Jack W. Davidson

Jack W. Davidson is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Virginia’s School of Engineering and Applied Science, where he also directs the Cyber Defense Program. He joined the faculty in 1981 after earning his Ph.D. from the University of Arizona. His research focuses on cybersecurity, compilers, programming languages, and resilient systems. He leads major grants like the DARPA-funded Double Helix project and the Air Force-funded Trusted and Resilient Mission Operation initiative.

Education:

• Ph.D., Computer Science, University of Arizona, 1981
• M.S., Southern Methodist University, 1977
• B.A.S., Southern Methodist University, 1975

Research Interests:

• Cybersecurity and risk management
• Compiler design and binary analysis
• High-performance computing and cloud systems
• Secure embedded systems and resilient architectures

Awards and Recognition:

• ACM Distinguished Service Award (2010)
• ACM Fellow (2008)
• IEEE Taylor L. Booth Education Award (2008)
• 2023 Outstanding Contribution to ACM Award

Leadership and Grants: Davidson chairs ACM’s Digital Library Board and co-authored best-selling textbooks on programming. His grants total over $7M, including DARPA and Air Force projects. He advises the UVA Cyber Defense Team, which has won three national championships.

Labs/Teams: Leads the Cyber Defense Program and collaborates on initiatives like the International Summer Schools on Information Security and Software Protection (ISSISP).