Prof. Felten Elected to National Academy of Engineering

I’ve mentioned Princeton University’s  Center for Information Technology Policy [CITP] here in a number of posts, on topics ranging from security “Worst Practices” to high-frequency stock trading.  I’ve also mentioned the CITP’s director, Professor Edward Felten, who in addition to his work at the university has also served a term as the Chief Technologist of the US Federal Trade Commission.  The CITP has consistently produced some of the most interesting research on the intersection of public policy and technology, and it has always seemed to me that Prof. Felten’s leadership has been vital to that work.

So I was delighted to see an announcement that Prof. Felten has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering, “for contributions to security of computer systems, and for impact on public policy.”  As the announcement states,

Election to the National Academy of Engineering is among the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer. Academy membership honors those who have made outstanding contributions to “engineering research, practice, or education, including, where appropriate, significant contributions to the engineering literature,” and to the “pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements in traditional fields of engineering, or developing/implementing innovative approaches to engineering education.”

I have always found Prof. Felten’s work and writing to be consistently interesting and insightful, and congratulate him on a very well deserved honor.