NILS ASCHENBRUCK
Position statement
Thanks to the hard work of many people, the IEEE Computer Society (CS) is one of the leading societies in computing. Many great events have been sponsored by the CS, fostering quality of research and building fascinating communities. I have been participating in (as well as co-organizing) CS sponsored events for the last decade. Many of them inspired me, providing feedback to my own research, showing me new ideas, introducing new topics, and connecting me to colleagues from all over the world. It is an honor for me to serve as a member of the CS Executive Committee and help the Computer Society to provide similar experiences to all its members. The mid- and long-term success of the Computer Society will depend on how well we provide value to our members. The more we continue playing a leading role on technological advancement together with our strategic partners, the more we can fulfill our mission on shaping, empowering and guiding the future enabling new opportunities to better serve our world.
If elected, my objectives are to (1) maintain and enhance the scientific quality of the sponsored events and publications, (2) find reasonable solutions for new opportunities like open access, J1C2, and hybrid conferences within sponsored events, (3) strengthen the relationship with our strategic partners including industry to promote scientific results that solve real-world problems, (4) find additional strategic partners to explore new technical areas, and (5) ensure equal chances for each member from our diversified membership including measures to maintain diversity and inclusion.
Biography
Nils Aschenbruck is a Full Professor for Computer Science at Osnabrueck University, Germany. His research focus is on dependable and robust networked systems including scenario modeling, traffic engineering, and network security. Dr. Aschenbruck has received over 35 external grants from both government funding agencies and industry. In total, his projects have received over 6 million euros in external funding. He has published over 100 refereed papers in international journals and conference proceedings.
Dr. Aschenbruck served as reviewer nationally as well as internationally including Humboldt, DFG, BMBF, and NATO. From 2013 to 2017 he was the chair of the IEEE CS Technical Committee on Computer Communications (TCCC), from 2016 to 2017 the chair of the IEEE CS Technical Activities Committee (TAC), and from 2020 to 2022 as well as 2023 to 2025 an elected member of the IEEE CS Board of Governors. Currently he is serving as 2nd Vice President of the IEEE CS as well as a member of the IEEE CS Publications Board Executive Committee. He is the chair of the Steering Committee of IEEE-TMC and a Steering Committee member of IEEE-LCN, IEEE-IPCCC as well as a member of the IEEE OJ-CS Editorial Board.
Dr. Aschenbruck received his graduate diploma and PhD in computer science from Bonn University, Germany, in 2003 and 2008, respectively. He continued as a senior researcher and head of the research area “tactical wireless multi-hop networks” at the communication systems group of Bonn University, Germany. In spring 2010, he worked at the Colorado School of Mines, USA for a term, co-funded by DAAD. Since 2012 he holds a full professorship for distributed systems at Osnabrueck University. Since 2017 he serves as department head of the Computer Science department as well as member of the dean’s council.
Candidate website: http://na.uni-osnabrueck.net
TERRY BENZEL
Position statement
Demonstrated Passion and Leadership: Volunteering early in my career at the IEEE Computer Society Conferences on Security and Privacy (S&P) and Technical Community provided invaluable experience collaborating with leaders in this dynamic field. This experience fuels my commitment to empowering communities within the Computer Society.
My vision as VP is to cultivate a thriving and inclusive IEEE Computer Society (CS) community: I will foster connections and collaboration across industry, government, academia, and student groups. By empowering our Technical Communities with real-time access to data and resources, we can further develop innovative and engaging activities. This includes conference-specific workshops, student poster sessions, industry networking events, and dedicated member lounges.
Building on Success: The 2024 Student & Young Professional Activities Committee Rooftop Gathering in San Francisco is a prime example of such an engaging event. Through close collaboration with the CS boards: Technical & Conference Activities, Membership and Geographic Activities, and Publications, I will leverage this momentum to foster even greater diversity and opportunities for all members.
Championing Integrity and Information Sharing: My experience as Chair of the Integrity Committee of the Computer Society Publications Board and on the Ethics and Integrity Ad hoc Committee underscores the ever-increasing importance of safeguarding the integrity of our members, processes, and products. As VP, I will advocate for resources to strengthen these crucial initiatives.
Shared Goal: A World-Leading Computing Society: My experience at a leading university, as a VP in industry, and my service on public and corporate boards positions me to contribute broadly to the IEEE CS mission. I will serve the Computer Society President and the Board of Governors by fostering cooperation, and communication while encouraging innovation; and assisting the president, in setting and achieving overall society objectives.
Candidate Website: https://www.isi.edu/people-tbenzel/ieee-computer-society/
Biography
I bring a wealth of experience as a candidate for Vice President of the IEEE Computer Society. With over 30 years of experience in leadership, research, and community involvement, I’ve worked across diverse organizations, from top universities to public corporations and startups.
In addition to technical leadership, I foster a vibrant research environment by leading committees focused on culture, diversity, equity, inclusion, and mentoring. My leadership extends to a dynamic team of up to 50 researchers, faculty, students, and staff, who conduct cutting-edge research in network security, cyber experimentation methods, and the analysis of complex systems. This research agenda prioritizes the interconnectedness of cybersecurity, networking, and social systems, ensuring it remains relevant in the ever-evolving cyberspace landscape.
I am an IEEE Fellow, recognized for leadership in establishing the field of cybersecurity experimentation. My ISI team spearheaded the development of the first cybersecurity testbed devoted to researchers worldwide. I provided vision, and technical leadership in creating the community, methods, tools, and research for advanced open infrastructure and experimentation.
My dedication to the IEEE Computer Society spans many years. I first got involved through volunteer work at the IEEE Security and Privacy Conferences, where I progressed through numerous committee roles. This commitment continued with positions on the Technical Committee and Editorial Board for the IEEE Security and Privacy Magazine, culminating in a senior editorial role overseeing special issues highlighting society conferences.
I am serving my second term on the IEEE Computer Society Board of Governors (2021-2026), as the VP for the Technical & Conference Activities Board.
I am confident that my extensive experience through my career, volunteering, and within the Society make me an ideal candidate for the Vice President position where I will drive innovation and collaboration.