Shiu-Kai Chin
is a Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
at Syracuse University. He is coordinator for the MS Cybersecurity program and
directs the 18-credit hour Cybersecurity Semester at the undergraduate level. He
is director of the Center for Information and Systems Assurance and Trust. He
is affiliated with the Institute for Security Policy and Law. He serves on the
University’s Enterprise Risk Management Committee. He is co-author, with Dr.
Susan Older, of the textbook, Access Control, Security, and Trust: A Logical
Approach, CRC Press, 2010.
Professor Chin’s research focuses on certified security by design. He created Certified Security by Design (CSBD). CSBD is part of a collaborative effort called Systems-Theoretic Technical and Operational Risk Management (STORM). CSBD applies mathematical logic to the engineering of trustworthy systems—from high-level concepts of operation (ConOps) down to individual actions taken by machines and people. STORM combines CSBD with Dr/Col (ret) William “Dollar” Young’s Systems-Theoretic Process Analysis for Security (STPA-Sec), which is the basis for the Air Force’s Functional Mission Analysis for Cyber (FMA-C). The Air Force has directed that FMA-C be used as its baseline mission analysis methodology for Mission Defense Teams. STPA-Sec and FMA-C assure the right products are built for missions. CSBD assures that the products are built right. Shiu-Kai and Dollar use STORM to provide compelling evidence of trustworthiness, faithful implementation of commander intent, and mission assurance on real problems.
Professor Chin’s research is used in both defense and financial services applications. The Air Force Research Laboratory’s Information Directorate has applied CSBD and STORM to create trustworthy hardware for loading mission software into combat aircraft. JP Morgan Chase used elements of CSBD to verify their SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) protocols for large-value commercial transactions.
Shiu-Kai is an instructor in the Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) Advanced Course in Engineering (ACE) Cybersecurity Boot Camp. ACE is a 10-week summer program whose mission is developing the next generation of cyber leaders through education, hands-on training, officer development, and weekly 8-mile runs. He is the only instructor who has taught the full span of the AFRL ACE since its inception in 2003 through 2019.
Shiu-Kai served as Provost Faculty Fellow in 2015 and 2016 focused on SU’s Academic Strategic Plan. He was interim Dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science from 2006 to 2008. From 1998 until 2006 he was Director of the Center for Advanced Systems and Engineering (CASE) at Syracuse University—a New York State Center of Advanced Technology funded by Empire State Development. He served as Program Director for Computer Engineering until 2006.
From 1995 through 1999 he was a Research Scientist at the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Information Directorate in the Defensive information Warfare Branch as a federal employee under the Intergovernmental Personnel Act. His objective was to move the use of formal methods into mainstream engineering to achieve higher confidence in design. This work included technology demonstrations such as (1) building integrated circuits through the MOSIS fabrication service that were designed and verified using formal logic; (2) reasoning about security properties of network protocols such as NSA's MISSI (Multi-level Information System Security Initiative) and Privacy Enhanced Mail (PEM); (3) planning technology development programs; and (4) developing examples for use by educators. He worked with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and National Security Agency (NSA). With other AFRL staff, he represented AFRL on the Infosec Research Council.
Professor Chin received the Crouse Hinds Award for Excellence in Education from the L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science in 1994. In 1997, he was appointed Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor for Teaching Excellence-Syracuse University's highest teaching award. In 2002, he received the 2001-2002 Chancellor’s Citation for Outstanding Contributions to the University’s Academic Programs. In 2004, he was appointed as Associate University Marshal. In 2005, he was selected as one of two Outstanding Teachers by the Syracuse University Alumni Association. In 2012, he was appointed University Marshal.
Prior to joining SU in 1986, Professor Chin was a senior engineer and program manager at General Electric. During his eleven years at GE, he designed several products including a nuclear fuel-rod monitor, a memory manager for a heart imaging system similar to a CAT scanner, and a custom radiation-hard CMOS processor combined with a GaAs C-band transceiver for controlling phased-array radars. He is a graduate of GE’s Advanced Course in Engineering.
Shiu-Kai is a Commissioner on the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority and is its Financial Officer. Shiu-Kai is a former Commissioner on the Onondaga County/City of Syracuse Human Rights Commission and was Chair of the HRC in 2016. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of WCNY Public Radio and Television. He served as Chair of the Board of Directors of InterFaith Works of Central New York from 2017- 2019. He served as President of the Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse (ACTS) in 2010.
He is a trainer in the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) and for a decade was part of AVP facilitation teams at Auburn Prison - a maximum security prison. AVP is an international, non-denominational program that teaches conflict resolution and communications skills.
Shiu-Kai serves on the boards of directors for several professional organizations including the Griffiss Institute (GI). GI and AFRL partner in running the Innovare Advancement Center in Rome, NY. Its mission is to support scientific and entrepreneurial talent to tackle challenges to national security and economic competitiveness.
Shiu-Kai is a life member of the Adirondack Mountain Club and the Adirondack 46ers (#1064).
Updated: 2022