Dave Richards for Council 2012

My name is David Richards and I am applying for Council in the XSF.

General Background
I am a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (double major undergraduate and then masters degree) and have worked with communication systems ranging from satellites to building automation devices. Most recently I have joined Coversant, Inc. as Chief Software Architect to work with the SoapBox family of products.

Past Protocol Work

 * Contributed to the ASHRAE BACnet specification (86441 - Standard 135-2008 -- BACnet – A Data Communication Protocol for Building Automation and Control Networks (ANSI Approved)) in the form of technical discussion and review since 1996
 * A founding member of the oBIX group at OASIS
 * Served as the chair of the oBIX XML technical committee for a year and a half until February 2010 when I left the company through whom I was an OASIS member.
 * Contributed to Wireshark (starting back in the Ethereal days circa 2002)

In addition to my strong background working with network protocols, I also have a strong background in network/computer security.

XMPP Projects
I am fairly new to the world of XMPP, but I have worked on the SoapBox family of products, implementing XMPP code in .NET and C++. Prior to that (previous job), I worked on the design and implementation of a system that used XMPP for machine-to-machine communication to monitor machine health and to collect and analyze data for the purpose of system optimization. It was that project that really sparked my interest in XMPP as it showed me the wide range of potential applications beyond simple instant messaging.

Why I Am Seeking Membership
I have seen the potential of XMPP and am excited about the range of possible applications. Having been actively involved with ASHRAE and OASIS to develop specifications, I believe I can bring this experience to the XSF and help to grow and improve the set of XMPP specifications. As it is I have reviewed most of the key XEP's to familiarize myself with the protocol.

Specifically I would like to be involved with the Review Team and to be able to learn from and share ideas with the people who are shaping the future of XMPP (and to be one of those people!). I have invested myself into XMPP and would like to help shape its future.

Contact Information

 * XMPP: [xmpp:dave@coversant.net dave@coversant.net]
 * EMAIL: [mailto:drichards@coversant.com drichards@coversant.com]
 * PHONE: +1.916.577.1977 x6007
 * WEB: www.coversant.com