Paul J. Kolodzy, DARPA and FCC veteran, to direct wireless network security center at Stevens

Dr. Paul J. Kolodzy arrived this month at Stevens Institute of Technology to direct the new Wireless Network Security Center (WiNSeC), a research facility that will draw on wide-ranging expertise to design, develop and evaluate technology for the secure transmission of voice, video, and data.

Kolodzy served at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from Feb. 2002 in the Office of Engineering and Technology, where he held the title of Senior Spectrum Policy Advisor. He also chaired a new FCC task force addressing issues related to market-based communications spectrum policy. The task force was charged with developing a coherent plan for managing and allocating the nation's vital and increasingly scarce frequency spectrum resources. Completing its work ahead of schedule, the task force issued its recommendations in early November.

"An expert of the stature of Dr. Kolodzy," said Stevens president, Dr. Harold J. Raveche, "will ensure that WiNSeC and Stevens have the opportunity for a world leadership role in the security of wireless communications. Paul will be supported by a superb group of Stevens faculty and researchers, as well as major partners in academia, government and industry."

Dr. Sumit Ghosh, Hattrick Professor of Information Systems and director of the computer engineering program at Stevens, welcomed Kolodzy's appointment.

"Paul's ambition and unmistakable determination in seamlessly integrating the many emerging wireless network standards," said Ghosh, "coupled with his deep appreciation for the national and international importance of network security - as well as his vast practical and managerial experience - will provide the initiative with a particularly effective leader."

One of the first major tasks that Kolodzy and WiNSeC will address is the enhancement of communications networks used by first-responders - police, fire fighters, National Guard and other emergency forces - to protect the public during large scale crises, including natural disasters and acts of terrorism. The center will also seek to develop secure wireless networks for a wide variety of uses, including those encountered in financial services, military operations, and homeland defense applications.

Before joining the FCC, Kolodzy served as program manager within the Advanced Technology Office of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) at the Department of Defense. At DARPA, he oversaw development of next generation communications technology, including the "neXt Generation Communications" initiative, a fundamental re-thinking of how to allocate the spectrum for future military and commercial systems.

Previous to his government agency work, Kolodzy worked at Sanders, a Lockheed Martin Company, where he served as Director of Signal Processing in the Advanced Technology Business Area. In this capacity, he was responsible for focusing on information warfare, electronic warfare, and signal intelligence techniques. Also at Sanders, he served as Director of Strategic Initiatives, and was responsible for the development of generation-after-next antennas, receivers, lasers and signal processing technology.

Kolodzy also served at MIT's Lincoln Laboratory for 11 years as Senior Systems Analyst and Group Leader. He was involved in optical systems for laser radars, signal processing, and target recognition. He served, too, as Group Leader of the Opto-Radar Systems and Machine Intelligence Groups, focusing on acoustic, RF (SAR), and optical signatures.

Kolodzy earned a doctorate in chemical engineering from Case Western Reserve University, with a program that was inclusive of electrical engineering and computer engineering technology. He also earned a master's degree in chemical engineering from Case Western Reserve University.

About Stevens Institute of Technology

Founded in 1870, Stevens Institute of Technology is one of the leading technological universities in the world dedicated to learning and research. Through its broad-based curricula, nurturing of creative inventiveness, and cross disciplinary research, the Institute is at the forefront of global challenges in engineering, science, and technology management. Partnerships and collaboration between, and among, business, industry, government and other universities contribute to the enriched environment of the Institute. A new model for technology commercialization in academe, known as Technogenesis®, involves external partners in launching business enterprises to create broad opportunities and shared value.

Stevens offers baccalaureates, master’s and doctoral degrees in engineering, science, computer science and management, in addition to a baccalaureate degree in the humanities and liberal arts, and in business and technology. The university has a total enrollment of 2,150 undergraduate and 3,500 graduate students, with about 250 full-time faculty. Stevens’ graduate programs have attracted international participation from China, India, Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America. Additional information may be obtained from its web page at www.stevens.edu.  

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