About Me

My Career

I've been a software developer for well over 30 years; have worked on many platforms from micro-chips to main frames; in several languages from Assembly, to Java; in lots of OS/environments from Altair to UNIX and Windows; produced low-level hardware drivers and high-level CAD, GUIs, and analyzers; for batch, real-time and desktop applications; in a variety of disciplines like security, financial, newspaper publication, medical research, aerial photogrammetry, land surveying and mapping, CAD/CAM/CAE, manufacturing, and engineering; and I've been self-employed, and worked for small companies and large companies. I currently work for Boeing, and have since 1996.  Besides application analysis and software development, I’m also a project leader, technical writer, trainer, author, and speaker, and have successfully avoided a management position.

My Hobbies

I've run 3 marathons in the last few years.  I like to hike and putter around the house.  I used to do all my own auto maintenance and repair – both minor and major, but I decided that’s just not where I wanted to devote my mechanical aptitude.  I studied Mechanical Engineering in college, but my career just never went that direction, so recently I’ve decided I’ve been suppressing this urge to design and build mechanical things long enough, and it is time to cash in on my manly right to a mid-life crisis: so my “man-cave” is a garage machine shop.

My Family

My wife and I have been married 35 years and have 9 children, and 15 grandchildren. We used to live in California, but after 20 or so years we decided that was long enough, so we moved back to near where most of our family lives.  One of my sons, John, has been a collaborator and mentor in most of the hardware projects mentioned here.

My Faith

I believe in God.  I believe He is our Father and loves us, and wants us to be happy.  And that He put us on this earth for a purpose.  I believe that succeeding in that purpose will be determined by what we choose to do with ourselves, not by how we compare with others.  And by how well we keep on trying, not by the credentials of our accomplishments.  We are all children of God.  If we do His will, we will discover that we have enabled Him to make more of us than we could have made of ourselves.