Samuel A. Falvo II
5701 Stresemann Street
San Diego, CA 92122
Phone: 1-858-692-4074
E-Mail: sam.falvo -at- falvotech.com
PERSONAL SUMMARY
Some formal education in the field of electrical engineering and the sciences.
Software developer for 20 years (professionally, on and off, for 8 years).
Extensive experience with metrology, verification, and validation.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
Software
All facets of computer networking, from low-level details such as how individual protocols work, to high-level details such as configuring routing and firewall tables and software development using sockets.
Programming languages: C, C++, Objective C, Forth, Python, Perl, Visual Basic, assembly languages for Intel (808x, 80x86), Motorola (680x, 680x0), MIPS-I, and 6502/65816-compatible CPUs.
Operating system kernel design and implementation.
CORBA compliant software design and implementation (both client and server implementations).
Microsoft and Open Office tools
Test-Driven Development
Agile Development Process / Extreme Programming
Metrology
Repair of diagnostic equipment
Calibration
Analog and Digital Electronics
Oscilloscope
Logic Analyzer
Spectrum Analyzer
Schematic Design and Timing Analysis
Interfacing low-power, non-inductive loads to high-power, inductive loads
High-speed telecommunications
Literature/Presentation
Software Help Files
High quality API documentation.
Web Site Design and Content
SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND SKILLS
Software
Designed and developed two successful implementations of the Forth programming language and development environment.
Currently working on OpenAX.25, a layer 2 network protocol implementation for wireless applications in the amateur radio service.
Designed, developed, and deployed sophisticated semiconductor verification and validation software in an existing test framework, for testing 1024-bit, 2048-bit, and 3072-bit modular arithmetic coprocessor operations, using register-level and DMA packet programming techniques. This software was developed using test-driven design techniques and agile development processes.
Developed the open-source C Unit Tester (CUT) software testing tool. CUT is currently available at version 2.3. CUT has been successfully deployed at Armored Internet, Co. and Hifn, Inc. Several other commercial companies are reviewing CUT 2.3 for use in their organization.
Maintained over 700MB of test software, including major refactorings, documenting, and even testing the test software.
Hardware
Developed a stable, three-transistor, high-gain (+66dB) audio amplifier for use in amateur radio applications.
Developed and built a custom 8-bit CPU using discrete logic TTL LS/ALS technology.
Knowledgable with Verilog Hardware Description Language.
Publications
Falvo, Samuel A. "Clarifications to AX.25 Version 2.2 and KISS Protocols". Personal webpage. September 2005. <http://www.falvotech.com/content/publications/ax25clarifications>
Falvo, Samuel A. "A Novel Approach Towards Improving Inner-City Fuel Economies". Personal webpage. July 2006. <http://www.falvotech.com/content/publications/coaster-system>
Committees, Organizations, Et. Al.
AX.25 Layer 2 Special Interest Group – working on evolving the protocol to support future applications in the amateur radio service, including preparations for a new layer 3 and layer 4 networking stack in the same spirit as IPv4 and IPv6, but with higher bandwidth economies.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Manager of Network Operations Center
2004 – current
California Regional Intranet
Level one technical support duties including maintaining a friendly telephone presence, website and server diagnostics, and basic administrative tasks.
Level two technical support duties including backups, bandwidth monitoring, manning alarm boards, and more detailed customer system administration tasks, including provisioning and maintenance of Plesk and StoreSense (now ProStores) e-commerce software, customer servers, and colocation and cabinet resources such as power, switch ports, et. al.
Level three NOC management duties including scheduling, limited budgeting, basic facilities management, scripting and automation, and limited system administration duties for corporate and shared hosting servers.
Training sessions with other employees, sometimes interdepartmental.
Owner
2003
Falvo Technical Solutions
Self-owned business specializing in website design, network engineering, custom electronics design, and other related services.
Semiconductor Post-Silicon Verification Technician
2001-2002
Hifn, Inc., Carlsbad, California
Verified and validated HIPP-I and HIPP-II network packet processors, containing over 6 million gates.
Designed and implemented “big-num” (1024-bit and larger) modular math coprocessor verification and validation software platform under Windows NT 4.0 Workstation.
Designed software to automate previously manual verification tasks, also under Windows NT.
Performed regression testing on all new semiconductors against existing models and semiconductors.
Implemented features in existing test software to enable selection of specific devices on the PCI bus, versus just assuming only one of each type of device is present, without breaking backward compatibility.
Advised technical writers and semiconductor engineers on documentation flaws, and what the correct documentation should read.
Provided technical expertise on hardware level testing and register-level programming of the HIPP architectures to internal software development group.
Established a standard configuration management protocol for the hardware verification group, employing CVS as the configuration management tool.
Extensive multi-processing between MIPS coprocessors and Intel Pentium-based host PC.
Rewrote CUT to version 2.0 to support duties described above.
General Manager, Operations
1998-2001
Armored Internet, Carlsbad, California
Responsible for maintaining network infrastructure and network security
Developed corporate web presence, including SQL database back-end, Microsoft Active Server Page development, and customer support automation software
Administered e-mail, web, Usenet News, UNIX system administration.
Helped create operations-related budget
Equipment purchasing and shipping.
Managed a team of five to collaborate on advertising and promotion.
Developed CUT 1.0 to implement test-driven design and agile development processes to reduce time to market on goods and services.
General Manager, Operations
1995-1998
AxisInternet, Oceanside, California
Responsible for maintaining network infrastructure and network security
Developed corporate web presence, including SQL database back-end, Microsoft Active Server Page development, and customer support automation software
Administered e-mail, web, Usenet News, UNIX system administration.
Helped create operations-related budget
Equipment purchasing and shipping.
Junior and Senior-Level Technical Support
Airman, 1st Class
1994-1995
United States Air Force
Acquired analog and digital electronics education
Repaired diagnostic equipment.
Calibrated and aligned equipment to factory specifications
EDUCATION
Mesa Community College, San Diego, CA
2003
Physics
MiraCosta Community College, Oceanside Campus, CA
2002-2003
Physics
Mohawk Valley Community College, Utica, NY
1993-1994
Electrical Engineering Technology
Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY
1992-1993
Electrical Engineering
Thomas R. Proctor High School, Utica, NY
1988-1992
Took concurrent college courses in the form of AP Physics, AP Chemistry, and AP Calculus.
INTERESTS
Software Development
Operating System Architecture
Networking and Protocol Design
Object Oriented Design and Analysis
Methodology, especially the practice of Extreme Programming and CMMI-certified processes
Electronics
Licensed amateur radio operator for 9 years. License is still current.
Home-built computer and radio technologies
Particularly interested in the impact of Open Hardware licenses and technology.
Physics
Newtonian and Einsteinian mechanics
Quantum physics
Solid-state physics
Astrophysics
Teaching
Computer Programming
Computer Networking
Physics
Math
Agile Development Process of Extreme Programming