Kenneth M. Hopkinson

Dr. Kenneth M. Hopkinson is a Professor of Computer Science and Head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) in Dayton, Ohio. He holds a Ph.D. and M.S. from Cornell University and a B.S. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, all in Computer Science. He is a Senior Member of IEEE and ACM, reflecting his active engagement in the academic and professional communities.

• Ph.D., Computer Science, Cornell University, 2004
• M.S., Computer Science, Cornell University, 2002
• B.S., Computer Science, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1997

Dr. Hopkinson's research focuses on cybersecurity, networking, smart grid protection, critical infrastructure, and sensor fusion. His work integrates formal methods, machine learning, and distributed systems to enhance the reliability and security of cyber-physical systems. He has pioneered research in trust management, agent-based protection systems, and formal verification of safety-critical software.

His recent publications highlight a strong trend in applying machine learning to hardware security, formal verification of algorithms, and resilience in critical infrastructure using social sensing. These works span domains from FPGA Trojan detection to SPARK-based verification of sorting algorithms, indicating a multidisciplinary approach that bridges theory and practical defense applications.

• Best Student Paper Award Winner, 15th International Command and Control Research and Technology Symposium (ICCRTS), 2010

Dr. Hopkinson has secured significant research funding and leads projects involving simulation, wargaming, and critical infrastructure protection. He has mentored numerous students through collaborative research, though formal advisee lists are not provided. He is actively involved in major research initiatives, including the EPOCHS simulation platform for power and communication systems. He has also contributed to book chapters and edited volumes on avionics cybersecurity and cyber-physical systems.

He leads or contributes to research teams focused on cognitive radio networks, secure SCADA systems, and space applications. His work often involves interdisciplinary collaboration with electrical engineers, computer scientists, and defense analysts. Labs under his oversight likely include those in cybersecurity, network simulation, and hardware security, supporting both academic and military applications.