| Current address: | P.O. Box 401 255 Alexander Lane Solomons, MD 20688 | Permanent mailing address: | 3 Church Circle #290 Annapolis, MD 21401 |
johnsantic at gmail dot com
Writer, photographer, website content developer - Willing to consider unconventional jobs involving photography, writing, boats, nature and the outdoors.
April 2010 to June 2010: Census Enumerator
U.S. Census Bureau, Field Division, Philadelphia, PA 57320 visit the Census Bureau on the Internet
During the 2010 Census, I worked as a Census Enumerator in Solomons, Maryland. The job consisted of interviewing respondents, completing census forms, and meeting daily with supervisors and coworkers.
June 2004 to present: Freelance Writer, Photographer, Website Developer
I have written numerous articles about favorite topics for my personal website and have provided photographs for most of the articles. Here are links to copies of published articles (as presented on my website):
In my "previous lifetime" as a computer engineer, I had several technical articles published in trade magazines. Here are links to copies of the articles (as presented on my website):
Here's a list of my published photographs and awards:
As a website developer, starting in 2002, I have developed and maintained a large personal website containing almost 1,300 HTML pages and nearly 5,000 JPG and GIF images. I have also developed a website for Greta Gormley & Associates, a company specializing in architectural glass artwork.
May 2007 to November 2007: Sailboat Cruising Adventures
I sailed as crew aboard the sailing vessel Pilgrim on two shakedown voyages on Chesapeake Bay, plus a voyage from Annapolis, Maryland, to Jersey City, New Jersey, via Chesapeake and Delaware Bays and the Atlantic Ocean. Read about these voyages on my website. Later, I sailed as crew aboard the sailing vessel Night Heron on a voyage from Portsmouth, Virginia, to the Caribbean island of Tortola, in the British Virgin Islands. The 15-day voyage covered more than 1,500 nautical miles; read about it on my website.
November 2006 to May 2007: Volunteer Photographer
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 647 Contees Wharf Road, Edgewater, MD 21037 visit SERC on the Internet
As a volunteer photographer for the education department, I photographed activities at a number of educational programs. The photographs were used to publicize programs and to support fundraising efforts.
March 2004 to June 2004: Sailboat Cruising Adventure
I sailed as crew aboard the sailing vessel Nine of Cups on a voyage from mainland Ecuador to the Galápagos Archipelago and onward to Easter Island. The adventure lasted more than three months, and included extended explorations of the islands and more than 4,000 miles of ocean sailing. I traveled with my friends David Lynn and Marcie Connelly-Lynn, the owners of Nine of Cups, who are four years into a ten-year circumnavigation. Read about it on my website, visit Nine of Cups on the Internet.
January 2003 to May 2003: Long-Distance Truck Driver
Swift Transportation, Inc., 2841 Charles City Rd., Richmond, VA 23231 visit Swift on the Internet
In late fall of 2002, I received formal truck driver training at the Community College of Baltimore County, earning a Class A Commercial Driver's License with all endorsements. At Swift, I drove a tractor-trailer combination rig hauling a dry van or reefer. I drove solo and as a team and traveled in 35 states. Duties included driving, trailer handling, trip planning, time management, record-keeping, vehicle inspections, maintenance, and fueling, assisting in loading/unloading, customer service. Read about it on my website.
November 2001 to September 2002: Sailboat Cruising Adventure
By myself, I sailed and motored down Chesapeake Bay, then headed south on the Intracoastal Waterway to North Carolina. I then made two separate offshore passages to reach Charleston, South Carolina. After spending the winter and spring on my boat in Charleston, I returned north, taking along one crewperson. We sailed and motored non-stop from Charleston, SC to Solomons, MD, traveling offshore from Charleston to Cape Henry, VA, then traveling up Chesapeake Bay. I continued north to Baltimore by myself. The total distance traveled was about 1,300 miles.
April 2001 to October 2001: Marina Attendant
Town Center Marina, P.O. Box 367, 255 A Street, Solomons, MD 20688 visit Town Center Marina on the Internet (now called Solomons Yachting Center)
Duties included helping boats arriving at and departing from fuel dock, assisting boat owners with fueling, maintaining marina fuel records, overseeing marina store sales, operating cash register and credit card machine, taking periodic store inventory, performing daily store closing (tally cash register and credit card receipts, count cash, close up building), maintaining radio watch on VHF, communicating with transient boats, assisting transient boats entering and leaving slips, maintaining marina grounds and building.
December 2000 to April 2001: Volunteer
American Chestnut Land Trust, P.O. Box 204, Port Republic, MD 20676 visit ACLT on the Internet
As a volunteer, I helped maintain trails and help blaze a new trail on land trust property in Calvert County, Maryland.
August 2000 to December 2000: Marina Attendant
Town Center Marina, P.O. Box 367, 255 A Street, Solomons, MD 20688 visit Town Center Marina on the Internet (now called Solomons Yachting Center)
(Duties were the same as above.)
November 1997 to July 2000: Sailboat Cruising Adventure
I took a break from work to go on a sailboat cruising adventure. After leaving my last job, I purchased a sailboat, then spent months repairing and upgrading many systems on the sailboat. In late 1998, I sold my house in Frederick, MD and moved on to the boat in Annapolis, MD. After additional boat work, I went for a shakedown cruise on Chesapeake Bay in the fall of 1999. After trip planning and provisioning, I left for Florida, taking along one crewperson. We sailed and motored down Chesapeake Bay, then headed south on the Intracoastal Waterway to North Carolina. We then made four separate offshore passages to reach Florida. After spending the winter and spring on my boat in Florida, I brought the boat back north to Chesapeake Bay by myself. The total distance traveled was about 2,000 miles.
Skills: Boat refitting: planning and designing upgrades, selecting and installing gear. Boat maintenance and repair: wiring (DC, AC, RF), plumbing (fresh/raw/waste water, fuel, propane), general mechanical work (steering, propulsion, sailing gear), carpentry, refinishing (sanding, painting, caulking, polishing, fiberglass repair), rigging (wire rope, polyester rope), diesel engine (fluid/filter changes, bleeding, cooling system, mechanical adjustments), safety systems.
Boat operation: trip planning, provisioning, weather monitoring, radio operation, navigation (GPS, charting, piloting), boat handling under sail, boat handling under power, docking, anchoring, fueling, etc.
March 1990 to November 1997: Computer Consultant
Services provided include software design and development, systems design, product development, project management, technical documentation. Extensive background in wireless telephony, satellite communications, data communications, real-time control, computer graphics, IBM PC.
Hughes Network Systems, Inc., 11717 Exploration Lane, Germantown, MD 20876 visit Hughes on the Internet
Served as a team leader on a project to develop a new digital cellular telephone product based on the PACS standard. Defined and documented subsystem interfaces, then designed and developed software that implemented layer 1 of the PACS protocol for the base station. The software was written in C for an i960 RISC processor, and interfaced a voice switch and upper-layer protocol entities to a set of T1 lines connected to remote radio ports. Wrote layer 1 unit test plan and integration test plan, and performed extensive system testing. As team leader, supervised two other software engineers.
Telogy Networks, Inc., 21 Firstfield Rd., Gaithersburg, MD 20878 visit Telogy on the Internet
Member of product development team for a digital cordless telephone intended for the mass-produced consumer market. Wrote 68HC11 assembly language software for the handset and base station, including the three-layer CT2 radio link protocol driver and the interface driver to the voice processing DSP. Also wrote a DSP interface simulator that ran on an IBM PC. Performed extensive hardware and software testing and integration.
Along with one other engineer, designed and developed software for an Inmarsat-M satellite terminal to interface a fax machine on the terrestrial side with the 6400 bps satellite channel. Among other tasks, wrote a modular software driver for a Rockwell fax modem chip and wrote a completely software-based HDLC protocol framer/deframer. The software is written in C and assembly language and runs on a 68HC11 microcomputer. Prior to the fax project, worked with a different engineer to develop the basic control software for the terrestrial interface board, including a real-time executive, DSP interface driver, and satellite channel driver. Wrote diagnostic software and checked out initial hardware prototypes.
Developed additional software drivers for an Inmarsat-M satellite terminal to support STU-III secure voice protocol. The software performs call control functions and transfers data between analog modem software on the terrestrial side and a 6400 bps hardware channel on the satellite side. The software is written in C and a small amount of assembly language and runs on a TMS320C31 DSP.
Member of product development team for a new satellite channel modem product. Wrote preliminary specifications for terrestrial telephone interface and RS-232 port interface, then designed and developed framework of prototype software using C and assembly language (68HC11 and 68302).
March 1988 to March 1990: Principal Engineer
Hughes Network Systems, Inc., 11717 Exploration Lane, Germantown, MD 20876 visit Hughes on the Internet
Defined software requirements for a satellite channel modem, then led the team that developed the software. Developed monitor and control firmware using microcontroller C and assembly language. Prepared extensive formal documentation.
Extensively modified the software for a microprocessor controlled satellite channel modem, to integrate it into a video teleconferencing satellite terminal. The microprocessor supervises the internal operating modes by interacting with the terminal hardware and a station controller PC.
May 1985 to March 1988: Computer Consultant
M/A-COM Telecommunications, Inc., 11717 Exploration Lane, Germantown, MD 20874 visit M/A-COM on the Internet
Member of software team developing a large packet-switched data communications network. The network sends X.25 data between remote stations and a central hub via demand-assigned satellite channels. Designed, coded, and tested satellite interface software for remote stations using Intel 80186 assembly language and Pascal.
Designed, implemented, and tested software modifications for a communications processor used in the hub of a private satellite communications network. The modifications permitted improved network management, and were implemented using PL/M-86.
Metraplex Corp., 5305 Spectrum Drive, Frederick, MD 21701
Designed and developed IBM PC software to configure, monitor, and control a remote multichannel data acquisition system via the PC's serial port. Using a series of screens and menus, the user configures all parameters for each slot in a time-division multiplexing frame. Also developed a simulator for the remote system that runs on another PC and is connected to the control PC for testing.
Implemented major software modifications and enhancements for an instrumentation amplifier control system. Also prepared user's manual and software maintenance manual. The system monitors and controls up to 128 instrumentation amplifiers via an IEEE-488 bus, using an IBM PC running a menu-driven compiled BASIC program.
TeleMonitor Corp., 203 Elden St. Ste. 402, Herndon, VA 22070
Co-designed and developed all software for a microprocessor-controlled dial-up monitor and control system. Also provided product development consultation. Programmed in NSC800 assembly language, the system monitors analog, digital, and temperature inputs. Out-of-range readings cause the system to dial-up a user and report status using processor-controlled speech synthesis. The user can then issue commands using telephone tones.
Computed Ventures, Inc., P.O. Box 271, Germantown, MD 20874
Modified a remote data server to integrate the disk data storage subsystem into a local computer system. Made extensive changes in the 8085 assembly language program.
3M Company, 8673 Grovemont Circle, Gaithersburg, MD 20877 visit 3M on the Internet
Software modifications to add a video keyer to a character generator system (see below).
April 1982 to April 1985: Senior Programmer Analyst
3M Company, 8673 Grovemont Circle, Gaithersburg, MD 20877 visit 3M on the Internet
Responsible for managing all aspects of software development for a product development department. This consisted of estimating, scheduling, and monitoring software projects, and supervising contract engineers. Also responsible for designing, coding, testing, and documenting real-time software for computer graphics applications. Additional responsibilities included participating extensively in new product planning.
Designed and developed all software for a television character generator. This word-processor-like device produces high-resolution text displays used for broadcast video titling. Initially, was a member of product development team which determined product specifications and operator interfaces. Then, developed all software using 8085 assembly language and PL/M. Wrote operator's manual and provided initial training and sales support.
January 1980 to April 1982: Senior Software Engineer
M/A-COM DCC, Inc., 11717 Exploration Lane, Germantown, MD 20874 visit M/A-COM DCC on the Internet
Responsible for designing, coding, testing, and documenting real-time software used in microprocessor controlled data communications equipment. Also responsible for working on project management team.
Developed functional specification and application software for a broadband local area network used for data communications. Also served on project management team.
Designed, coded, and tested all software for an intelligent 9600 bps modem. A single-chip microprocessor controls all modem hardware, and provides advanced loopback, fallback, and diagnostic functions.
Member of development and support team for a product line statistical multiplexer. Defined functional requirements for IBM bisync multiplexing, then designed and implemented necessary software using 6502 microprocessor high-level language.
December 1977 to December 1979: Systems Programmer
Pulsecom Div., Harvey Hubbell, Inc., 2900 Towerview Rd., Herndon, VA visit Pulsecom on the Internet
Responsible for designing, coding, testing, and documenting real-time software used in microprocessor controlled data communications equipment. Also responsible for estimating, scheduling, and monitoring software projects assigned to programming staff.
Designed and developed all software for an interactive telephone central office monitoring system based on a Z80 microcomputer, CRT terminal, printer, and modem. Also designed and wrote communications and control software for a dial-up remote monitor used in this system.
Led a project to interface a bisync data link to the Western Union network using a Z80 microcomputer system. Worked with customer to define functional requirements and led high-level design phase. Supervised another software engineer throughout the design and implementation.
Defined functional requirements and developed 8080 software for a product line terminal controller used to interface various terminal configurations to the Western Union data communications network.
November 1976 to December 1977: Systems Programmer
Western Union Data Services Co., Inc., 70 McKee Drive, Mahwah, NJ 07430
Responsible for designing and implementing software changes in microprocessor based data communications equipment. Using Z80 and 8X300 microprocessor assembly languages, modified the operating system of a multiprocessor communicating word processor to support a different line protocol.
Defined and implemented operational improvements in an intelligent terminal controller with digital cassette tape deck, using F8 microprocessor assembly language. Wrote detailed engineering documentation manual and supervised first two field installations.
October 1972 to July 1973: Audio Technician
New York University, Bronx, NY 10453 visit NYU on the Internet
One of two people responsible for the complete technical upkeep of a modern seventy-recorder university language laboratory.
I have maintained a decades-long interest in photography. I started using a digital camera in early 2003 (a Sony DSC-F717), then switched to a Canon 40D and Canon G9 in 2008, and I've taken more than 50,000 digital photographs. Prior to "going digital", I took more than 10,000 slides and prints using a Pentax ME-super 35mm SLR camera (and other cameras). I have extensive experience processing digital photographs using Paint Shop Pro and other software tools.
I have a good working knowledge of basic HTML and CSS, and have extensive experience hand-coding web pages using the Macromedia Homesite HTML editor.
Developed and have maintained a good working knowledge of digital logic and microprocessor hardware through outside interests in personal computing and electronics.
Awarded Circle of Technical Excellence prize from 3M Company in 1984 "in recognition of outstanding contribution to technical excellence" for D-5000 Graphics Generator software development.
HP 9000 UNIX, IBM PC, VAX 11/780, PDP-11/70, HP-3000, Intel MDS-230, MDS-800, Tektronix 8002, Univac 1108, plus special purpose systems.
C, AWK, Pascal, PL/M, BASIC, FORTRAN, LOGOS, assembler (68000/68302, 68HC11, 68HC16, 6800, 80386/80186/8086/8088, Z80, 8085, 8080, 8039, 80535, 6502, 8X300, F8, NSC800, TMS320C31), HTML, CSS.
PACS (digital cellular telephone), CT2 (digital cordless telephone), X.25, Bisync, HDLC, T.30/T.4 (fax), STU-III (secure voice), Infomaster (Western Union), plus many specialized proprietary protocols.
B.E.E.E. New York University, 1974 visit NYU on the Internet
Miscellaneous skills: PC hardware/software configuration, website design and preparation, basic electronics repair, technical writing, trade skills (wiring, plumbing, carpentry, etc.), basic gas/diesel engine maintenance/repair, planning and logistics, touch-typing to 40+ wpm. I also have a Class A Driver's License and an Extra-class amateur radio license.
Hobbies - boating and cruising, photography, writing and reading, kayaking, biking, hiking, camping/backpacking, fossil/rock collecting, birdwatching, stargazing.
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