James D. Gafford 400 Beale Street, No. 609
San Francisco, Calif. 94104-4415
(415) 472-1776 (Voice) •
(415) 472-1773 (Fax) •
(415) 328-5644 (Cell) •
http://www.jamesgafford.com/jdgres.htm
Professional Objective
Continue and enhance a well-established and diversified high-technology career by pursuing interesting and challenging work.
Accomplishments

Software Training

Taught classes in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access) at beginning and intermediate levels (consistent excellent ratings by students). Trained draftsmen in AutoCAD.

Taught clients to use adaptive (disability-accommodating) software and hardware.

Software Development, Test, and QA

Developed and maintained custom AutoCAD (VBA) automation tools to support office drafting standards.

Developed portions of user interface for large Microsoft Access-based application to manage dispatch and billing for package courier company.

Developed portions of a large Macintosh-based database application to incorporate Sybase SQL back-end. Developed application to upgrade existing databases to new structure (version upgrade tool).

Developed, tested, and directed implementation of portions of F-20 Tigershark fighter avionics simulation.

Developed software tools to automate initialization of simulator used to verify Space Shuttle on-board software.

CAD Management and Drafting

Wide-ranging experience with AutoCAD and Revit, preparing 2 and 3 dimensional models & drawings:

  • Preliminary Design, Massing Studies, Site Analysis, As-Built Documentation
  • Design visualizations mapping 3-D renderings into existing site photos with Photoshop
  • Site Plans, Architectural and Structural drawings, Landscaping Plans, Utility Plans, Details
  • Coördinated working drawing sets and notes for Architectural and Structural projects
Project Management

Prepared requirements and procurement specifications for large-scale real-time simulation system to support assembly and integration testing of major Space Station hardware and software components.

Developed plans for large-scale, geographically distributed software production facility as part of proposal for NASA Space Station project.

Lead engineer for Advanced Fighter (F-18 derivative) avionics simulation, directed simulator programming team, and provided interface and support to customer.

Provided computer system hardware & software consulting to numerous small business clients (MS Windows).

Avionics System Engineering and Test Carried out non-real-time simulations to verify readiness of Space Shuttle on-orbit flight control and RMS control software prior to launch. Audited and verified Remote Manipulator System simulation against RMS software requirements specifications.

Directed team of engineers and technicians responsible for QA-controlled verification of Space Shuttle on-orbit, entry, descent, and landing avionics systems (hardware and software).
Employment History
Donald L. Blayney & Associates San Rafael, California CAD & IT Manager (contractor) 2002, Jan. - Present
Systems & Software Consulting San Francisco Bay Area Independent Consultant (self­employed) 2002, Jan. - Present
Synapse Adaptive San Rafael, California Instructor, Office Manger 2001, Feb. - 2001, Dec.
Tamalpais USD Adult & Community Education Mill Valley, California Instructor 2001, Jan. - Present
D. Hugh Gregory Coleman, Architect
& Associates 		San Rafael, California CAD & IT Manager (contractor) 2000, Aug. - 2001, Feb.
ATS Computer Training Hesperia, California Instructor (Contractor) 1999, Feb. - 2000, Aug.
LWM Design Associates Apple Valley, California Draftsman; Manager of Technical Services 1993, Sep. - 2000, Aug.
Systems & Software Consulting Fontana & Apple Valley, CA Independent Consultant (self­employed) 1992, Oct. - 2000, Aug.
Team Logic, Inc. Temecula, California Programmer/Analyst 1993, Mar. - 1993, Aug.
McDonnell Douglas Huntington Beach, California Senior Engineer/Scientist 1989, May - 1992, Oct.
Rockwell International Downey, California Avionics Software Engineer 1987, Dec. - 1989, May
Rockwell International Downey, California Avionics Test/Software Engineer 1983, Oct. - 1987, Dec.
Northrop Aircraft Corp. Hawthorne, California Avionics Test/Simulation Engineer 1981, Nov. - 1983, Oct.
Rockwell International Downey, California Simulation Engineer/Test Conductor 1978, Sep. - 1981, Nov.
Education
B.S. Aerospace Engineering (dual major in Automatic Control Systems Engineering), United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland
Strengths
  • Able to work effectively in a coördinated environment
  • Self-starter, able to integrate the "big picture" when solving problems
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Perversely knowledgable abaout a wide range of software applications
  • Insatiably curious about everything
  • References available upon request
Download James D. Gafford's resume in Adobe PDF format. Resume in Adobe Acrobat format  /   Download James D. Gafford's resume in MS Word format.  Resume in Microsoft Word 2010 Format
Résumé design by Raymond E. Trygstad, Web Guru Extraordinaire (Thanks, Ray!)