Expert Details
Internet, Telecommunications, Software, Protocols, and Regulations
ID: 728746
Virginia, USA
Expert also served as Deputy CTO at BEA Systems, the leading provider of Internet infrastructure software for carriers and enterprises, until BEA's sale to Oracle.
Expert successfully defended a large network equipment manufacturer from a patent suit by a troll in 2009. This required a deep dive into his large network of technology practitioners to demonstrate a circa-2000 Voice-over-IP system that was concrete evidence of prior art. Besides his technical summary, his analysis of the ownership documents was a conclusive piece of evidence that resulted in the defendant getting an outright win in the court.
Expert started in telecommunications over 20 years ago, consulting to MCI and later working for Cable & Wireless in development engineering. He turned around a network equipment manufacturer which he successfully sold to Centigram (NASD:CGRM), which he went on to sell to ADC. These platforms were highly network-centric, both in terms of being a critical part of the SS7 network, as well as being built of SS7 and TCP/IP components integrated together. Moreover, they provided enhanced services such as interactive voice response, conferencing, advanced telephony, and voice/data convergence. Working both at a carrier and at equipment manufacturers put Expert in the heard of strategic planning for network deployment and evolution.
Seven of Expert's issued patents are in the areas of communications, computer networking, telecommunications, and enhanced services.
Expert managed the SureFax group at Cable & Wireless, which was one of the global leading store-and-forward and broadcast facsimile providers. Later, Expert was CTO at Brooktrout Technology, which was the global leader in facsimile enabling technology (fax boards and software) and the source of the T.38 Fax-over-IP specification. Currently, Expert is involved with the SIP Forum's FoIP interoperability work group, working on how to improve T.38 interoperability through the use of enhanced SIP signaling.
Expert is a Member of the Board of the Public Interest Registry, the operator of the .ORG, .NGO, and .ONG top level DNS domains. Expert, through his tenure as CTO at Neustar, is familiar with the North American local number porting, pooling, and number administration process, regulations, and government agencies, such as the FCC. Expert has regular visits to Capitol Hill to meet with Congressional staff, as well as to brief agencies such as the FCC on communications and Internet technology matters.
Expert is an executive member of the IEEE-USA Committee on Communications Policy, the policy arm of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers in the United States.
Expert has a track record of computer software technology innovation. He has transformed four companies from being primarily hardware companies into software companies. He has numerous software patents issued in the United States. As CTO of public companies, his charter was to enable innovation through active policies, corporate engagement, and enrollment of the rank-and-file to create a culture of innovation.
On the relational database front, Expert taught data base theory at George Mason University and George Washington University, as well as creating numerous data base-centric real-time and near real-time systems and applications. Four of his patents leverage relational data base technologies, used in novel ways, to offer what were, in their day, extremely advanced telecommunication services.
Provided winning technology analysis and contract analysis in a patent litigation suit. Provided due diligence for late-stage investment in a network equipment and service provider. Whilst the company did not accept the investment at the last minute, all of his predications were accurate. Provided strategic research planning and product direction for a large network equipment manufacturer, resulting in a new line of products and solidified their market position. Provided insights and operating principles to assist a hosted voice services application provider to migrate from a working prototype of a service to a reliable, commercial service. Provides regular advice to investment bankers and financial analysts on the state of the Internet and telecommunications industries as well as on individual companies. He often provides the context and behind-the-scenes analysis to frame the different player's potentials and market evolution.
Education
Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
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Year: 2006 | Degree: PhD | Subject: Computer Science | Institution: Illinois Institute of Technology |
Year: 1990 | Degree: MBA | Subject: International Business Management | Institution: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven |
Year: 1984 | Degree: SB | Subject: Electrical Engineering | Institution: Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Work History
Years | Employer | Title | Department |
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Years: 2010 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Research Professor | Department: Department of Computer Science |
Responsibilities:Holds a full faculty appointment in the Computer Science department. Additional affiliations with the School of Foreign Service’s Science, Technology, and International Affairs program and the School of Continuing Studies. Research areas: distributed computing including DLT, cybersecurity, information sharing, systems economics and risk, policy, and network governance.Founder and Director of the Security and Software Engineering Research Center (S2ERC). Won NSF support as an Industry/University Cooperative Research Center; result was the center quickly grew to 2.5% of Main Campus research volume – close to 10x the productivity of full-time faculty – and one of the top centers in the NSF program. Impact included a $30,000 research project that directly led to the savings of at least $2B for the American people. Developed and shepherded the Masters of Science in Analytics (Big Data) program for the Provost through adoption by the Graduate School. Program exceeded matriculation and revenue projections. Taught and developed curricula for FinTech and Blockchain (FINC 258), Blockchain Technologies Management (XBUS 990), Information Warfare (COSC 411), Operating Systems (COSC 374), Cybersecurity Seminar (COSC 437), Advanced Networking (COSC 525), and Network Security (COSC 535). Report to the SVP Research and Chief Technology Officer of the University. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2009 to 2010 | Employer: Neustar, Inc. | Title: CTO | Department: |
Responsibilities:~1,000 employee, ~$500MM/year telecommunications clearinghouse, naming & addressing database, Internet infrastructure services, and mobile services company. Established R&D program that led to Neustar Labs and formal support of university R&D programs. Dramatically improved intellectual property generation and bringing technology from lab to market. Reported to the Chairman and CEO. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2008 to 2009 | Employer: BEA Systems | Title: Principal | Department: |
Responsibilities:Took year off to get a pilot's license. During his sabbatical, his projects included:• Expert patent advice for SIP/VoIP litigation – won suit (defense) against a troll; • Patent strategy for startup and mid-size companies; • Strategic research planning for large network equipment manufacturer; • Due diligence on a privately funded telecommunications service provider for a late-stage VC investment; • Technical due diligence on a hosted services provider for late-stage VC investment; • Architecture consulting on Application Servers and Media Servers, including vendor selection and contract negotiation strategy for a large private equity equipment manufacturer; • Architecture and telco-grade high-availability implementation consulting for a hosted voice services application provider; • Advising investment bankers on the telecommunications enabling technology market; • Advising investment bankers on M&A targets. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2007 to 2008 | Employer: BEA Systems | Title: VP Engineering and Deputy CTO; Acting General Manager | Department: Corporate; Communications Products Division |
Responsibilities:Initially worked to rationalize product lines. Proposed and lead the establishment of BEA’s Communications Products Division. Initial positioning prior to reorganization was to try to convince customers BEA was “as good” as legacy providers. By repositioning the line as a Web-oriented product, CPD revenues increased 10x. When BEA exited to Oracle with a 50% increase in market cap during my tenure, the CPD was the surviving product line post-merger. Reported to the Corporate CTO. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2000 to 2007 | Employer: SnowShore Networks, Brooktrout Technology, Cantata Technology | Title: CTO | Department: |
Responsibilities:SnowShore (2000-2004): venture-backed company (Charles River Ventures, Matrix Partners, St. Paul (Vest-bridge), 3i); lead technology from three co-founders to a high of 72 local employees and 11 contractors in India. When Brooktrout acquired SnowShore, it was a top-25% outcome for the venture class of 2000, which was a very challenging period for telecommunications venture firms. Reported to the CEO. Brooktrout (2004-2006): CTO, Established and ran Advanced Development to build proofs of concept, quick customer demos, and direct research projects internally and at universities. Divided time between Cantata’s major development centers in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and California, as well as supported global offices, customers, and partners. Supported university R&D programs. Took Brooktrout private with Excel Switching to create Cantata Technology, doubling Brooktrout’s market cap at exit. Cantata (2006-2007): CTO, investors included Oak Investment Partners, TowerBrook Capital Partners, Greenview Associates, and Anschutz Investment Company. Reported to the CEO. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 1993 to 2000 | Employer: Centigram Communications Corporation, The Telephone Connection | Title: Chief Scientist / VP Engineering | Department: |
Responsibilities:The Telephone Connection (1993-1998): VP Engineering, turned around company (private equity), growing staff 6x. Established relationships with local universities resulting in student Best Paper awards and integration of technologies into our products. Established strategic relations with vendors and customers, resulting in the award of a $150M contract. Reported to the CEO. Exit to Centigram. Centigram (1998-2000): Chief Scientist, led Centigram’s Maryland Technology Center of a 375+ employee public company. Established patent program, increasing portfolio by an order of magnitude. Directly involved with sale of company to ADC, which resulted in a nearly 3x increase in market cap and 10x of enterprise value. Reported to the Exec. VP Engineering. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 1991 to 1993 | Employer: Cable & Wireless Communications, Inc. | Title: Manager, Software Development | Department: SureFax |
Responsibilities:Manager and principal engineer for a broadcast and high volume broadcast facsimile switch service. Managed technology transfer of 500,000 lines of C code running in a distributed TCP/IP environment to my in-house engineering organization. Reduced engineer turnover from an average tenure of 9 months to 18 months. Work with other divisions of Cable & Wireless, primarily in the United Kingdom and Hong Kong. Managed group of 18 people. Reported to the Director of Software Development and the VP Engineering. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 1990 to 1991 | Employer: MCI Telecommunications Corporation | Title: Consultant | Department: |
Responsibilities:Directed a staff of engineers for high volume real-time on-line transaction processing for MCI’s Intelligent Network, creating the first effective architecture that today is known as a SoftSwitch. Directed and participated in research and development of transaction-oriented applications design for massively parallel supercomputer platform (nCube). This was a technical and commercial success. We were able to demonstrate call processing capacity that could process more than all of the global inter-exchange and international traffic for enhanced services. This resulted in a dramatic reduction in MCI’s network equipment costs. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2019 to 2021 | Employer: The White House | Title: Assistant Director | Department: Office of Science and Technology Policy |
Responsibilities:Ran team that identified and transferred 100 MHz of 5G mid-band spectrum from Federal/DoD use to the private sector. This was the fastest transfer of spectrum ever: typical identification and transition development processes take years to decades – here, developed the model to enable a transition plan by the users and NTIA in a handful of months, overcoming what had been reticence of the incumbent users to consider any form of sharing or vacating. Wrote budget priorities for communications and cybersecurity research and development across the Federal R&D enterprise, including R&D budgets for NSF, DARPA, DOE, and NIST, among others. Expanded rural broadband funding. Worked with HHS during the initial phases of the COVID pandemic to enable doctors to use broadband for telemedicine. Brought industry to the White House to participate in roundtables to expand U.S. network equipment manufacturing and exports. Established Advanced Wireless Test Platforms sub-work group at NITRD. Participated in Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and Team Telecom proceedings. Assisted on communications supply chain policy development and execution. Led the R&D, laboratory, and standards portions of the 5G and Beyond Implementation Plan. Reports to the US CTO and Deputy Assistant to the President. |
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Years | Employer | Title | Department |
Years: 2017 to 2019 | Employer: Federal Communciations Commission | Title: Chief Technology Officer | Department: |
Responsibilities:Principal technology advisor to the Commission. Brought on to transition technology developed at Georgetown to remediate illegal robocalls. Besides creating the regulations to enable the industry to implement STIR/SHAKEN, as well as removing regulations inhibiting detecting and prosecuting illegal callers, accomplishments include leading the technology for 988 (suicide prevention hotline – this will improve outcomes for least 1,400 people per year), cyber and supply chain security, video calling for the deaf, enhanced wireless emergency alerting, enhanced wireless 911 location services (including where in a large campus or tall building the victim is, saving lives and improving outcomes), counter-UAS technology, data over amateur radio, submarine cable security, and reliability of wired, wireless, and broadband networks. As Senior Technology Advisor, currently working national security, cybersecurity, supply chain security, and numbering issues. Embedded in the Office of Economics & Analytics and on technology issues report directly to both the Republican Chairman (under the Trump Administration) and Chairwoman (under the Biden Administration) of the Commission. |
Government Experience
Years | Agency | Role | Description |
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Years: 2017 to Present | Agency: Federal Communications Commission | Role: Chief Technology Officer | Description: Advice the Chairman, Commission, and staff on technological aspects of policy. |
Years: 2019 to Present | Agency: The White House, Executive Office of the President | Role: Assistant Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy | Description: Advise the President on communications and cyber policy |
International Experience
Years | Country / Region | Summary |
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Years: 1986 to 1991 | Country / Region: Belgium/Europe | Summary: Lived in Belgium and established the European R&D Center for Valid Logic Systems. In addition to building that organization, he also did a year of Major Account Management, selling to Philips throughout Europe. He captured the largest order for the company in 1989. He has an unlimited right to work in Belgium (equivalent to a Green Card in the U.S.). |
Years: 2001 to Present | Country / Region: China | Summary: Has conducted numerous business engagements, from having 97 direct reports in Beijing during his tenure running BEA's Communications Products Division to numerous strategic relationships with Chinese equipment manufacturers, carriers, and service providers. He gives a regular keynote addresses at numerous venues throughout the country. He has the right to multi-year, multiple-entry business visas for China. |
Years: 2002 to Present | Country / Region: Japan and Korea (APAC) | Summary: Has had numerous engagements throughout the region, focusing on Japan, Korea, and Australia in his role as CTO for SnowShore, Brooktrout, Cantata, BEA, and Neustar. |
Career Accomplishments
Associations / Societies |
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IEEE: Senior Member; ACM: Senior Member; AAAS: Patron; ISOC: Patron |
Licenses / Certifications |
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Ingineur (Belgian P.E.). |
Professional Appointments |
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Chairman Emeritus, SIP Forum; Board of Trustees, Internet Society; Trustee, IETF Trust; Advisory Board, Voice over IP Forum of Japan (past); Board of Directors and VP Asia, IMS Forum. |
Publications and Patents Summary |
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20 US Patents issued and others world-wide; other patents pending 3 textbooks/monographs Numerous journal, conference, and technical publications |
Additional Experience
Expert Witness Experience |
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Numerous trials, most significant heard in Eastern District of Texas and District of Delaware. |
Training / Seminars |
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Invited Lectures, Colloquia, and Symposia: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan Business School Lecture, University of New Hampshire Lecture, Southern New Hampshire University Lecture, George Mason University Lecture, Massachusetts Institute of Technology CIO Symposium, Northwestern University Computer Science Colloquium, City University of Hong Kong Computer Science Colloquium, Invited Keynotes at China SIP Summit, China VoIP Forum, CommunicAsia, International SIP, Regular Presentations to Voice on the Net, China Softswitch Forum, SIP Summit, Connectivity Forum, IEC IN/IP World Forum and SuperComm; Multiple IEC TecForum Chair; Invited Keynotes at ACM MNCNA (Middleware), IEEE NGMAST; Invited Presentations to IEEE Globecom, IEEE CQR; Invited Member, ITU Workshop on the Future of Voice |
Vendor Selection |
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From his position as Chairman and Chairman Emeritus of the SIP Forum, he knows virtually all VoIP equipment and service providers. In addition, he helped a client with vendor selection (IBM v. Oracle) and assisted with contract negotiations, resulting in the savings of millions of dollars and significant support concessions from the vendor. |
Marketing Experience |
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Telecommunications and Internet: numerous board memberships, advisory roles, and connection to the regulators means he sees just about the entire picture of the communications landscape. |
Language Skills
Language | Proficiency |
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Netherlands | Was fluent in business Dutch. However, today he speaks passable casual conversational Dutch. |
Français | Has limited ability in conversational French. |
Fields of Expertise
fixed-mobile convergence, Internet, Web development, Internet infrastructure, Internet standard, internet technology, internetworking, IP multimedia subsystem, next generation internet, teleconference, teleconferencing, Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol, voice over IP, World Wide Web programming, electronic-mail software, standard, circuit switching method, communication, communication code, communication network, communication software, communication technique, computer communication, computer network, computer network standard, data communication protocol, digital convergence, digital telephony, telecommunication software, telecommunications strategic planning, telecommunications system, telecommunications system design, telephone system, telephony, integrated voice response system, telecommunication standard, facsimile communication, Internet regulation, telecommunications regulation process, telecommunications regulatory compliance, telephone regulation, telecommunication regulation, computer software technology innovation, relational database management system, software patent, 911, long distance communication, internet crime, internet abuse, entertainment marketing, application security, security, internet fraud, wireless application protocol, fixed wireless access, wireless internet, information security, concurrent software, globalization, Internet service provider, facsimile machine, online publishing, market potential, Bell Communications Research, broadband integrated services digital network, hypertext markup language, digital communications network architecture, software engineering research management, Telnet, computer-aided engineering software, embedded software testing, Automatic Call Distributor, mobile telecommunication, software engineering process standard, digital switch, software internationalization, real-time software, computer-aided design and manufacturing software, technical marketing, software metric, telecommunications system maintenance, application software design, software system development, LAN/WAN interconnection, software product quality, audio signal compression, international telecommunication, report generator software, data communication, statute, publishing, computer, software quality assurance, software project management, software engineering, software engineering benchmarking, integrated services digital network, electronic switching, digital signal processing, computer software, codec, client/server database access software