IEEE Computer Society

Position Statement

The role of computing in society is at a major inflection point. Artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum computing, and pervasive digital technologies are transforming how we live, work, and connect. This moment presents an opportunity for the IEEE Computer Society to expand its impact beyond its traditional strengths, accelerating our progress toward applying technology to improve global conditions.

Throughout my career, I have worked at the intersection of research, technology, and organizational leadership. As a research leader, IEEE Fellow, former industry executive, advisor to emerging technology companies, and current Computer Society Vice President, I have learned that meaningful progress comes from bringing people together around shared goals and then executing effectively. If elected, I will focus on strengthening trust in computing, developing future leaders, building stronger connections among academia, industry, and government, and helping the Society thrive in the AI era.

Trust is the foundation of our profession. As Vice President and Chair of the Computer Society’s Ethics and Integrity initiative and the Computer Society representative to the CRA CLEAR Task Force, I have seen how rapidly evolving technologies, particularly AI, are challenging traditional approaches to publications, conferences, and research practice. We must provide practical guidance, consistent processes, and effective tools that help our volunteers uphold the highest standards while maintaining a culture of innovation and openness.

Our future depends on attracting, developing, and retaining the next generation of computing leaders. Students and young professionals should view the Computer Society as a place to learn, contribute, build community networks, and grow into leadership roles. The Computer Society has been part of my journey since graduate school. I am committed to broadening participation by creating pathways for members from all regions, backgrounds, and career stages to contribute, lead, and succeed.

The Computer Society is uniquely positioned to connect research, industry, and society. I have spent my career bringing diverse communities together to solve important problems. I will strengthen partnerships that translate technical advances into real-world impact and foster engagement among practitioners, technology leaders, researchers, and organizations.

As AI reshapes research, education, and professional practice, our challenge is helping people and organizations adapt effectively. The Computer Society can play a leading role by providing practical guidance, fostering collaboration, and sharing best practices that help members succeed while ensuring advances in computing continue to benefit humanity.

Together, we can build a Computer Society that is trusted, innovative, inclusive, and essential to computing professionals worldwide.

Biography

Terry Benzel is Managing Director of the Information Sciences Institute (ISI) at the University of Southern California and an IEEE Fellow recognized for leadership in cybersecurity experimentation. ISI is a world-renowned research organization in computing and communications technologies.

Previously, she served as Director of Networking and Cybersecurity Research at ISI, leading more than 70 researchers, faculty, students, and staff. She established and led the DETER Cybersecurity Testbed and Experimentation program, helping advance open research infrastructure for the research community.

Benzel has held leadership positions across academia, government laboratories, startups, and industry. She has led organizations of up to 150 people, managed budgets exceeding $80 million, and serves on advisory boards.

A long-time IEEE Computer Society volunteer, Benzel has contributed through conferences, publications, technical communities, governance, and strategic initiatives. She served in roles in the Security and Privacy community before being elected to two terms on the Board of Governors. She currently serves as IEEE Computer Society Vice President, represents the Society on the multi-society CLEAR (Community-Led Ethics for Accountability in Research) Task Force, and leads the Society’s Ethics and Integrity initiative. Previously, she served as Vice President for Technical and Conference Activities, Treasurer for Technical and Conference Activities, Chair of the Publications Board Integrity Committee, Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on Broadening Participation in Nominations, and IEEE Computer Society representative to IEEE Future Directions.

An IEEE Fellow, Benzel has received IEEE Computer Society honors, including the Golden Core Award, Outstanding Service Award, Outstanding Community Service Award, and Continuing Service Award. Her work was recognized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and she has testified before the U.S. Congress.

Benzel holds an Executive MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles, and an M.A. in Mathematics and Computer Science from Boston University. See: https://terrybenzel.org.

IEEE Computer Society Activities

  • IEEE Computer Society Vice President - 2026, Chair Ad Hoc on Ethics and Integrity
  • IEEE Computer Society Board of Governors – 2021– 2023, 2024 – 2025
  • IEEE Computer Society VP Technical & Conference Activities (T&C) – 2024-2025
  • IEEE Computer Society Emerging Directions Committee – 2024-2025
  • IEEE Computer Society Ethics and Integrity Ad Hoc Committee – 2024
  • IEEE Computer Society Rep to IEEE Future Directions Committee – 2023-2024
  • IEEE Computer Society Chair Integrity Committee, Pubs Board, 2022 – 2023
  • IEEE Computer Society Treasurer Technical & Conference Activities 2021 - 2023
  • IEEE Computer Society Chair Ad Hoc Committee on Nominations 2022
  • IEEE Computer Society 2022 Nominations Committee

Major Accomplishments

  1. Vice President Computer Society 2026I am just completing my first quarter as VP. The president tasked me with creating an ad hoc to define process and corresponding policy for consistent and efficient identification, reporting, management, and evaluation of potential ethics and integrity violations across the Computer Society. This is a challenging undertaking given how pervasive the problem is and the exponential growth of AI and its influence. The committee is identifying the key issues on each board (Standards, Pubs, T&C, MGA,PEAB, BOG), documenting existing violations and consequences. After this we will develop specific responses and process/policy change followed by overarching guidance, and coordination e with CS leadership. Finally, we plan to develop a handbook for conference organizers.
  2. Vice President Technical & Conferences and Activities Board 2024 - 2025I established a committee on sustainability at conferences. I supported the Society, 2nd Vice President, on an initiative to collaborate with the CRA. I supported the TAC Chair, creating a TAC Offsite to encourage TAC engagement.

    I worked to increase communication across our committees and activities: TAC, TMRC, CAC, Treasurers and TCs, Conferences, and Finances. I recruited new subcommittee chairs and mentored the board for more cross organization engagement.

    I worked with staff to increase awareness, and transparency around TC budgets while leveraging new tools for financial tracking. I recruited a Treasurer for T&C who is actively engaged and working closely with the TAC Chair and staff on finances. Finally, I initiated a project to develop new approaches to addressing ethics in conferences.

  3. Computer Society Board of GovernorsI served one full term (2021- 2023) and a partial 2nd term (2024 – 2025) before being elected 2026 VP. In my first term, I served as Treasurer for T&C, Chair of the Integrity Committee on the Publications Board, Chair of an Ad Hoc Committee on Broadening Participation in nominations, the 2022 Nominations Committee, and the CS Broadening Participation Committee. In 2023, was the CS representative to the IEEE Future Directions Committee. My contributions in each of these have been impactful – increasing spending on broadening participation, working with staff and the publications board to establish new criteria for integrity violations beyond plagiarism, ensuring that the nomination process encourages and values diversity, and bringing the CS perspective to IEEE Future Directions.
  4. Computer Society Technical and Conferences (T&C) Treasurer 2021 – 2023 I was responsible for the financial operations of the T&C Board. I provided financial guidance for 29 Technical Communities and reported financial activities to the T&C Board. I assisted Technical Committee (TC) chairs with preparing their annual budget requests, reviewed and approved requests, and monitored TC income and expenses. I worked with TCs to develop new strategies for spending to benefit their communities.
  5. Associate Editor-in-Chief: IEEE Computer Society Security and Privacy MagazineI was responsible for curating special issues highlighting the IEEE Computer Society Conferences including the S&P Conference, SPW Workshops, and European S&P Conference. I developed processes for managing special issues and mentored new AEICs.