Meet Our People

SRI's innovative thinking depends directly on the people who work here. Meet members of our team in Computing and Engineering, Chemistry, Physics and Materials, Drug Discovery, Drug Development and Health, Economics and Education, Environment and Energy, Business Development, and Administration and Corporate Activities, and learn why they joined SRI—you may discover that you would like to join the team, too. Visit Careers @ SRI for descriptions of current openings.

Meet Derek Artz, Development Engineer, Instrumentation and Simulation Systems, Engineering and Systems Division, SRI in Menlo Park

Focus @ SRI:
I lead the Network Operations team for the eXportable Combat Training Capability (XCTC) project, which provides a technology-enhanced, large-scale combat training system for the U.S. National Guard. SRI innovation and technology allow National Guard trainers to track the location of soldiers and vehicles spread over thousands of acres during training exercises, view combat engagements, and get the status of individual soldiers. I play a key role in designing the data infrastructure, and ensure our technology is operating at its very best for any given exercise. In doing so, I improve the training of soldiers that will be sent overseas.

Day in the Life @ SRI:
I walk to work, sit down at my desk, fire up my computer and the rest is a blur. No two days are the same, and that's the way I like it! In my experience at SRI, there are many opportunities to seize, and technological fields to explore.

Before SRI:

I came to SRI right out of college as a subcontractor for Lockheed Martin on the Range Standardization and Automation program, located in Santa Maria, California. I participated in a small team, ensuring that systems under development met safety guidelines. Afterward, I joined SRI's Software Engineering Program in San Luis Obispo, California, where I created collaborative websites and conducted distributed web-based meetings.

Academics:
BS in Industrial Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

Why SRI?
I was referred here by a friend. When I read SRI's lengthy timeline of innovations, I knew SRI had to be someplace special. Who wouldn't want to participate in that legacy? And the research is fascinating, but I'm a builder; I like to make things and put them to use. It's the integration of technological advancements into a final product that really gets me going, so I work close to the "productization" end of the development cycle. I also like the size of SRI and the rewards of working with people from many different departments and disciplines. I get to participate directly on projects that interest me and make a positive impact on society.

Inspiration and Motivation:
I am driven by a need to always learn new things and do them well. I'm a geek at heart and really dig the leading-edge research that goes on at SRI.

What has changed in your field since you began your career, and what new or exciting trends are you seeing?
Although my career is only five years along, there is an ever-increasing emphasis on web-enabled technologies, a leap to wireless connectivity, and a boom in portable devices. The industry is flush with new computing hardware that is more compact, powerful, efficient and affordable than ever before. The latest tracking device being developed by my group will use these industry advancements to support the large-scale training needs of new customers in the area of homeland defense, including fire, EMT, SWAT, CST, and hazmat teams.

Proudest Professional Accomplishment:
I am most proud of an all-night stint a few years ago that resulted in a website to demonstrate SRI's Video Optical Character Recognition (VOCR) capability. The site used almost all of my web development skills at the time, was completed in less than a week, and was instrumental in winning client-sponsored R&D.

Away from the Office:
When not sitting behind a computer or on a plane for work, I really enjoy being outdoors. Whether barbequing with friends, running, hiking, biking, or camping, outdoors is where I like to be.

Words of Wisdom for New SRI Team Members:
Never stop learning and always find ways to share your knowledge with others.