Computer Technologist and Writer
Colorado Springs, Colorado Area
- Current
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- Owner at Independent Consultant (Sole Proprietorship)
- Writer at Self-Employed Writer (Sole Proprietorship)
- Past
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- Software Project Team Lead at ITT Industries
- Network Tools Support Engineer at Ajilon
- Systems Engineering and Integration Engineering Lead at ITT Industries
- Assistant Manager of Engineering Department at Kaman Sciences Corporation
- Software Section Head at Wyle Laboratories
- Cognizant Engineer, Man-Machine Interface Software at Lockheed Martin
- Section Head, in Man-Machine Interface Software at System Development Corporation
- Space Systems Analyst at USAF
- Education
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- University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
- Connections
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28
connections
- Industry
- Computer Software
- Websites
John Stith’s Summary
I am on LinkedIn to broaden and maintain my network and to locate opportunities for interesting short-term projects, ranging from a few hours to a few weeks (or longer if the project has strong appeal for me).
My broad skills in the computer and consumer electronics fields started with a foundation of years spent developing, implementing, and documenting a range of software projects, many with a project management role. I have worked for software companies in the Colorado Springs area, including Kaman Sciences Corp. (and then ITT after they acquired KSC), Wyle Labs, and Aeronutronic Ford (before a series of mergers and acquisitions evolved them into Lockheed Martin). I’m now an independent contractor.
A few examples of tasks I’ve done: building web sites, training users in a variety of software programs, enhancing home network security and functionality, installing video and audio media servers, implementing thin clients to save resources, and performing an RFID evaluation project. I have helped home and business users troubleshoot problems with hardware and software.
I’ve also contributed to marketing efforts, ranging from working large business proposals down to writing sales copy. (I’ve published eight novels, so I am a computer technologist who also knows how to write.)
In the past I have held secret and top secret clearances, but I have no current clearance.
John Stith’s Experience
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Owner
Independent Consultant (Sole Proprietorship)
(Sole Proprietorship; Myself Only; Computer Software industry)
2002 — Present (6 years)
I own and operate HighTechies.com, a computer consulting firm handling a broad range of issues, from small home-user problems to broader business user issues. I build web sites, train users, set up media servers, configure thin clients, implement solutions with products such as SQL Server and Crystal Reports. I am a generalist.
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Writer
Self-Employed Writer (Sole Proprietorship)
(Sole Proprietorship; Myself Only; Writing and Editing industry)
1979 — Present (29 years)
Part-time writer (and screenwriter), with eight published science-fiction novels at Ace and Tor in the US, as well as reprints in France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Portugal, and Russia. I've also written numerous articles and short stories, as well as screenplays.
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Software Project Team Lead
ITT Industries
(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; ITT; Defense & Space industry)
2001 — 2003 (2 years)
Coordinate technical and schedule efforts for a software development team designing, developing, integrating, testing, and documenting ground control segment of the Wideband Gapfiller Satellite for US Space Command and Army Space Command (a SATCOM system). ITT’s portion includes developing software in C++ and Java to control baseband units, cryptos, and modems. The effort includes a human-computer interface (HCI), server component on prime/redundant pair of Windows 2000 Servers, a multi-terabyte RAID, and Oracle database. In addition to our development responsibilities, we are also the system integrator. Member of SEPG. Stith’s 2002 CMM efforts resulted in winning the Ring of Quality Award and the ITT President’s Award.
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Network Tools Support Engineer
Ajilon
(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; ADO; Information Technology and Services industry)
2000 — 2001 (1 year)
Designed, developed, documented, and maintained tools to support voice mail, PBX, and Asset Management, and provisioning at Agilent. The job required extreme versatility in using a broad variety of web and object-oriented technologies, including Active Server Pages & Interdev, Access database with Visual Basic for Applications, CGI and PERL, Delphi and Pascal.
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Systems Engineering and Integration Engineering Lead
ITT Industries
(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; ITT; Defense & Space industry)
1983 — 2000 (17 years)
System engineering and requirements analysis lead for NORAD/CMAS software upgrades, assessing impacts of proposed changes to NORAD space, air, and missile systems and leading IPTs to refine the actual requirements. Developed prototype Intranet. On Knowledge Steering Group and Software Engineering Process Group (SEPG). Supported US Space Command. Prior duties: Supervised group of electrical engineers and software engineers on variety of projects, including underground nuclear test, data recording, and computer applications. Wrote proposals. Hands-on software design, development, and testing of ICP-R (Inter-Computer Processor Replacement) and ICNM (Inter-Computer Network Mgr.) for NORAD, using C, PCs, Sun 4s, and UNIX. Modified UNIX TCP/IP drivers for communication between PCs and Suns.
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Assistant Manager of Engineering Department
Kaman Sciences Corporation
(Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; Research industry)
1979 — 1983 (4 years)
Managed all engineers for Engineered Systems Division, including software, electrical, mechanical, physics, system, and IEEE qualifications engineers (approx 25 people.) The group designed distributed-processing digital radiation monitoring systems consisting of central DECs connected to arrays of 100+ computer-controlled monitors. Wrote and costed proposals. Prior to promotion to this position, was manager of minicomputer section, then manager of product engineering group.
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Software Section Head
Wyle Laboratories
(Privately Held; 1001-5000 employees; Defense & Space industry)
1976 — 1979 (3 years)
Managed all computer-related activities, including several software development tasks, systems software, computer hardware, and computer operations. Wrote and costed proposals. Provided technical leadership and assistance to individual projects, including a real-time data-acquisition system. Set standards for group (smoothly functioning group, using top-down structured design techniques and structured walkthroughs.) Performed feasibility studies, including selection of in-house computer system. Planned, scheduled, coordinated availability of resources. Prior to promotion, was task leader for vibration testing real-time control and acquisition system using a distributed-processing network of minicomputers to digitally generate excitation signals, acquire data from the specimen, and perform data reduction.
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Cognizant Engineer, Man-Machine Interface Software
Lockheed Martin
(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; LMT; Defense & Space industry)
1973 — 1976 (3 years)
Designed, developed, and implemented software for 427M Communications System Segment, a large real-time NORAD communications system. Provided technical direction to personnel assigned to project. Wrote software to handle real-time configuration control and allowed the operator to connect any of 40 items of test gear to any of thousands of in-circuit test points. Worked on proposal team.
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Section Head, in Man-Machine Interface Software
System Development Corporation
(Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; Information Technology and Services industry)
1973 — 1975 (2 years)
Designed, developed, implemented, real-time software for NORAD 427M Contract. Responsibilities included system software in multiprocessing, multiprogramming environment. Worked on I/O package for communication with display subsystem, a configuration module, a transaction state processor, a real-time queue handler and dispatcher. Responsibilities included technical direction and evaluation of personnel assigned to the project, planning, scheduling.
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Space Systems Analyst
USAF
(Government Agency; 10,001 or more employees; USAF; Military industry)
1969 — 1973 (4 years)
Designed, developed, implemented software for orbital analysis at NORAD. Performed orbital analysis & radar signature analysis of objects in orbit. Awarded Air Force Commendation Medal.
John Stith’s Education
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University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
BA, Physics, 1965 — 1969
Additional Information
John Stith’s Websites:
John Stith’s Interests:
Software engineering, new technology, writing, screenwriting, novels
John Stith’s Groups:
SFWA (Science-Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America), MWA (Mystery Writers of America), WGA (Writers Guild of America, West, former member)
John Stith’s Honors:
Air Force Commendation Medal, ITT President’s Award, ITT Ring of Quality Award, Finalist for the Nebula Award for Redshift Rendezvous, Hugo Award Honorable Mention for Manhattan Transfer,
John Stith’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- consulting offers
- new ventures
- expertise requests
- reference requests
- getting back in touch
