Complex Systems Design / Independent Consultant

1. Developed a new method for simplifying software models of complex systems. Developed, tested, and evaluated a new methodology for simplifying software models of power plants and other complex engineered systems. For example, the new methodology pruned 36% of the complexity of a nuclear power plant model while reducing the model's fidelity by only 1%. By reducing a model's complexity, the key elements of the model become clearer and more human-comprehensible and learnable, which in turn can reduce the cost of model maintenance and new-user training, and facilitate troubleshooting and disaster recovery.
2. Developed a collaborative engineering design environment known as IDEAs. IDEAs (Integrated Design Environment Algorithms) models a nuclear fusion power plant; the plasma and properties, heating systems, magnets, containment systems, thermal systems, radiation streams, power flows, and many other engineered systems and their physical properties under operating conditions. IDEAs currently models over 1000 linked parameters to assess the application of nuclear fusion power to:
   • electric-power production,
   • nuclear-waste burnup,
   • radiopharmaceutical production,
   • materials testing, and
   • advanced space propulsion.

   The IDEAs paradigm emphasizes quick understanding via intuitive cue and model transparency, scalability, maintainability, bias minimization, and 'whole' state-space visualization to help users experience and discover optimized situations and new governing dynamics.

3. Led a Radioisotope-Generator Technical Design Study and Market Analysis. Project manager of a preliminary design study soliciting venture capital to fund a 20-M$ detailed design study for the practicality of regional radioisotope generators as a replacement technology for contemporary cyclotron technology used in hospital production of radiopharmaceuticals and in industrial production of special isotopes. Led a team of physicists, engineers, and business people in an engineering and market study of the application of plasmas, radiopharmaceutical production, applied engineering design, market analysis, and return on investment. Coordinated between the design team and key personnel at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
4. Developed the space-mission-analysis software application called CATS. Designed, programmed, and implemented a software model used in astrodynamic space mission studies called CATS (Continuous Acceleration Trajectory Space). CATS is used to determine near-optimum flight characteristics for advanced electric propulsion systems in space. CATS models the astrodynamic navigation of theoretical high-performance low-thrust propulsion engines. Discoveries include engine operating modes, fuel and propellant resource needs, infrastructure requirements, and important figures-of-merit to reduce the cost of technology development.
5. Member of NASA's National Panel on Fusion Propulsion. Implemented, managed, and owned a collaborative website and forums for a NASA-led initiative in advance propulsion. Member of NASA's National Panel on Fusion Propulsion Technology. Developer, manager, and owner of the web-based forum through which the National Panel members debated the Program's direction. Co-authored the AIAA Special Project Report for Design Practices for Conceptual Nulcear Fusion Space Propulsion Systems (AIAA-SP-108-2004).
6. Rated "most comprehensive" in adaptation of fusion power technology to space by NASA space-mission architects. Of thirteen fusion propulsion design studies evaluated by NASA, the IDEAs-fusion design study was rated as the "most comprehensive". Authored 26 journal and conference-proceeding papers in the fields of nuclear fusion power and space mission analysis. Invited speaker at U.C. Berkeley (Nuclear Engineering Department), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (GTS Institute for Transactinium Science), and the National Space Society.
7. Developed the mission and vision statements for a proposed business-technology university on Maui, Hawaii.
8. PUBLICATIONS list for the subject areas mentioned can be found at:

   Systems Modeling, Nuclear, and Astrodynamics
   http://www.radiationdetectives.com/MGMT/SAC/sac-pubs.html#SFP

A brief Case Study providing context to the management responsibilities described below can be found at:

Sun Microsystems Recognizes a Problem and an Opportunity
http://www.radiationdetectives.com/MGMT/SAC/sun-case-study.html

PROJECT 1: Build Sun an Enterprise-wide Wisdom Management System (WM System).

Co-managed the design, development, and implementation of Sun's WM System, to include:

[1a] the ontology, taxonomy, vocabulary, and semantic model that promote semantic-content capture, rationalization, and dissemination of enterprise wisdom;

[1b] testing of the WM System's backend, which involved testing of policies and processes for managing semantic content, editing, maintenance, reuse, semantic restructuring, content-searching, versioning, and end-of-life archiving; and

[1c] managed several teams of subject-matter-experts and knowledge-consultants for conversion of 20 information-technology (IT) services from hardcopy and tacit knowledge into an efficient wisdom base for use by Sun sales representatives globally.

Developing the WM System involved deconstructing key service documents into layers of data, information, and knowledge, and then atomizing each of those layers into reusable and sharable components down to individual sentences. Similar semantic content was compared and rationalized to create the best content among alternatives. Sun sales representatives from around the world reviewed and submitted localized semantic content for incorporation into the WM System.

[1d] RESULTS. The WM System eliminated massive redundancy and inconsistency, while providing global sales representatives the best content from around the world. The WM System dynamically generates customized service documents that include legal documents like statements of work; market-scope documents like service definition and proposal documents; service work plans like detailed implementation instructions; resource requirements like software, hardware, and the human resources required to implement the services; and test procedures and plans. The WM System also delivers supporting native static documents that include build templates, runbooks, customer presentations, workflow diagrams, and more.

PROJECT 2: Grow Enterprise Wisdom.

[2a] Enterprise Security Services. Managed development and rollout of Sun's new enterprise security services that included Security Policy Workshop, Security Policy Development, Security Hardening, Firewall-DMZ Assessment, and Enterprise Security Assessment.

[2b] Business Continuity Services. Managed development of Sun's new enterprise business-continuity services that included Readiness Assessment, Risk Assessment, Business Impact Analysis, Strategy Solution and Architecture, Policy Development, Implementation, Auditing, and Program Management.

[2c] Expanded the WM System. Coordinated efforts between numerous managers, knowledge engineers, knowledge consultants, subject matter experts, field sales representatives, engagement and practice managers for development of service methodology and for adding new domain knowledge to the WM System.

[2d] Training Materials. Coordinated the creation of training materials designed to bring new users up to speed on the semantic model, capabilities, and application of the WM System.

[2e] Usage and Quality Measures system. Developed GUI-based satisfaction and quality questionnaires. Solicited frank feedback through anonymous online forms. Tracked and evaluated global methodology, head counts, resources, budget, matrixed personnel, and service methodology development work being done in the United States, England, Germany, and Italy.

[2f] RESULTS. The WM System required 1.5 years to develop, test, trial, and commission for use in the North Americas, Italy, Germany, and Britain. All sales regions globally were notified of the existence of the WM System and many sales representatives worldwide began using it. Before the WM System, it took Sun 2 years to create a patchwork of 20 IT infrastructure services. But by only 6 months after commissioning the WM System, the former 20 services had been updated and integrated with another 40 new services for a broad portfolio of more than 60 customizable IT infrastructure services. More importantly, sales representatives could sit down with the customer and use the WM System to create customized solutions with all of the required methodologies (legal, pricing, installation, management, and other documents) in hours rather than the 1-to-3 weeks that was usual without the WM System. The WM System also provides for more complete and up-to-date methodology that contains the best expertise captured from across the globe.

PROJECT 3: Develop and Implement an Intellectual Property (IP) Capture Program.

Initiated and drove development of the Knowledge Management Group's intellectual-property-capture program to identify business-process patentability for protection of Sun's IT service offerings. Obtained buy-in from executive management, legal, and the Knowledge Management Group. Initiated the Global Patent Council and the Draft-IP review process. Worked closely with Sun's legal department to assure robust procedures for assessing candidate IP for protection. Developed the patentability-criteria procedure. Developed the intellectual-property-capture training program. Developed an intellectual-property submission and tracking website to minimize the administrative burden on personnel.

Top-rated Graduate Instructor in Software Programming Management and Business Continuity.

1. Taught SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING MANAGEMENT, primarily from the managerial perspective, to include:

   (1a) common problems when managing teams of programmers from across the globe, having different cultures, values, time zones, languages, and local technology;

   (1b) a survey of programming languages and programming environments as they apply to real-world business and technical applications paying special attention to JAVA, C++, and Visual Basic;

   (1c) an understanding of the roles of HTML, XML, RDF, KRLs and their schema languages in the construction of modern and future intelligent web portals;

   (1d) an understanding of how HTML, XML, RDF, and KRLs process data, information, knowledge, and wisdom;

   (1e) the importance of managing stakeholder expectations to include frequent mockups and functional builds to garner early and continuous buy-in and design participation by stakeholders;

   (1f) the careful introduction of a new or replacement software product, to include stress and crash testing of new software modules and integrated product, and the operation of a parallel beta site prior to replacing the older product; and

   (1g) principles of good communication among team members and stakeholders. Words, and the personal meanings that each person attaches to those words, can be calibrated across the team fairly easy, but if the personal values of individual team members differ significantly, then interpersonal conflict is likely to cause intractable difficulties.

   (1h) MODEL TRUTH. Of particular importance to me is the issue of "model quality and realism". Engineering and software quality assurance give confidence that a software model works to specification, but what standards and methodology give us confidence that our model represents reality? To this end the importance of the following concepts were stressed and exhibited:

   * the importance of building conservation-of-dimensionality into the parameters and dependent variables of the models (a step beyond object typing), and

   * the importance of driving the software model to the boundary conditions (the place in domain space where a faulty model is most likely to collapse).

2. Taught BUSINESS RISK MANAGEMENT AND DISASTER RECOVERY. Covered security roles, risks, and activities; disaster and recovery planning and testing; business impact and mitigation strategy analysis; training and employee awareness; fault tolerance justification; and business-resumption planning.
3. COURSE LECTURES list can be found at:

   Management & Business Lectures
   http://www.radiationdetectives.com/MGMT/SAC/sac-lectures.html

As a Senior Research Associate at LBNL:

1. Reduced the cost of applied research through innovation. Reduced R&D labor costs by an estimated 40% (a savings of $3.1-million over three years). Co-developed and managed implementation of novel weapon-grade plutonium and actinide process and hardware technology for three government-funded R&D projects resulting in an estimated 40% labor-cost reduction. Laboratory equipment needs and R&D schedule were also reduced.
2. Co-invented technology and methods. Managed and co-invented ultra-sensitive radiation detection systems and experimental processes having special application to plutonium and the actinides. This technology eliminates sample-matrix and point calibration sources, and has applications in environmental sample analysis as well as for remote autonomous sampling in harmful environments or on other planets.
3. Supported determination of key nuclear waste properties of national importance. Supported determination of key radionuclide properties for the Yucca Mountain and Waste Isolation Pilot Plant nuclear geologic repository projects. Designed equipment, experiments, and theory. Performed numerous chemical experiments in gloved boxes. Special expertise in non-destructive recognition and quantification of uranium and plutonium weapon fuels. Analyzed numerous radioactive samples using atomic emission spectroscopy, x-ray and gamma-ray spectroscopy, liquid scintillation counting, x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, and chemical separations.
4. PUBLICATIONS list for these areas can be found at:

   Radiation Detection, Radionuclides, and Nuclear Waste Management
   http://www.radiationdetectives.com/MGMT/SAC/sac-pubs.html#RAD

5. Developed a non-destructive methodology for analysis of highly radioactive and non-radioactive elements in ceramic containment of national importance. The method eliminated the need for radioactive waste streams, sample destruction, and reference sources.
6. Developed numerous technical procedures for scientific traceability and for geologic repository licensing purposes. Developed technical procedures for performing controlled atmosphere gloved-box operations; total-dissolved CO2 determinations based on ionic strength, temperature, and CO2 partial pressure; x-ray diffraction crystallography; atomic emission spectroscopy; liquid scintillation counting; sample preparations; organic extractions; and radioactive sample handling.
7. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES list can be found at:

   Experimental Procedures
   http://www.radiationdetectives.com/MGMT/SAC/sac-pubs.html#TP

8. Operated all manner of machine shop equipment to fabricate complex experimental devices; and integrated computing and sensors to support experimental design.
9. Reduced the business burden of software quality assurance and auditing. Developed and implemented the software quality program and quality management plans and procedures for the radionuclide groups at Sandia, Los Alamos, Berkeley, and Livermore national laboratories; and at the University of Florida at Tallahassee. Successfully passed numerous Department of Energy (DOE), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and special federal Technical and QA audits. Resolved non-conformances and deviations.
10. QUALITY ASSURANCE PLANS & PROCEDURES list can be found at:

    Quality Assurance Plans & Procedures
    http://www.radiationdetectives.com/MGMT/SAC/sac-pubs.html#QA

11. Developed and taught laboratory safety and quality management programs throughout the organization including executive management. Taught the principles of ISO-9000 series, total quality management (TQM), and Nuclear Quality Assurance Level-1 (NQA). Trained QA Auditors. Co-developed and co-implemented the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's Radioactive Waste Pollution Prevention Program. Co-scripted, produced, and directed the video, "Excellence and Safe Laboratory Practices."
12. Developed the Operations and Safety Guide for the Heavy Elements & Radiochemistry Research Laboratory.
13. Awarded the Outstanding Performance Award by the Director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Reactor Plant Operator / Submarines, U.S. Navy

1. Served as a Reactor Plant Operator aboard two nuclear-powered submarines, USS Scamp and USS Dace. Performed numerous reactor startups; pre-critical checks; primary coolant warmups; and critical-rod-position and xenon-poison calculations.

   [1a] Operated pressurized-water nuclear reactors during multiple submarine deployments; during serious casualty conditions that included reactor scrams, partial loss of the power plant, single-loop operation and other unusual power-plant lineups; during flooding and fires; and performed many emergency fast recovery startups.

   [1b] Served as the Reactor Operator for two Reactor Safeguard Exams.

   [1c] Operated and maintained all reactor instrumentation and control equipment; completed numerous work packages and maintenance tagout packages; acted as the Calibration Lead for reactor-control instrumentation; and was responsible for Reactor Quarterly Data reports.

   [1d] Performed numerous primary instrumentation repairs while at sea and at power. Meritoriously cited for troubleshooting and repair of faulty rod position indication while at sea and at power. Meritoriously cited for troubleshooting and repair of steam generator water level control problems while at sea and at power.

   [1e] Supervised, trained, mentored, and evaluated Reactor Controls Division personnel. Meritoriously cited for efforts to qualify 8 personnel in various watch stations in one year in the Reactor Controls Division.

2. Supervisor and Radiation Worker during in-port reactor maintenance, overhauls, and decommissioning of two nuclear reactor cores to include the following activities:

   * reactor primary shield removal;
   * neutron detector replacement;
   * ion-exchange resin blowdown;
   * primary coolant blowdown;
   * reactor core defueling; and
   * numerous system tagouts and work packages.

3. Other qualifications and duties include:

   * Engineering Watch Supervisor;
   * Radiation Control Point Entry;
   * Electronics Technician, Nuclear Field Class A1;
   * Subsafe and Nuclear QA;
   * Submarine Dolphins; and
   * Shutdown Reactor Operator.

4. Awarded "Sailor of the Quarter" by the crew of USS Scamp.
5. Awarded two Command Letters of Commendation for "overall hard work, initiative, and good-natured attitude, contributing greatly to the successful performance of both Reactor Controls Division and the Engineering Department".
6. Awarded by the Secretary of the Navy, Unit Commander, and Commanding Officer citations for "an arduous search and rescue operation conducted in a fierce North Atlantic Storm resulting in the rescue of the sole survivor of the merchant vessel BALSA 24". NY Times Article by James Barron
7. Recognized by the Command for establishing a special college education program with Olympic Jr. College (Bremerton, Washington) for the crew of the USS Scamp while in port.
8. Recognized by the Commander of USS Dace for "outstanding performance" in support of reactor plant decommissioning and core defueling.

Ph.D., Computer Information Systems (February, 2009), Nova Southeastern University, Florida

M.S., Computer Information Systems (2000), University of Phoenix, San Jose, California

M.B.A., Technology Management (1998), University of Phoenix, San Jose, California

B.S., Technology, minor in Nuclear Technology (1996), State University of New York, Albany

B.A., Liberal Arts, minors in Mathematics and Sociology (1986), State University of New York, Albany

1. University of California, Berkeley, CA.
   Courses in undergraduate and graduate fusion reactor engineering; and nuclear and analytical chemistry.
2. Elsewhere:
   * Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
   * Cisco Certified Design Associate (CCDA);
   * Management and Scheduling Software;
   * Windows and UNIX; MS ACCESS and SQL;
   * MS EXCEL; Visual Basic; XML/XSL;
   * familiarity with SQL, C/C++, Java, and scripting languages;
   
3. Submarine systems qualification (Dolphins) somewhere under the North Atlantic Ocean (1985); sub-safe quality assurance and submarine fire fighting school, Groton, CT, 1986.
4. Reactor Operator Qualification (Nuclear) - Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL), Westinghouse Pressurized Water Reactor Power Unit, Idaho Falls, Idaho, 1985.
5. Reactor Theory (Nuclear) - Naval Nuclear Power College; atomic, reactor, and nuclear physics; thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid flow; materials and reactor plant engineering; reactor plant operations, control, and automatic protection; radiochemistry, ionic chemistry, and water chemistry; radiation detection circuitry, sensors, and indicators; Orlando, Florida, 1984.
6. Electronics Technician Maintenance School, Nuclear Field, NASA Specification; radiation-detection and reactor-control circuitry, Groton, CT, 1986.
7. Electronics Technician; electrodynamics and circuit fundamentals; Radar, microwave, communication, and integrated circuits; and instrument control electronics - Great Lakes Naval Station, Illinois, 1983.

FULL PUBLICATIONS LIST at:
http://www.radiationdetectives.com/MGMT/SAC/sac-pubs.html

Authored Experimental Procedures List at:
http://www.radiationdetectives.com/MGMT/SAC/sac-pubs.html#TP

Authored Quality Management Procedures List at:
http://www.radiationdetectives.com/MGMT/SAC/sac-pubs.html#QA

University Lectures List at:
http://www.radiationdetectives.com/MGMT/SAC/sac-lectures.html

HOBBY:
Study of ancient Chinese characters, and development of methods to help people learn and remember Chinese characters without draining their brains.