About the author
I hold a Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering and a Master of Science in Computer Science. I have a total of 26 years of experience as an electronics engineer and technician. At the age of 56 I went back to school and received a master’s in computer science and subsequently was accepted into a PhD program in computer science at the University of Illinois at Chicago. After doing many years of research into artificial intelligence I was dropped from the PhD program by virtue of not passing a standardized test known as: The ETS subject test in computer science. No one over the age of 35 has ever passed it as far as I was able to determine.
During my career in electronics I was employed by:
Motorola (Radio communications equipment)
Rockwell International (Telecommunications equipment)
Hughes Aircraft Company (Army, Air Force and Navy electronics equipment instructor)
Sperry Systems Management (U.S. Navy Guided Missile Frigate Combat Systems)
Martin Marietta Denver Aerospace (Space Shuttle Program, communications security)
Great Lakes Naval Training Center (Basic electronics instructor)
Honeywell (Building safety systems)
Before going to school I was an Infantryman in the U.S. Army and served a one year tour of duty in Vietnam from January, 1969 to January, 1970.
The official author website of Frank Scurio
Getting my master of Science in Computer Science at the age of 58
Many of my life and job experiences contributed to my hypothesis of intelligence. As an instructor at Great lakes Naval Training Center I was assigned to the Gunner's Mate Rate "A" school which included electronics training. I learned that no matter what the student's background, educational level or age was, learning could take place provided that the subject was presented correctly and the student had sufficient interest.
Since it seemed imperative that there was an adequate level of interest, that little fact stuck with me and now fits in nicely to my view that it is interest, passion and a love for subjects that promote storage of that subject for later use. In other words the level of brain activity is what causes the storage of information and this is why traumatic experience does not need "regressive hypnosis" to recall but on the contrary, is impossible to forget.
I am the bald fat guy third from the right in the first row. The guy sitting to my left was a Senior Master Chief Boatswains Mate who had spent his entire career on the flight decks of Aircraft carriers.
Great Lakes Naval Training Center
This is my teaching credential for electronics at the junior college level for adults
The following photos are ships I worked on and got the combat system up and running for acceptance by the Navy.
Oliver Hazard Perry Class (FFG -7) Guided Missile Frigate Program at Todd Pacific Shipyards, San Pedro, California
USS Wadsworth FFG - 9.
USS George Philip FFG - 12
USS George Philip FFG - 12
USS Sides FFG - 14
USS John A. Moore FFG - 19
USS Lewis B. Puller FFG - 23
Named after the most decorated Marine in the history of the Marine Corps
USS Lewis B. Puller FFG - 23
Named after the most decorated Marine in the history of the Marine Corps
USS Mahlon S. Tisdale FFG - 27
USS Reid FFG - 30
USS Curts FFG - 38.
USS Jarrett FFG - 33.
USS McClusky FFG - 41
FFG Combat System Block Diagram
MK 15 Phalanx Close-In Weapons System (CIWS)
RIM-66 / RIM-67 Standard Missile
MK 75 76mm/3-inch gun
MK-46 Torpedo
AGM-84 Harpoon
AN/SPS-49 Very Long-Range Air Surveillance Radar
AN/SPS-55 Surface Search radar
Mark 92 Fire Control System
This is a radar / symbol display console, the operator can select various radars to watch and click on new returns or "blips". Once for initial contact and again for speed and bearing. The Automatic target acquisition and tracking modification makes that operation automatic. The fire control system consoles are similar to display consoles such as this. The difference is they have triggers for firing weapons. This room is called the "CIC" for Combat Information Center.
Counter-battery radar (Mortar / Artillery locating radar)
This is equipment I taught to military and civil service personnel.
Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS)
I taught myself the technical operation of every piece of equipment in every photo above. The company I worked for (Sperry Systems Management) had a contract with the U.S. Navy in the case of the Guided Missile Frigates. As a remote site field engineer, I was assigned to the Todd Pacific Shipyard located in San Pedro California. This is where the ships were assembled from keel to radar mast. We were provided with Technical manuals for every equipment and we were expected to learn enough on our own to be able to get the equipment up and running and pass every test that was required before the Navy accepted the ship.
I taught myself, worked on and subsequently got up and running the following:
OJ 194 and 197 display consoles, SPS 55 surface search radar, SPS 49 air search radar, RM 66/ 67 standard missile, AGM 84 harpoon missile, MK 46 torpedo, MK 15close in weapons system (phalanx), MK 75 OTO Melara gun, Mark 92 fire control system.
While working as an instructor for Hughes Aircraft Company (they never made aircraft; only military electronics equipment) I taught myself and subsequently taught U.S. military personnel the technical operation, troubleshooting and maintenance of the counter battery radar and the joint tactical information distribution system.
At Rockwell International I designed and worked on telecommunications network equipment.
At Motorola I assisted in the design and testing of High Frequency (3 to 30 MHz) Single Side Band Transceivers for commercial use.
At Martin Marietta Denver Aerospace, I was responsible for auditing the level of secure communications by reviewing systems design and physical layout for the military version of the Space Shuttle program.