About
40 Years of Software Excellence
Background
I'm a software veteran who transforms complex challenges into elegant solutions, with equal comfort writing code or collaborating with C-level executives. My journey spans from early days with Assembly and BASIC to modern cloud architectures with AWS, Azure, React, and Node.js.
From pioneering work on Backup Exec and early contributions to Amazon.com, to developing critical systems for Homeland Security—where my ongoing CISA engagement has included leading enterprise transformation at Travelers Insurance—I've consistently delivered innovations that drive business success. I've led teams across continents, mentored hundreds of developers, and built software that powers mission-critical operations worldwide.
Career
Professional History
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Architect & Technical Lead
CISA / Department of Homeland Security · 2021–Present
Created the Cybersecurity Virtual Learning Environment (CVLE), reducing training costs by $50,000 per month. Ongoing engagement includes embedded project work across federal initiatives—most recently leading the transformation of six development teams at Travelers Insurance, modernizing legacy applications and building cloud-native solutions for the Construction division.
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Director of Software Engineering
Spotless Software · 2006–2018
Led 50+ development teams worldwide, architecting and delivering over 100 full-stack applications across diverse industries and technology stacks.
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Founding Developer
Arcada Software · 1994–1996
Created Backup Exec, developing critical components from low-level SCSI drivers to customer-facing applications. The product went on to become an industry standard in enterprise backup solutions.
Expertise
Areas of Focus
Secure AI Integration
Building enterprise-grade AI solutions with security and compliance as first-class concerns.
AI Implementation Strategy
Guiding organizations from AI exploration to production deployment with practical, results-driven roadmaps.
Technical Leadership
Building and mentoring high-performing engineering teams across geographies and time zones.
Architecture
Designing scalable, maintainable systems from microservices to monoliths—choosing the right tool for the problem.
Full-Stack Development
Hands-on across the entire stack: React, Node.js, Spring Boot, AWS, Azure, and everything in between.
Legacy Modernization
Transforming aging systems into modern platforms without losing institutional knowledge or business continuity.
Product Innovation
Turning ideas into shipping products, from proof-of-concept through production launch.
Executive Leadership
Bridging the gap between engineering reality and business strategy at the C-suite level.
Projects
AI Work
AI Knowledge Builder Platform
Transforms unstructured human expertise into structured, reusable knowledge assets through conversational AI. Built with GPT-4, Claude, and custom models to capture decades of institutional knowledge that would otherwise walk out the door when experienced people leave.
AI-Powered Career Coach
Helps experienced professionals reconstruct and communicate career achievements using multiple AI models. Designed for people who have done remarkable work but struggle to articulate it—a problem I've seen repeatedly across 40 years of mentoring developers.