Currently I am the Software Process Improvement Lead for a Division of people that work on missile hardware, software, models, and simulations. I am responsible for helping groups improve the maturity of their software development processes. Part of that job is convincing them that they "really do develop" software and that things can be a whole lot better. The other part is actually helping them define the processes that will make life easier for them. Its interesting work.

In August, 1997, I finished the requirements for my graduate degree in Computer Science. My research studied the effects of Software Process Maturity on software development effort. This involved collecting and analyzing data from software development projects. The data collection effort was in support of another piece of research being conducted by my advisor, Dr. Barry Boehm. My research ran in parallel with my work on the COCOMO 2.0 project.

Before studing software effort cost modeling in some detail, I was studying Software Architectures; specifically the performance modeling of them. I hope to get back to investigating my "hunch" someday. We'll see.

Before starting Graduate School in 1992, I worked 7 years as a Civil Servant at the same place I am currently working. I participated in and led software technology demonstration projects. I tried to show the suitability of the Ada Programming Language for small embedded systems - but nobody would listen. Too bad, Ada is a good language.

Prior to joining Civil Service, I was a pilot in the United States Navy for nine years. I flew the A-6 Intruder aircraft off and on small carrier decks all over the world. Now I just tell boring sea-stories . I still drink too much coffee but I'll live.

Nice talking to you...