Bio
Gary Hahn is a research software engineer within the Grid Communications and Security Group at 91°µÍø (ORNL). He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and has a background in data engineering, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), and embedded software. He has been involved in a number of innovative projects at ORNL, including being part of a team that earned an R&D 100 Award in 2019. His research interests span distributed ledger technology (DLT), particularly its applications in power systems, SCADA communication protocols, generative AI applications, data engineering, and software development.
His recent research has focused on enhancing the robustness and security of electrical grids through novel applications of DLT. For instance, he helped develop a backup electrical faulted phase detection method using DLT to ensure secure and reliable monitoring of intelligent electronic devices (IEDs). Additionally, Gary has explored the use of smart contracts with DLT to manage relay operations at points of common coupling (PCC) between electrical grids and customer-owned distributed energy resources (DERs), demonstrating advancements in power system security and operational integrity. Other recent projects include researching the application of large language models (LLM) to cybersecurity using agents, which dynamically handle tasks and use tools.
Awards
R&D 100 - Grid Agents IoT Multiparameter Sensor Platform for CyberPhysical Security of the Electric Grid - 2019