Dr. Basil AsSadhan
Dr. AsSadhan's research interests are in the areas of: cyber security, network security, network traffic analysis, network anomaly detection, statistical signal processing, and artificial intelligence including machine learning and pattern recognition. He is the author of a book and has published his research work in several international scientific journals and conferences. He is the recipient of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Scholar Award.
EDUCATION
Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Ph.D. Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2009
Dissertation title: “Network Traffic Behavior Analysis Through Statistical Signal Processing Methods”
University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
M.S. Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2003
King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
B.S. Electrical Engineering, 2000
CURRENT POSITIONS
Research, Development and Innovation Authority (RDIA)
Vice Governor of Strategy June 2024 – June 2025
King Abdulaziz and his Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity “Mawhiba”
Deputy Secretary General for Gifted Services July 2019 – June 2024
King Saud University (KSU), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Dec 2000 – now
Deanship of Admission and Registration
Dean Oct 2017 – Sep 2019
Member of University Council, Oct 2017 – Sep 2019
Member of Permanent Committee on Academic Plans and Curriculum, Oct 2017 – Sep 2019
Member of Permanent Committee on Foreign Student Scholarship, Oct 2017 – Sep 2019
Member of Permanent Committee on Organizing Graduation Ceremony, Oct 2017 – Sep 2019
Member of Permanent Committee on Admission, Oct 2017 – Sep 2019
Member of Permanent Committee on Handling Student Academic Problems, Feb 2018 – Sep 2019
Member of Permanent Steering Committee on Academic and E-Admission Systems, Apr 2015 – Sep 2019
Member of Permanent Committee on Electronic Transactions, Mar 2015 – Sep 2019
Vice Dean, Mar 2015 – Apr 2017
Vice Dean for Technical Affairs, Feb 2013 – Feb 2015
Member of Permanent Advisory Committee on Implementing the Academic System, Apr 2013 – Mar 2015
Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering
Associate Professor, Dec 2019 – now
Assistant Professor, Jan 2010 – Dec 2019
Member of Demonstrators and Scholars Committee at the EE Dept., Sept 2011 – Aug 2015
Coordinator of the Demonstrators and Scholars Committee, Sept 2011 – Sept 2013
Director of the Academic Advising Unit at the EE Dept., Mar 2011 – Jan 2013
Member of the Academic Advising Unit at the EE Dept., Mar 2010 – Jan 2013
Supervisor of Students Activities at the College of Engineering, Nov 2010 – Jan 2013
Supervisor of Electrical Engineering Student Club, May 2011 – Jan 2013
Coordinator of New Media at the EE Dept., Sept 2011 – Jan 2013
Member of the College of Engineering Council, Sept 2011 – June 2012
Member of the BS Graduation Project Committee at the EE Dept., Feb 2011 – June 2012
Demonstrator, Electrical Engineering Dept., College of Engineering, Dec 2000 – Dec 2009
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATES, ACTIVITIES, AND MEMBERSHIPS
Professional Certificates
- GIAC Certified Intrusion Analyst (GCIA)
- SCE Professional Engineer
Project Grants
UK Gulf Science Innovation Knowledge Economy Programme (GSIKE)
Title: Cyber Security Challenges for Internet of Things and Core Networks
Saudi National Science, Technology, and Innovation Plan (NSTIP)
Title: Internet Traffic Analysis in Saudi Universities
Raed: New Faculty Grant at KSU
Title: A Novel CFAR Approach for Network Intrusion Detection
Center of Excellence in Learning and Teaching at KSU
Title: Developing the teaching of EE 482: Communication Networks
Journal and Conference Referee
- IEEE Network Magazine
- Elsevier Computers & Security
- Journal of King Saud University – Engineering Sciences
- Information Security Journal: A Global Perspective
- ACS/IEEE International Conference on Computer Systems and Applications
Society Memberships
Saudi Telecommunication Society (STS)
Board of Directors Member & Treasurer, Dec 2010 – Dec 2013
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Treasurer and cofounder of Student Sector at KSU, Jan – Dec 1999
Seminars, Lectures, and Articles
KAUST/CoEIA Workshop on Cybersecurity Capacity & Capability Building, KSU, Mar 25, 2017
Network Behavior Anomaly Detection: A Customizable National Tool to Analyze Network Threats
Joint Electronic Warfare School, King Fahd Air Base, Taif, Sept 16, 2014
The Rise of Network Attacks
Saudi CyberShield'14, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Apr 13 – 14, 2014
Botnet Detection Through Analyzing Network Traffic Using Statistical Signal Processing Methods
Al-Jweah Magazine – Royal Saudi Air Force, Issue 21, June 2011
Botnets and How to Combat its Threats (In Arabic)
Alriyadh News Paper, Issue 15626, Apr 6, 2011
The Depletion of Internet Addresses … Will it Stop its Growth in 2011? (In Arabic)
Al-Mubtaah Magazine, Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission in Washington, DC, Issue 188, July 2009
Preparing for Job Market … Summer Internship a Way to Achieve This (In Arabic)
Support Unit for Demonstrators, Lecturers, and Scholars, KSU
Step by Step … Applying to Top U.S. Graduate Schools
PhD without Obstacles
Career Day, College of Engineering, KSU
I Finished my BS Studies, Should I Continue my Graduate Studies or Look for a Job?
Conferences and Workshops
Center of Excellence in Information Assurance (CoEIA), King Saud University
Delivered in association with CoEIA various lectures in cybersecurity to military and civil sectors
Edutech Digital Summit 2020, G20 Summit, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 5 – 6, 2020
Utilizing Education Technology in the Pandemic: Continued Global Excellence and Preparing our Students for the Future
Workshop on Machine Learning for Cybersecurity, Loughborough University, March 11, 2019
Member of the organizing committee and one of the presenters at the workshop
CoEIA Workshop on Cybersecurity: Future Challenges & Network Defenses', KSU, March 12, 2018
Member of the scientific and organizing committee and MC of the workshop
KAUST/CoEIA Workshop on Cybersecurity Capacity & Capability Building, KSU, March 25, 2017
Network Behavior Anomaly Detection: A Customizable National Tool to Analyze Network Threats
Workshop on Machine Learning for Cybersecurity, Loughborough University, March 11, 2019
Member of the organizing committee and one of the presenters at the workshop
CoEIA Workshop on Cybersecurity: Future Challenges & Network Defenses', KSU, March 12, 2018
Member of the scientific and organizing committee and MC of the workshop
3rd Saudi International Conference on IT – Cyber Security, KACST, Riyadh, Mar 29 – 30, 2016
Chair of the Network Security's Session
Innovative Ideas Competition, Saudi Telecommunications Company (STC), Riyadh, Feb 15, 2012
Scientific Judge
High-capacity Optical Networks and Emerging Technologies (HONET), KSU, Dec 19 – 21, 2011
Secretariat Coordinator
Saudi International Electronics, Communications, and Photonics Conference, KACST, Riyadh, Apr 24 – 26, 2011
Chair of the Network's Session
PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE
TAQNIA Cyber, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Cyber Security Consultant (Part-Time), Nov 2014 – July 2018
International Systems Engineering (ISE), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Cyber Security Consultant (Part-Time), July 2012 – Oct 2014
BBN Technologies, Cambridge, MA, USA
Summer Intern, Network Technologies Business Unit, May – July 2008
Cisco Systems, Portsmouth, NH, USA
Summer Intern, Wireless Networks Business Unit, June – Aug 2007
Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Teaching Assistant, Electrical and Computer Engineering Dept., Jan 2006 – May 2007
Saudi Telecommunication Company (STC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Telephone Network Engineer, Sept – Dec 2000
King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Summer Inter, Summer of 1999
Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Summer Intern, Summer of 1998
The Advanced Electronics Company (AEC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Summer Intern, Summer of 1997
TEACHING TRAINING COURSES
- Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivations in Teaching and Learning, Nov 4 – 5, 2015, DSD, KSU
- Essentials for Effective Peer Review of Teaching, Sept 15 – 19, 2013, DSD, KSU
- Recent Learning Technologies for 21st Century, Nov 20 – 22, 2012, DSD, KSU
- KSU Staff Development Programme, July 2 – 13, 2012, QMU, Edinburgh, UK
- Helping Students Think Critically, May 17, 2011, DSD, KSU
- Feedback in Teaching and Learning, Apr 5, 2011, DSD, KSU
- Preparing Lesson (Lecture) Plan, Nov 8, 2010, DSD, KSU
- Assessing Student Learning – Test Construction & Grading, Nov 6, 2010, DSD, KSU
- Preparing Teaching Portfolio, May 24, 2010, DSD, KSU
- Micro Teaching, May 22 – 23, 2010, DSD, KSU
- Student Assessment and Classroom Management, Apr 12 – 13, 2010, DSD, KSU
- Effective Teaching and Active Learning, Apr 1 & 8, 2010, DSD, KSU
- Course Design and Construction, Feb 23 – 24, 2010, DSD, KSU
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING COURSES
- Executing Strategy for Results: Saudi 2030 Vision, Dec 15 – 20, 2024, London Business School, UK
- Leading Digital and AI Transformation, November 17 – 21, 2024, IMD, Saudi Arabia
- Certificate of Specialization in Leadership and Management – Nov 22, 2023, Harvard Business School
- Power and Influence for Positive Impact, Oct 11 – Nov 22, 2023, Harvard Business School Online, USA
- Strategy Execution, September 14 – November 9, 2022, Harvard Business School Online, USA
- Disruptive Strategy, January 26 – March 9, 2022, Harvard Business School Online, USA
- Negotiation Mastery, September 29 – November 24, 2021, Harvard Business School Online, USA
- Leadership Development Program (LDP)®, March 9 – 13, 2020, Center for Creative Leadership, USA
- Contemporary Practice in Student Admissions, April 26, 2018, Academic Leadership Center, MOE, KSA
- Developing and Implementing an Outward Mindset, February 3 – 4, 2018, Arbinger Institute, KSA
- The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Mar 20 – 21, 2017, DSD, KSU
- Organization Development, Apr 6, 2015, Academic Leadership Center, MOE, KSA
- Change Management, Apr 5, 2015, Academic Leadership Center, MOE, KSA
- Leading the Way to Set World Class Research Agenda, Feb 23 – 24, 2014, ALC, MOHE, KSA
- Higher Education Leadership, June 24 – 28, 2013, FAU, Boca Raton, FL, USA
- Intrusion Detection In-Depth, Mar 23 – 28, 2013, SANS Institute, Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Consultant Sales Training and Proposal Development, Mar 21 – 25, 2013, KAI, KSA
- Professional Project Management, Nov 24-26, 2012, DSD, KSU
- Management Skills, July 20 – 24, 2009, Learning Tree International, Washington DC, USA
- System and Network Security, May 4 – 8, 2009, Learning Tree, Washington DC, USA
- Project Management Skills, Mar 2 – 6, 2009, Learning Tree, Washington DC, USA
- Leadership in Nonprofit Organizations: Board Development, Oct 21, 2006, Nonprofit Leadership Institute, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
SELECTED HONORS AND AWARDS
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Scholar Award, 2008
- Graduated with First Class Honor, College of Engineering, King Saud University, 2000
- Graduation Ceremony Speaker, King Saud University, 2000
- Student of the Year Award, College of Engineering, King Saud University,2000
- Silver Medallion, Gulf Corporation Council Physics Competition held in Bahrain, 1996