Speaker:
James Huffaker
Senior Manager, Network Systems
Boeing

Abstract:

Students: This is a hybrid event. You are encouraged to attend in person in STEW 050B (G52)


Common IT based Cyber techniques do not apply to many parts of the aviation industry. The aviation industry has to meet a number of Federal Aviation Regulations and using Industry provided standards show compliance to those regulations, perhaps for the life of the airplane after initial certification. Most all updates to airplanes require a certification activity, thus it takes considerable time to make any system changes. This certification process has been time tested and proved to have the right rigor leading to continued improved safety as the number of flights per day worldwide increases each year. Cyber security being an evolving threat must be considered in all system designs.

About: Jim Huffaker is a Senior Manager with Boeing Commercial Airplanes. A 30+ year veteran of Boeing,he leads a team that installs the Onboard Network Server (ONS) and/or Airplane Interface Device (AID) used by flight, maintenance, and cabin crews in all phases of flight. In addition, this team is working to offer a safe and secure wired and/or wireless connection to portable Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs) from the airplane installed server for real time data and off-board communications. His management experiences include leader of the Electromagnetic Effects design team on the 787, and leader of a team of engineers responsible for Electrical and Environmental Controls systems and Avionics systems in the Customer Aviation Services Organization for the 737, 747, 767, and 777 models. His work experience also includes leader of Avionics design for the 747-400 Onboard Maintenance System (OMS) Central Maintenance Computer (CMC) and the 777 OMS Central Maintenance Computing Function (CMCF), a component of the Airplane Information Management System(AIMS). Additionally, he remains an industry focal, and has served as the Boeing representative on the FAA Flight Data Recording (FDR) Aviation Rule making Advisory Committee (ARAC), as the Company’s representative for Loadable Software and other AEEC/ARINC document creation teams, and as the Boeing Customer Services representative for Y2K.

Mr. Huffaker is a graduate of Purdue University with a BSEE,and was a Commissioned Officer in the USAF. In addition to his Space Systems Defense assignments while in the military, his responsibilities included Avionics design on the B-2, prior to joining Boeing.

The weekly security seminar has been held every semester since spring of 1992. We invite personnel at Purdue and visitors from outside to present on topics of particular interest to them in the areas of computer and network security, computer crime investigation, information warfare, information ethics, public policy for computing and security, the computing "underground," and other related topics. More info