Barry W. Johnson

Barry W. Johnson is the L.A. Lacy Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Virginia. He has been on faculty since 1984, promoted to Full Professor in 1994. His career includes roles as SEAS Senior Associate Dean (2006-2015), NSF Division Director (2015-2019), and co-founder/CEO of Privaris (2002-2006). He holds B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from UVA (1979-1983).

Research focuses on ensuring safety/security of critical computer systems. Key areas include cybersecurity, safety engineering, biometrics, IoT security, and autonomous systems. Published over 150 articles, 8 book chapters, two books, and holds 40+ patents. Notable honors include IEEE Fellow (1996), National Academy of Inventors Fellow (2016), and NSF Distinguished Service Award (2019).

Recent publications emphasize system safety analysis, fault tolerance, and secure transaction methods. His work combines theoretical advancements with practical applications in transportation systems, nuclear safety, and medical devices. Active in both academia and industry, Dr. Johnson's contributions bridge theoretical research and real-world safety-critical systems deployment.