Third Pin, L.L.C.,  is the consulting arm of William Babson.

I am a computer scientist with over 20 years experience in  research, hands-on implementation and project management.  I would like to be your consultant for all your information technology needs – from product development to establishing rigorous security protocols, from solving bottlenecks in your networks to creating new networks, as well as all the other computer resources you  require  to meet your client’s needs.

I offer my clients expert advice, training and execution based on the client’s needs independent of any vendor's agenda.  With years of troubleshooting experience and  a dependable and creative group of associates, if I can’t immediately solve your problem, I can quickly put together a team of experts who can

My area of specialization includes network protocols,  network management systems and information security.  However, in the course of my career, my experience  has been broader than indicated by these areas -- I have expanded my focus to include other  infotec areas  and worn many hats. Some of the positions I have held include Staff Mathematician, Research Scientist, Infosec Engineer, Chief Engineer and Product Line Manager, Principal Embedded Software Engineer. Duties and projects on which I have worked include:

• Participating on the Internet Engineering Task Force during the 90s when the Internet as we know it today was being developed.

• Performing information security assessments for MITRE.

• Conducting  advanced security research that was funded by the Defense Advanced Research Program Agency. My research projects included securing agent-based "active networks" (SANTS), cooperative intrusion detection and response (ANIDR), and the security portions of the SNMPv3 reference implementation where I worked directly with the IETF working group chair.

• Assisting H. Gordon Minns PhD, (developer of the first portable heart-lung machine and a famous West Virginian) at National Patent Corporation's Eastern Electronics subsidiary  to productize patents and technology aqcuired by the company.

• Applying Artificial Intelligence and Rule-based systems to interpret  data from towed  passive sonar arrays  to help identify and classify objects in the ocean. This project had the goal of assisting a submarine captain to determine if the object approaching his boat was a tuna fish, or a torpedo.

These experiences, knowledge and education allow me to bring a special insight, expertise and personal network of associates to address an array of information technology needs.

Basically, I think in terms of systems architecture which allows me a global view of the client’s needs.  However,  I also flexible and am quite capable of diving into the details "all the way down to the metal" if required,  for example:

• Patton Electronics, a $20 million dollar network equipment vendor, needed to   combine their products into a complete system to allow sales  to overseas phone companies. I came in, defined the product line and built the group by organizing a top-notch staff through my personal contacts.  I also traveled  to Morocco to work with the customer and ensure that their needs were met at all phases and levels of the task from working with senior Maroc Telcom management to coding software fixes and training on the spot.

• When the Defense Advanced Research program Agency (DARPA) required research teams to combine working demos of their security research, I created a demonstration and sold the concept to the DARPA  program manager. I worked with the teams to produce a working demonstration that was selected as an exemplary example of DARPA’s work.

• I assisted Penril Datability Networks to debug and certify their OSPF routing protocol implementation at the University of New Hampshire’s Interoperability Testing Laboratory.   This enabled Penril to have their router participate in networks using the dominant routing protocol in use today.
  

• I developed an inexpensive dial-up message distribution system for MULTICOMM (a wireless/satellite data broadcasting service). This 20 modem system was based on a single IBM AT, a custom real-time executive (operating system) that I wrote from scratch, and a modified data receiver that non-intrusively monitored the satellite uplink data stream. MULTICOMM was reliably able to fill all of the wireless coverage gaps and guarantee service nation-wide.
  

If your company is experiencing information technology growing pains, if you have a problem or a need regarding your computer-based resources or require product development, I am pleased to offer you reliable, effective and innovative solutions.  I think it will be helpful to know that I offer my services on  a retainer basis for companies that cannot maintain a full-time staff to manage their information technology resources.

As your requirements grow, I can provide access to advanced expertise.  

I would be delighted to speak with you about how I can assist you in growing your company or solving your challenges by providing verifiable results and solid solutions. Please feel free to call me at (301) 442-3118 or email at info@thirdpin.com to discuss your requirements.