Name: Roger Smith
Title: Technical Director
Company: BTG Inc.
Contact Info: http://www.modelbenders.com
How I arrived at my present job (academic and other influences): I finished graduate school with little idea about what field to enter. My MS in Statistics lead to a position in the Operations Research department of General Dynamics in Fort Worth, Texas. This 32,000 person facility was responsible for the productionof the F-16 fighter aircraft and a few hundred small projects.
The OR department built and operated several models on the performance of the F-16 against surface-to-air missiles and in air-to-air combat. We also performed trade studies comparing the F-16 to the F-15, F-18, F-20, and F-4.
This analytical background in modeling and simulation was very valuable, but not particularly exciting. Therefore, I moved into training simulation and becan constructing (coding) large constructive simulations. This lead to opportunities in Northern Virginia followed by Orlando, Florida.
I have become an ardent student of all forms of simulation and absorb every book, conference proceedings, and web site that is availble on the topic. All of this information has led to senior positions in the technical branches of two companies so far. It has also given birth to several commercial courses on simulation.
How I organize my day: I never go anywhere without my datebook. It contains appointments, but more importantly it allows me to capture ideas that need to be acted on, and to schedule those actions. This is essential to keep you from spending all of your time on the emergencies that arise each day. You must devote time to long-term accomplishments.
Stephen Covey's book "First Things First" is an excellent description of how to focus on Important activities rather than Urgent ones.
Amount of time spent working daily (at home and office): Approximately 10 hours. Since I use my computer and e-mail at work and at home, it is sometimes difficult to determine when the work day stops.
What I do to get myself thinking creatively:
1) Wake up
2) Open my notebook to a blank shet of paper and start ansking myself questions
about the problem at hand. Draw pictures of hardware, software, facilities,
ideas.
3) Use date book to capture and schedule important ideas.
My problem-solving strategy: I use a notebook to think through problems. It is very difficult to use a computer when you are trying to birth new ideas. The computer limits your ideas to the "shape" of documents you know how to create (immediately turns everything into a text document or briefing slide). Blank paper lets you develop an idea in any form you can scribble.
What I do to relieve stress: Exercise at least 3 days a week after work.
My hero, mentor, or person I most admire and why: With a mobile work force it is difficult to establish hero's among ones co-workers, they or you are soon gone to new pastures. There are several people whom I respect and seek their advice. I will not name them.
Hero's or mentors are people who have mastered their field - their field may be the same as yours or adjacent to it. In most cases they are bold in their opinions, their mastery has given them a strong voice and they are not afraid to take chances. They are people who are taking chances, making mistakes, and building the future.
What I do to mentor those who work for me: Be a bold leader. Show them what you know and do not be afraid to direct them. Ideas and expertise are king.
Do not put any stock in corporate formalities like performance reviews.
How a negative event changed my life in a positive way: At one employer we had massive layoffs (not me). The company decided that all of the existing employees (the high performers) had to be redistributed into a bell curve during the next performance review. As a result my score went from Excellent to Above Average. Given the very special projects I was doing at the time I was furious about this insult. I went to the Director and insisted that he revist my score. He declined and I went looking for a new job. My new job was a 45% pay raise and a transformation from big corporations to small businesses.
The responsibility and decision making authority available in a small business are amazing and they change you from a cog in a machine to an independent entity.
What values are the most important to me and what I value in others:
1) Communications and Empathy
2) Technical Expertise
3) Hard Work
What inspires, motivates, or gets me excited about my job on a daily basis: Independence of decision making.
Biography: see my web site: http://www.modelbenders.com/
Last Modified:
Location: www.acm.org/crossroads/dayinlife/bios/roger_smith.html