MC2 Researcher Chosen as a DARPA Riser

Andrew Ruef, a second-year doctoral student in computer science and a researcher in the Maryland Cybersecurity Center (MC2), was recently named one of 54 Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Risers: up-and-coming standouts in their fields, capable of discovering and leveraging innovative opportunities for technological surprise.

In conjunction with being named a DARPA Riser, Ruef attended the DARPA Wait, What? A Future Technology Forum, which was held in St. Louis, Missouri September 9–11.

He presented on the Build It, Break It, Fix It cybersecurity competition, a programming contest run out of MC2 that strives to give students hands-on experience in writing more secure software programs. Mike Hicks, who conceived the competition and is a professor of computer science with appointments in the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies and MC2, serves as Ruef’s adviser.

“The experience was great,” Ruef says. “I got a lot of insight into how program managers at DARPA think, evaluate evidence and communicate. I am thankful to my DARPA mentor, Tim Fraser, for his guidance in creating my poster and talk.”

Read more about DARPA Risers and the DARPA Wait, What? A Future Technology Forum here.