Title:

Distinguished Member Technical Staff; Head, Communications and Networking Systems [1]

What is your focus at Sarnoff?

I function as a technical contributor, program manager and manager of a group of highly skilled professionals. In addition, I contribute significantly to business development activities. Technically, my own focus is on system architecture and design. My group focuses on hardware development, ranging from components to complete systems; communications protocol development; wireless communications; data mining; knowledge based systems; and learning-based systems. Major customer focuses include both government and commercial clients.

Describe a typical day for you at Sarnoff.

A typical day at Sarnoff includes a broad variety of activities. In fact, there is really no typical day. On any given day, I may be involved with developing detailed technical solutions, internal technical or administrative meetings, client meetings, proposal writing, program monitoring and control activities or technical research to extend my personal knowledge in support of identifying technical approaches or business development opportunities.

What experience did you have prior to joining Sarnoff?

My experience includes software development, system development and management responsibilities. Previous employers include Texas Instruments, Bell Telephone Laboratories, Westinghouse Electric Corporation, On-Line Systems Corporation in addition to the nearly 30 years that I have spent at RCA Laboratories / Sarnoff Corporation.

What is your background in academics?

B.S.E.E., with Highest Honors, – Southern Methodist University

M.S.E.E. – University of Michigan

Additional course work toward a PhD in EE under a NASA Traineeship at the University of Michigan

Attended many in-house and external technical and management short courses

Why did you choose Sarnoff?

I have always been torn between functioning in a fully technical role and in a management role. Sarnoff has allowed me to satisfy both of these desires over a broad range of assignments.

What is your proudest professional achievement?

I have always prided myself as being a highly competent problem solver, whether developing a novel software solution, debugging complicated software systems, combining multiple technologies to respond to a specific need or adapting a technology to satisfy a totally different application requirement. A specific example was the adaptation of Direct Broadcast System (DBS), developed by Sarnoff for DirecTv, to satisfy the government’s needs for a low cost, dependable system to disseminate large volumes of information and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) video.