo-Celebration--149A2074.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":24476497,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/11\/09\/Rich-DeMillo-Celebration--149A2074.jpg?itok=kfrlUV54"}},"681697":{"id":"681697","type":"image","title":"Rich-DeMillo-Celebration--149A2129.jpg","body":null,"created":"1794238259","gmt_created":"2026-11-09 15:30:59","changed":"1794238259","gmt_changed":"2026-11-09 15:30:59","alt":"Two men in suits talking in an empty room.","file":{"fid":"266136","name":"Rich-DeMillo-Celebration--149A2129.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/11\/09\/Rich-DeMillo-Celebration--149A2129.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/11\/09\/Rich-DeMillo-Celebration--149A2129.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":23655777,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/11\/09\/Rich-DeMillo-Celebration--149A2129.jpg?itok=9lCS0H0p"}},"681698":{"id":"681698","type":"image","title":"Rich-DeMillo-Celebration--149A2149.jpg","body":null,"created":"1794238259","gmt_created":"2026-11-09 15:30:59","changed":"1794238259","gmt_changed":"2026-11-09 15:30:59","alt":"A table of people talking and eating. The photo is set in the Klaus Atrium.","file":{"fid":"266137","name":"Rich-DeMillo-Celebration--149A2149.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/11\/09\/Rich-DeMillo-Celebration--149A2149.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/11\/09\/Rich-DeMillo-Celebration--149A2149.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":24721323,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/11\/09\/Rich-DeMillo-Celebration--149A2149.jpg?itok=jy1nI1kB"}}},"media_ids":["681701","681699","681700","681696","681697","681698"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"660406","name":"School of Cybersecurity \u0026 Privacy"},{"id":"660367","name":"School of Cybersecurity and Privacy"}],"categories":[{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"145171","name":"Cybersecurity"},{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJohn Popham\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECommunications Officer at the School of Cybersecurity and Privacy\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["jpopham3@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}