Computer engineer
Professional Summary
Innovative computer scientist and senior software architect with expertise in software engineering, AI/ML, and high-performance computing. Over 25 years of experience driving cutting-edge solutions, leading cross-functional teams, and mentoring talent. Proven ability to reduce development cycles, enhance system security, and optimize performance across diverse platforms.
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My background spans most of the discipline of computing and was cultivated through years of teaching undergraduate and graduate level courses, research and development, past work experience, and consulting projects.
Thomas H. Briggs, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus, Computer Science & Engineering
Software Architect
Email:
Address:
410 Constellation Lane
Frederick, MD, 21701
Background
From the moment I laid hands on a Radio Shack TRS80 in elementary school, I was captivated by the possibilities of technology. That passion has only deepened over the years, shaping me into a lifelong coder who relishes the challenge of solving complex problems, whether for fun or profit.
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I was an early Linux evangelist. I started using Linux with the Soft-Landing-System, released 0.99 PL3 in 1992. Back then, Linux was downloaded as a bunch of floppy disks. I've been using it ever since. As a student, I even ran a Linux server, Cutter, for the campus. We ran the first web server on campus, served thousands of users, and had 40 to 50 people logged on to a 486-33MHz! Amazing by today's standards.
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Rather than pursuing a narrow academic path, I’ve built my career by reinventing myself and tackling diverse challenges. Whether designing intricate board layouts in Allegro or advancing computer theory and machine learning, I draw on a multidisciplinary background to craft innovative solutions. For me, true satisfaction comes from blending theory, practice, and creativity to overcome challenges and create impactful outcomes.
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Today, I am working towards creating next generation products for Baxter's Front-Line Care, where we are advancing connected care and helping save lives.
EXPERIENCE
2021 - Present
Senior Engineering Specialist - Software Architecture
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Baxter Healthcare
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Spearheaded the design and oversight of software architecture for new products, driving reuse and harmonization across platforms. This resulted in significantly reduced time-to-market and improved consistency throughout product lines.
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Guided integration of industry-leading technologies and practices into product development, ensuring secure, efficient, and robust solutions. Introduced Agile development methodology, Clean and SOLID architecture, automated unit testing, DAST and SAST to improve reliability and robustness and reduce code defects.
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Collaborated cross-functionally to align software with product and organizational goals, coordinating with leadership, regulatory, UX, and marketing teams. Lead the software effort to support 510(k) filing for very large NPD.
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Defined critical product requirements and established best practices to enhance software quality, cybersecurity, and time-to-market efficiency. Set company standard of excellence for software documentation.
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Mentored and inspired team members, fostering an environment of innovation, continual learning, and technical excellence. Resulting in accelerated adoption of new development practice and technology adoption, especially in areas of Security and automated testing.
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Represented the software team in strategic decision-making, shaping process and technological direction to meet organizational objectives.
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Implemented harmonized architecture, reducing development cycles and improving component reuse.
2017 - 2021
Professor
2010 - 2017
Associate Professor
2001 - 2010
Assistant Professor
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
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Founded the School of Engineering and developed multiple degree programs, including Computer and Software Engineering.
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Taught advanced courses in AI, computer security, and systems engineering, mentoring over 30 research projects. Taught 41 different courses across multiple disciplines.
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Managed senior capstone projects for 12+ years, fostering practical engineering skills among students.
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Published impactful research in AI, semantic web, and engineering pedagogy
1999 - 2002
Academic Information &
Technical Services Manager
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
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Developed database warehouse and decision support tools.
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Developed machine learning models to support enrollment management, supporting targeted admissions and retention initiatives.
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Developed integrated academic information system, including: back-end technologies: Solaris & Linux OS, Oracle & MySQL databases, LAMP stack, backups, and networks.
1997 - 1999
Regional Hub Administrator
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
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Systems administrator for Sun E4000 enterprise class system running Solaris, Oracle RDBMS.
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Managed Endeavor Integrated Library Automation System for 14 state university libraries and the Pennsylvania State Archives.
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Developed WebAdmin to enable librarians to schedule bulk import, export, and reporting tasks.
1993 - 1997
Library Automated Systems Manager
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
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Systems administrator for Novell Netware, UNIX Ware, and Linux servers
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Designed federated single-sign-on system allowing students across the 14 state universities to remotely access library subscription services.
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Maintained 40 Linux workstations for faculty and students
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Developed GUI front-end for library system running on legacy mainframe
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Designed and developed sophisticated record conversion software to migrate collections data from legacy mainframe Endeavor Voyager ILS.
1990 - 1992
Systems Administrator
Joseph Ciccone & Sons, Inc.
Systems administrator for multi-company heavy-highway contractor. Managed AIX midrange and PC file server. Developed applications for interfacing to accounting system.
EDUCATION
2002 - 2008
Doctor of Philosophy
Computer Science
Dissertation: Constraint Generation and Reasoning in OWL
Graduated with honors.
1997 - 2001
Shippensburg University
Master of Science
Computer Science
1993 - 1996
Bachelor of Science
Computer Science
Shippensburg University
Systems Programming Concentration, Member of ACM Programming Team
SKILLS
Linux Kernel Programming - Advanced
MIPS, Intel, ARM Assembly - Advanced
OrCAD / Allegro - Advanced
Verilog - Advanced
Machine Learning - Advanced
Bayesian Belief Networks - Advanced
Semantic Web - Expert
Support Vector Machines - Advanced
Algorithms & Analysis - Advanced
Agile Project Management - Advanced
SQL / DBMS - Expert
Xilinx ISE & Vivado - Advanced
TEACHING
Computer & Electrical Engineering Courses
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CMPE210 - Network Engineering
CMPE220 - Computer Organization
CMPE230 - Computer Security
CMPE320 - Operating Systems
CMPE322 - Microcontrollers
CMPE410 - Realtime & Mobile Development
CMPE411 - Advanced Operating Systems
CMPE420 - Digital & Reconfigurable Computing
CMPE499 - Engineering Development
ELEC100 - Programming for Engineers
ELEC422 - High-Speed Circuits
ENGR110 - Modeling & Simulation
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Computer Science Courses
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CPS253 - Computer Science I​
CPS254 - Data Structures and Abstract Data Types
CSC103 - Overview of Computer Science
CSC106 - Computer Science1 Lab
CSC110 - Computer Science 1
CSC111 - Computer Science II
CSC180 - Microcomputer BASIC
CSC220 - Computer Organization
CSC254 - Computer Science II
CSC310 - Design & Analysis of Algorithms
CSC320 - Operating Systems
CSC371 - Database Management Systems
CSC394 - Special Topics - Semantic Web
CSC394 - Special Topics - Computational Music
CSC420 - Embedded & Realtime
CSC434 - Web Programming
CSC447 - Operating Systems
CSC476 - Artificial Intelligence
CSC499 - Student Research & Design
CSC500 - Discrete Structures
CSC520 - Computer Architectures
CSC521 - Operating Systems
CSC546 - Artificial Intelligence
CSC560 - Database Management Systems
CSC594 - Semantic Web
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Projects
General Projects​
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GSuiteGAL - Plugin for MS-Outlook to link/synchronize a Google GSuite global addresses into an Outlook personal address book.
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QuizExtractor - Extract SCORM quizzes from camtasia and create import files for D2L or GradeScope.
Embedded & Hardware Projects
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BLDC Controller - Sensorless (Back-EMF) BLDC controller with soft-start. Includes PIC32 code and OrCAD schematics.
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I2C Controller in Verilog - A simple I2C controller in Verilog I developed for my YouTube channel.
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Image2Gerb - Convert B&W images to Gerber files.
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MIPS Pipeline Visualizer - A basic pipeline simulator for the MIPS32 5-stage processor.
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NanoKernel - A simple, bootable kernel written in mixed Assembly/C project and labs to explore building a kernel from scratch.
- NetClocks - Convert cheap LED display to programmable, networked clock to display emergency messages.
- NixieClock - Board design for the Nixie tube clock a built for my desk.
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OLED - OLED demo project with text font for PIC32.
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UART Library - IRQ driven UART code to handle standard I/O in Microchip PIC32 projects.
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USB Charger - USB 2.0 charger designed to go into a blue, British police phone box model and flash an LED proportional to the charging current.
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Railroad Signaling - A railroad signal controller for the Shippensburg RR Museum.
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ShipCells - Virtuso VLSI cell library from the high-speed circuits class.
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TivaC USB Creator - Fill out the form, it writes the .c and .h file for the Tiva C USB library.
AI & Machine Learning Projects
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Clustering - A brute-force & spring-force implementation of clustering for unsupervised preprocessing.
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CompositeKernel - An evoluationary algorithm for finding the best linear combination of kernels for SVM classification.
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ConnectFour AI - An Connect-N player using minimax search with alpha-beta pruning.
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JPDomainBuilder - Determines least-common-subsumer for the domains of each proper in an OWL ontology.
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Knowledger - A FOL reasoner using Horn clause and skolemization written in Java.
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mex-svm - a MATLAB "C" wrapper for the native SVM Light classifier and regression tool.
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Search - An abstract implementation of the Russell & Norvig state space search algorithms in Java.
RESEARCH AND PUBLICATION
Doctoral Dissertation
You can read my doctoral dissertation [UMBC] [Here]
You can also read my master's thesis [Here]
Embedded Textbook
A work in-progress, I've written 14 chapters over > 700 pages on embedded programming. [Sample Chapter on GPIO]
Publications
More than 30+ journal and conference papers published. [Full List]
Corporate Publications
Publications that have been adopted by industry partners. [Full List]
Grants
More than $500,000 in grants to support teaching and undergraduate student research. [Full List]
Research Projects
Advised 30+ students in undergraduate and graduate research across a diverse spectrum of projects. [Full List]
Invited Speakerships
Invited speakerships to present to a variety of audiences. [Full List]