James Purtilo

James Purtilo is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Maryland, College Park. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana (1986). His research focuses on software engineering, cybersecurity, and AI-driven systems. Notably, he won the Best Paper Award in 2013 with co-authors Jeffrey Stuckman and Kent Wills. Purtilo teaches CMSC 435: Software Engineering, a capstone course emphasizing practical, team-based project work. His academic contributions span technical domains like medical imaging, human-robot collaboration, and decision-support systems. He actively engages in institutional discussions, advocating for data-driven decision-making and resisting over-centralized IT strategies on campus. His work often bridges theoretical advancements with real-world applications, particularly in cybersecurity and AI.

Education: Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1986.

Research Interests: Software Engineering, Cybersecurity, AI in Healthcare, Virtual Environments, and Collaborative Systems.

Teaching: CMSC 435, coordinator for RSAC 2025. Known for emphasizing engineering rigor and team dynamics in capstone projects.

Professional Engagement: Authored critiques on university IT policies, contributed to cybersecurity discussions via commentary on trends like deepfakes, AI in defense, and ransomware.