VMI Takes Top Paper Award at IEEE Conference

Michael Jorgensen ’27 and Sean Harvey ’27 receive their award at the 15th Annual IEEE Computing and Communication Workshop and Conference at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Michael Jorgensen ’27 and Sean Harvey ’27 receive their award at the 15th Annual IEEE Computing and Communication Workshop and Conference at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. –Photo courtesy of Mohamed Azab, Ph.D.

LEXINGTON, Va. March 5, 2025 — A contingent of two faculty members and two cadets from Virginia Military Institute recently attended the 15th Annual Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Computing and Communication Workshop and Conference at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Mohamed Azab, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Computer and Information Sciences (CIS) and Efat Fathalla, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), along with Sean Harvey ’27 and Michael Jorgensen ’27, earned the Best Paper Award for their paper, “Towards a Quantum-Resistant HashBlock Signature Scheme for Secure IoT Application” in the Cryptography & Applied Mathematics category. In addition, Harvey and Jorgensen, who presented the paper, won the Best Presentation Award in the Security, Trust, & Privacy session. 

According to Azab, the paper focuses on strengthening online security for the future.

“Many current digital security systems rely on encryption methods that could become vulnerable if powerful quantum computers are fully developed. We designed a new type of digital signature—similar to a unique stamp or fingerprint for online transactions—that is resistant to these future threats. This is particularly crucial for securing Internet of Things (IoT) devices, such as security cameras, smartwatches, and medical sensors, which connect to the internet. Our solution helps ensure that data shared through these devices remains safe and private, even in the face of future cybersecurity challenges,” explained Azab. Sean Harvey ’27, Efat Fathalla, Ph.D., Mohamed Azab, Ph.D., and Michael Jorgensen ’27 pause before presenting their paper at the 15th Annual IEEE Computing and Communication Workshop and Conference at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Harvey, an ECE major from Ashburn, Virginia, was glad for the opportunity to attend and present at the conference.

“It was great to meet professors and industry professionals from all over the world. Being recognized in the way we were was wonderful, and Michael and I could not have achieved our success without the help of our professors and mentors, Dr. Fathalla and Dr. Azab,” he shared. 

Jorgenson, an ECE major from Roanoke, Virginia, echoed Harvey’s sentiments regarding Fathalla and Azab.

“We could not have done this without the help from our mentors. I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to present my work, and I am beyond proud of the results. This was an amazing experience and very rewarding.” 

Marianne Hause
Communications & Marketing
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE

Contact

Lt. Col. Sherry Wallace
Director of Communications and Marketing

P: 540-464-7207

Communications and Marketing
111 Smith Hall
Virginia Military Institute
Lexington, VA 24450