Growing up on a small farm near Abingdon, Virginia, the author developed an intense interest in electronics, mechanics, and science. After high school, he attended Virginia Highlands Community College, graduating with a degree in science. He later studied computer science at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. During his technical career, he has worked with business, corporate, government, and non-profit organizations. His responsibilities have included technician, computer programmer, lead developer, project leader, vendor team leader, and database analyst. As a senior technical staff member, software consultant, and freelance software developer, the author has created many complex computer programs, software systems, prototypes, and updates. He has used multiple computing architectures, and software platforms. He has extensive experience creating software used by engineers to design and maintain computer hardware, telephone switch, and network, product lines.