Below is the uncorrected machine-read text of this chapter, intended to provide our own search engines and external engines with highly rich, chapter-representative searchable text of each book. Because it is UNCORRECTED material, please consider the following text as a useful but insufficient proxy for the authoritative book pages.
AN ASSESSMENT OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY FISCAL YEAR 2009 Panel on Information Technology Laboratory Assessments Board Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS Washington, D.C. www.nap.edu
THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS 500 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20001 NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the panel responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance. This study was supported by Contract No. SB3141-06-Z-0011, TO #6 between the National Academy of Sciences and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the agency that provided support for the project. International Standard Book Number-13: 978-0-309-14506-0 International Standard Book Number-10: 0-309-14506-6 Copies of this report are available from Laboratory Assessments Board Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences National Research Council 500 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20001 Additional copies of this report are available from the National Academies Press, 500 Fifth Street, N.W., Lockbox 285, Washington, DC 20055; (800) 624-6242 or (202) 334-3313 (in the Washington metropolitan area); Internet, http://www.nap.edu. Copyright 2009 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America
The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is president of the National Academy of Sciences. The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Charles M. Vest is president of the National Academy of Engineering. The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the Institute of Medicine. The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academyâs purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone and Dr. Charles M. Vest are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Research Council. www.national-academies.org
PANEL ON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY JEFFREY D. ULLMAN, Stanford University, Chair GEORGE V. CYBENKO, Dartmouth College MARK E. DEAN, IBM Corporation WAYNE H. ENRIGHT, University of Toronto DEBORAH L. ESTRIN, University of California, Los Angeles DAVID R. FERGUSON, Boeing Corporation (retired) JAMES D. FOLEY, Georgia Institute of Technology ERIC H. GROSSE, Google Inc. JAMES M. LANDWEHR, Avaya Laboratories PATRICK D. LINCOLN, SRI International Corporation STEVEN B. LIPNER, Microsoft Corporation ALEXA T. McCRAY, Harvard Medical School DAWN MEYERRIECKS, Independent Consultant, Purcellville, Virginia DEBASIS MITRA, Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies HILARIE K. ORMAN, Purple Streak, Inc. DAVID W. SCOTT, Rice University W. TIMOTHY STRAYER, BBN Technologies STEPHEN B. VARDEMAN, Iowa State University JAMES L. WAYMAN, San Jose State University Staff JAMES P. McGEE, Director CY BUTNER, Senior Program Officer LIZA HAMILTON, Administrative Coordinator iv
Acknowledgment of Reviewers This report has been reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise, in accordance with procedures approved by the National Research Councilâs Report Review Committee. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the institution in making its published report as sound as possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process. We wish to thank the following individuals for their review of this report: John Bailar III, University of Chicago, Suzanne Bakken, Columbia University, Steven Bellovin, Columbia University, John Hopcroft, Cornell University, Craig Partridge, BBN Technologies, Richard Pew, BBN Technologies, and Stephen A. Vavasis, University of Waterloo. Although the reviewers listed above have provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the conclusions or recommendations, nor did they see the final draft of the report before its release. The review of this report was overseen by Alton D. Slay, Warrenton, Virginia. Appointed by the National Research Council, he was responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this report was carried out in accordance with institutional procedures and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content of this report rests entirely with the authoring panel and the institution. v
Contents SUMMARY 1 1 CHARGE TO THE PANEL AND THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS 3 2 GENERAL ASSESSMENT OF THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY 5 Some Important Activities at the Laboratory, 5 Programs and Projects, 6 Budget Issues, 8 Raising the Profile of the Laboratory, 10 3 ASSESSMENT OF THE LABORATORY DIVISIONS 12 Mathematical and Computational Sciences Division, 12 Statistical Engineering Division, 13 Software and Systems Division, 15 Computer Security Division, 18 Advanced Network Technologies Division, 20 Information Access Division, 21 vii
