Thomas R Dean

Dr. Thomas R Dean is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, and holds an additional appointment as an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Royal Military College of Kingston. His academic career spans several decades with consistent publication output through 2020, demonstrating active engagement in research and scholarship. His work bridges theoretical computer science with practical security applications, particularly in network protocols and web applications.

Dean's research interests focus on software transformation techniques, web application evolution, and network security. His expertise includes software transformation, web site evolution, security of network applications, air traffic control systems, and language formalization. His work demonstrates a consistent thread connecting software engineering principles with security applications, particularly in developing techniques for intrusion detection systems and secure protocol implementations. His publications reveal a strong emphasis on practical applications of theoretical concepts, with numerous collaborations across academic and industrial settings.

Analysis of Dean's recent publication record (2014-2020) shows a clear concentration in three interconnected areas: network security protocols, software transformation techniques, and model-based engineering approaches. His work on intrusion detection systems using constraint satisfaction methods appears consistently across multiple publications, demonstrating this as a core research thread. The publications also reveal growing interest in automotive software systems, particularly AUTOSAR implementations and Simulink model analysis, reflecting adaptation to emerging industry needs.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Best paper award at CASCON'04 for Practical Language-Independent Detection of Near-Miss Clones

Dean maintains active research collaborations, particularly with colleagues at Queen's University including M.H. Alalfi, J.R. Cordy, and F.T. Imam, as evidenced by co-authorship across multiple publications. His work spans both theoretical contributions and practical tool development, including parser generators, constraint engines, and intrusion detection systems. His research has been supported by publications in reputable venues including CASCON, IEEE conferences, and journals like Software Practice and Experience.

Dean leads The Compass Group research team, focusing on software security and transformation techniques. His lab work emphasizes practical applications of software engineering principles to real-world security challenges, particularly in network protocols and web applications. The research approach combines formal methods with practical implementation, resulting in tools and frameworks that address specific security vulnerabilities in modern software systems.