Daryl Johnson

Daryl Johnson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Cybersecurity at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), part of the Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences. He holds a BS from St. John Fisher College and an MS from RIT. His research focuses on computer/network security with emphasis on anonymity, covert communication, and CPS/IoT security, having published over 50 papers. He co-founded the Northeast Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (NECCDC) and the Collegiate Penetration Testing Competition (CPTC), serving 12 years as NECCDC Red Team Captain. He has developed 13+ courses in security, networking, and systems administration, and led the creation of three departments (IT, NSSA, CSEC) and associated degrees.

Education:

• BS, St. John Fisher College
• MS, Rochester Institute of Technology

Research Interests: Johnson's work centers on designing and analyzing covert communication channels across protocols like MODBUS, HTTPS, DNS, and cellular networks. He explores vulnerabilities in IoT devices, network security, and offensive security techniques. His research emphasizes practical applications in cybersecurity competitions and educational tool development, such as Metasploit module creation and virtualization cluster design.

Awards:

• Best Student Paper Award (2016)

Teaching & Advising: Currently teaches courses including Cyber Defense Techniques, Computer System Security, and Covert Communications. His educational contributions include redesigning curricula and creating hands-on training methodologies for cybersecurity professionals.

Labs/Teams: Involved in RIT's cybersecurity lab operations, competition infrastructure development, and collaborative research on covert channels in diverse systems.