My name is Ken Barrett, and I am currently a rising Senior majoring in computer science and minoring in mathematics at the University of Pittsburgh. I am a participant in the Shure-Grid program. I enjoy playing hockey, guitar, and soccer. My favorite food is my mom’s curry. I can also speak Japanese fluently. My goal for the near future is to attend graduate school for computer science. I am interested in Pitt’s 4+1 master’s program in computer science which will be a 3+1 program for me since I am graduating a year early. I am interested in expanding my knowledge in computing, specifically AI and cybersecurity. I grew interested in cybersecurity as I have always had a knack for computers, but I have always wanted to help others with my knowledge. Specializing in cybersecurity is a good meeting point for my skills and values, as I can help organizations protect their assets. It is becoming increasingly clear that AI is a part of our everyday lives. Being able to harness AI is becoming a sought-after skill set. Understanding it can help me work efficiently, especially in cybersecurity where AI tools are becoming prevalent.

To go back to Shure-Grid, the program is based on using CIE (Cyber Informed Engineering) Principles. These thirteen principles lay out key ideas to be considered when implementing a secure system. We use these principles to devise a plan to encourage organizations to consider cyber security when designing their mechanisms. This research is important as there is not enough emphasis on incorporating cybersecurity in the workplace. Systems are often engineered with the thought of “how can we get this to work” instead of “how can we get this not to fail”. This leads to many flaws in our critical infrastructure. The Shure-Grid program addresses this problem by having groups take on an example of our critical infrastructure being attacked and using CIE principles to reexamine the attack. We then use these principles with our research and expert advice to map a new design. Through this program, I have developed better communication skills by learning to talk to experts. I have grown my understanding of cybersecurity by getting a more abstract view, instead of losing myself in the details. In my career, I will be more inclined to take the initiative to implement cyber secure engineering as I am developing systems. Shure-Grid has helped me become a well-rounded cybersecurity professional.