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  • Senior Systems Engineer

    Organization Name:
    AdaCore

    Country:
    United States

    Bio:
    I am an embedded avionics system/software consultant working primarily with AdaCore, Inc. but also support other A&D companies such as Boeing and GE. My previous experience includes membership in the Federal Advisory Boards:  Ada Board and Air Force Scientific Advisory Board.  I am an Army Security Agency Vietnam Veteran and a MA/Ph.D. graduate in mathematics and computer information and control engineering from the University of Michigan.  I have co-authored several articles on software development, software export control and security probability.

    Forum:
    Future Airborne Capability Environment – FACE™

    Membership Level:
    Principal

    How long have you been involved with The Open Group?
    I originally heard of The Open Group when I was reviewing POSIX® in the around 1995.  I attended my first conference for The Open Group FACE consortium about 10 years ago in Indianapolis.  From that point on,  I have been highly involved and supportive of the FACE Consortium.

    What do you do, and how long have you been doing it?
    I am a software engineer who specializes in embedded avionic applications and software/system development environments.  I have developed software and firmware using multiple different high-level, assembly languages and including ASIC, FPGA, and microcontrollers.  My first programming was done on an IBM 1620 decimal machine using switches in 1965.  However, the majority of my software engineering development has been accomplished since after finishing post-graduate school in1975.
    I became very involved with software safety certification using DO-178 (A/B/C) since the early 1990s.

    Why did your organization become a Member of The Open Group FACE™ Consortium and what does/will your involvement look like?
    AdaCore’s product base is open-source software development environments that meet the real time embedded demands for the Aerospace & Defense Industry.  While this environments support C and C++ the special focus is with Ada application development.  This fits extremely well with FACE standards and goals.  AdaCore has been extremely active with FACE since 2011 with members involved with several different subcommittees as well as a member being the vice chair of the Technical Working Group.

    How has/will membership in The Open Group benefit you, your organization, and the industry at large?
    As the cost of A & D systems continues to grow exponentially, this along with safety and security make up the critical of issues going forward.  As a key provider of A&D development environments, AdaCore must responsibly support activities both internally and externally address these challenges.  The FACE focus is on portability through common defined interfaces and data models. This means FACE directly addresses the cost, but it also touches on both safety and security as well by providing well defined interfaces and data types.

    What contributions do you hope to bring to The Open Group?
    AdaCore has already contributed greatly to defining the complexity of FACE conformance especially with operating Systems and embedded system development environments.  My earlier experience includes DO-178C safety certification for both commercial and military aircraft; development of avionics software; managing the development of complex software development environments for avionic embedded systems; and legal and export control laws and regulations.

    Why is it important for other organizations to join The Open Group?
    The Open Group has a large and varied number of software related technology areas that they support with standardization, discussions and certification.  While my interests are with avionic embedded software other organizations will find benefit and interest in one of the many other areas such as IoT and CITS.  The Open Group supports all of this work with a extensive library function that includes standards, certifications, guides, data sheets, etc.  A membership in The Open Group provides the invaluable opportunity for your company to be involved with the development and evolution of these standards and certification processes.

    What are your hobbies?
    My recreational activities include mostly outdoor activities that I can share with my family such as hiking, birding, fishing, boating, swimming and just the general enjoyment of being in the out-of-doors.
    I spend time helping friends and family with computer issues and upgrades as well as doing home improvement type activities.

    What book are you currently reading?
    I just finished “The Lifelong Cast” about a lifelong enjoyment and benefit received from fishing.  Currently reading “Great American Short Stories (Hawthorne to Hemingway)” while multiplexing with technical and process related books such as “Export Control Laws and Regulations” and articles on encryption and security software.

    What social networks do you belong to?
    While I don’t really spend much time on social networks, I use LinkedIn for as my primary business-related network.  I also respond to certain family and friends who seem to only communicate on Facebook.

    Any last thoughts?
    Membership in The Open Group has provided me invaluable connections with others in my field of interest and expertise.  These connections have often resulted in establishing a close friendship.