Dane Brown

Dane Brown is an Assistant Professor in the Cyber Science Department at the United States Naval Academy, part of the School of Engineering, Computing, and Weapons. He has been affiliated with the Naval Academy since 2010, initially teaching Electrical Engineering before transitioning to the Cyber Science Department in 2014 to help develop the Cyber Operations major curriculum. His roles include course development and hands-on instruction in computer architecture and design principles.

Education:

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering, United States Naval Academy (2005)
• M.S. in Computer Engineering, Naval Postgraduate School (2006)
• Ph.D. in Computer Engineering, Virginia Tech (2019), focusing on firmware security in ARM environments

Research Interests: Dr. Brown specializes in low-level problem solving across software, hardware, and networks, with expertise in information system security. His work spans binary analysis, reverse engineering, cryptography, privacy mechanisms, microprocessor security, communications protocols, signal processing, biometrics, and STEM education. He emphasizes applied cybersecurity through hands-on pedagogy.

Military Service: A former U.S. Navy Submarine Officer responsible for maintenance, personnel, and operations, he remains a Naval Reservist. He deployed to U.S. Central Command’s Joint Cyber Center during Operation Enduring Freedom.

Contributions: Co-developed the Cyber Science curriculum at USNA, integrating practical coursework for the Cyber Operations major. His research bridges theory and practice in firmware security and embedded systems.