Today we’d like to introduce you to David Roberts.
Hi David, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I had my first job at age 14 working in a print shop, most cleaning the machinery and lug trays of lead type up and down stairs. Soon after I got a better job changing tires and doing minor mechanic’s work.
At 19 I joined the Army and “woke up.”
In the Army through University of Maryland courses in Germany, I took speech lessons, learning to write, and figured out that I was not a dummy. Through the encouragement of instructors, mentors, and friends I gained a new vision for my future.
Leaving the Army, I finished my bachelor degree in three year, my masters in eighteen months, and my doctorate in three years.
I learned that we can do very little on our own, and that my wife of fifty-seven years was my best team mate and enabler. She picked up the slack with our two children and was my rock of support.
I am retired since 2010, after 30 years of federal service, working as a scientist and field anthropologist. From design parts of the thing we now call the Internet, to the jungles of Panama, it has been an interesting ride. From an entry level position as a management intern to the head of advanced information system, to embedded with active troops, I have always been in learning mode. Evaluating new technologies to aid troops in the field, to motivating my development team with the best parties on the base… it has always been a process of building on past successes and failures.
Retired now for fifteen years, I still am in learning mode as a speaker at local museums, retirement homes, and other community functions. I docent at the the Heritage of the Americas Museum, and am on the Board of Directors.
And my reward? My wife an I travel the world on dozens of different cruise ship, where I tell stories of my adventures and places we have visited.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Like many of us, I have almost always started at the bottom, as a “clean up” guy, or intern, or the “new guy” that has to prove himself. Challenge accepted… to do better, and faster, and without whining.
I believe a cheerful attitude and focus on the task makes the ideal employee. The last thing the boss wants is another pain in the %#@!.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
In the early days of the Internet, we were figuring things out. From a bunch of connected mini-computers (PDP-1170) at various military bases and universities, to what have today, it was doing small things and trying to turn the thing into something useful.
First it was text messages and to sending pictures and audio. I worked on a program called File Transfer Protocol (FTP), which is now embedded in all Internet browsers in the world. It is the part of the browser that allows photos, videos, and the web pages that we know and love.
Prior to my work the FTP program was “a bust”… too big, too slow. I built a simple easy to implement version of FTP and a primitive browser. The code base was given to private industry and the rest is history… the Internet in a form you might recognize.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
San Diego is “Way Cool.” If you run out of things to do in San Diego, I can’t help you.
We have the best beaches, parks (like Balboa), eateries, live theater, and plenty of place to just chill.
I love the first dusting of snow in the local mountains which is perfect for cross country skiing or just making snow people (non-gender specific).
What I absolutely hate is the push for paid parking at our parks and beach. Although I and many of us can afford $16 a day at Balboa Park, some of our community members cannot. This parking fee will hurt many people at the lower end of the income spectrum.
Pricing:
- Best deal for a museum visit… $6 at the Heritage of the Americas Museum and kids and students are free
Contact Info:
- Website: http://DrDaveSanDiego.com
Image Credits
All images are published under a Collective Commons License – Free to use with attribution (see http://DrDaveSanDiego.com for details).
