Rick Smith

Richard E. (Rick) Smith is a distinguished lecturer at the University of Minnesota, where he contributes his extensive knowledge in software engineering and cybersecurity. His journey began in the 1950s when he was introduced to computers at the unveiling of a Univac supercomputer, sparking a lifelong passion for technology. After earning a B.S. in engineering from Boston University, Rick worked on groundbreaking speech recognition systems and high-performance routers for the ARPANET. He later obtained his M.S. and Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Minnesota, focusing on fault-tolerant robotics. In the early 1990s, Rick joined Secure Computing Corporation to develop LOCK, an NSA-sponsored project aimed at creating a high-security computer system, which led to innovations in Internet email and web security products. After establishing the undergraduate major in information security at the University of St. Thomas, he transitioned to part-time lecturing at the University of Minnesota while continuing to engage in educational projects through his blog, Cryptosmith. A published author of three books on cybersecurity and numerous articles, Rick is also a senior member of both ACM and IEEE and holds certification as an Information Systems Security Professional, reflecting his commitment to advancing the field of cybersecurity education and practice.