People

SRI's innovative thinking depends directly on the individuals who work here. Meet members of our team and learn why they joined SRI - you may discover that you would like to join the team, too. Visit Careers @ SRI for descriptions of current openings.

Focus @ SRI:
I'm the guy you go to when you want your UNIX machine fixed/upgraded/explained/protected.

Title:
Senior Systems Administrator, Artificial Intelligence Center

Day in the Life @ SRI:
I have two kinds of days here. Both of them are challenging and fun. Some days it is all we can do to fix one thing before the next one breaks. Other days we plan and improve the computer facilities to better serve the department and our clients.

Before SRI:
I got into system administration in college by exploring the school's network. So, when there was an opening for a student sysadmin in the Computer Science Faculty lab, they already knew my name.

Academics:
B.S. in computer science from the University of Missouri, St. Louis, with minors in philosophy and mathematics

Why SRI?:
I had studied only a little bit of artificial intelligence, because my school offered only a little. But I was very interested in the subject. When I heard that a job was available in the Artificial Intelligence Center at SRI, I dropped everything and moved across the country.Five years later, I'm still working with very bright people doing very interesting things. We all have a great deal of respect for each other, and each other's talents. And, most significant, there's a clear sense of what's important and what's not. The important things are done, and done well. And the unimportant things are not allowed to interfere with that.

Inspiration (what motivates you):
Puzzles! I was drawn to my line of work because every aspect of it looks like a puzzle to me.

Away from the Office:
I divide my time (rather unequally) between computer games, mountain biking, rock climbing, hanging out at The Coffee Shop (Dana Street Roasting in Mountain View), and personal projects. Last fall, I put down my Battle Bot project to take some courses that culminated in my Joy Of Learning project, which was hosted at SRI. While I may do that one again, I've set it aside to plan this year's trip to Burning Man.

Languages:
I speak enough French that I can fool nonnative speakers, but not the native ones. I know enough German and Spanish to get into trouble, but not enough to get out of it.

Proudest Accomplishment:
Completing the Advanced Course at Landmark Education, which led to my Joy Of Learning project.

Words of Wisdom for New SRI Team Members:
SRI is our Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Stick you nose into everyone's business. There's more to be learned here than anywhere else I've been. And the person down the hall from you might just turn out to be the best teacher you've ever met.

Favorite authors/movies:
Author: Richard Bach (Illusions, Jonathan Livingston Seagull)
Movies: Matrix, Fight Club
(bonus points if you can tell me why they're all the same thing)
Other Authors: William Gibson, Neal Stephenson, Neil Gaiman