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Frank Hummer -- Resume

Dr. Frank A. Hummer

 

EDUCATION

         1992 Ph.D., mathematics ¨ 1987 M.S. mathematics ¨ 1985 B.S. mathematics (philosophy

          minor), from Iowa State University

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Multi-faceted mathematician with broad background in business, government, and academia

  • Creative problem solver who finds unexpected solutions to tough problems

  • Broad background in both pure and applied math and statistics

  • Highly regarded as an outstanding communicator by students, coworkers, and customers

    • At one engineering firm I became known as “the mathematician who can actually write”.

EMPLOYMENT AND RESEARCH EFFORTS

2016 – 2024

         Senior Systems Engineer, at Rockwell Collins (Later called Collins Aerospace, a division of Raytheon). 

  • Monte Carlo testing of Precision Aircraft Landing algorithms. Review of formal documentation.

  • I applied advanced statistical tail-modelling techniques (for “rare events”) to demonstrate compliance with government requirements for GPS performance. This modeling provides efficiency improvements over standard Monte Carlo methods.

  • Analysis of new GPS signal’s response to ionospheric scintillation conditions

  • Translated embedded MATLAB line code into Simulink

  • Found explanations for GPS measurement anomalies

  • Implemented, in Simulink, algorithms for inclusion and exclusion of GPS satellite signals from GPS solutions

2014 - 2016    Adjunct Instructor, Southern New Hampshire University

  • Taught Statistics, Cryptology, and Financial Math using highly interactive online teaching protocols, using Blackboard learning management system

2014 – 2015    Senior Systems Engineer, Rockwell Collins, through U.S. Professional Services, Inc.  

  • Systems engineering tasks include document revisions, writing of subsystem requirements, and algorithm development for GPS (MGUE). Did Statistical and Geometric Analysis to identify risks to product performance.

  • Developed a Statistical Excel tool which refines and extends the NIST Testing for Pseudorandom Number Generators. I remedied several major gaps in the NIST PRNG standards.

  • Created a comprehensive taxonomy of existing unclassified GPS anti-spoofing methods.

  • Created and implemented algorithms which improved the efficiency of certain navigation algorithms by more than four orders of magnitude.

2003 –2014   Senior Systems Engineer, Rockwell Collins, Inc.

  • My revisions of an existing algorithm, and my test-case designs, improved performance of the company’s cryptographic chip, saved $2 million by pre-empting the production of an incorrect chip, and led to the chip’s obtaining NSA certification.

  • I put a cryptographic chip-design project two months ahead of schedule (which had been behind schedule by one week), through my re-working of a sophisticated modular multiplication algorithm (Montgomery multiplication). My effort to do this took 3 days.

  • Gave a presentation on k-schemes, or “(k, n) secret sharing schemes”, a secure method for distributing trust among multiple parties

  • Two patents granted for efficient cryptographic authentication in mobile ad hoc wireless networks.

    • Patent # 7853785: System and method for implementing digital certificate revocation in an ad-hoc network

    • Patent # 7809941: Certifier hierarchy for public key infrastructure in an ad-hoc network

  • Assimilated research on the capacity of wireless networks in order to direct product development

  • Wrote a paper for in-house use which surveyed the literature for efficient modular multiplication using RNS number representations

  • Innovation Award for my efficient algorithm for key exchange (for frequency hopping sequences) in an ad hoc wireless network

  • My improvements in the mathematical modeling of energy usage in ad hoc wireless networks allowed me to design improved routing and channel-access protocols to achieve energy efficiency

  • Implemented novel algorithm for finding earliest signal in multipath RF environment

  • Tested and mathematically analyzed MEMS devices, for possible inclusion in GPS product

  • Greatly reduced simulation expenses (time, cost) by developing and implementing statistical tools for calculating rare-event likelihoods for use in estimating GPS receiver performance parameters

  • Greatly improved efficiency of algorithms for GPS PVT solutions

  • Wrote formal Subsystem Requirements and Software Requirements for use by software engineers

  • The high quality of my live presentations and documentation improved customer satisfaction

  • Created formal test procedures to show compliance with contract requirements

2002-2003    Instructor, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

  • Taught undergraduate astronomy and physics

2001-2002   Book Reviewer and Test Writer (contract work) Prentice Hall Publishing Co.  

  • Identified as a top reviewer/proofreader and test-item writer for two College math texts (Finite Math and Calculus, both by Armstrong and Davis)

2000-2001   Temporary Instructor, Des Moines Area Community College

  • Taught Calculus I and II, Statistics, Algebra

1998-2001   President, The Code Source, LLC.

  • Developed and marketed software related to computer security. This software used data compression to efficiently achieve security with easy password access.

1994-95 & 1996-2001   Temporary Assistant Professor, Iowa State University

  • Taught a wide variety of undergraduate mathematics courses (Calculus 1, 2, and 3; Differential equations with Laplace Transforms; Linear Algebra for Engineers; Finite Math; Trigonometry)

  • Served as Course Supervisor for Finite Math (Matrix Algebra, Linear Programming, Probability)

    - Took initiative to coordinate course content with the academic needs of other departments

    - Measurably improved the performance of business majors in later math-related courses

  • Improved student morale and performance by implementing novel grading and testing methods  

1995-1996  Mathematician, Spanning Tree Technologies

  • Developed products and services in computer security, fraud detection

1992-1994   Assistant Professor, Valley City State University, North Dakota

  • Taught a wide variety of undergraduate mathematics courses

  • Developed student projects incorporating DERIVE software

  • Participated in faculty group exploring the use of Cooperative Learning in education

  • Did astronomical calculations for Stonehenge-like student project, the “Medicine Wheel”

1991-1992   Research Assistant, Iowa State University

  • Researched image processing algorithms for image enhancement and feature-detection

  • Published paper concerning my application of neural networks to image processing

    • Jennifer Davidson and Frank Hummer, Morphology Neural Networks: An Introduction with Applications, Circuits Systems and Signal Processing 12(2):177-210

  • Studied computer vision and pattern recognition

1989-1992 (Thesis research toward Ph.D.)

  • The dissertation, “Loop Transversal Codes” generalized the Hamming metric to accommodate non-white noise. I proved binary codes based on the syndrome function are identical to lexicodes, even in non-white-noise cases.  Found record-breaking ternary error-correcting codes

  • Published two papers and presented two math conference talks based on the results of my research

    • F. A. Hummer and J. D. H. Smith, Greedy loop transversal codes, metrics, and lexicodes,  J. Comb. Math. Comb. Comp. 22 (1996), pp. 143-155.

    • F.-L. Hsu, F.A. Hummer, and J.D.H. Smith Logarithms, syndrome functions, and the information rates of greedy loop transversal codes, J. Comb. Math. Comb. Comp. 22 (1996), pp. 33-49

1988 and 2002   ACT Test Preparation Instructor, Huntington and Sylvan Learning Centers

  • Helped students prepare for the ACT test, addressing both content and test-taking strategy.

1988-1989 Mathematics Instructor, Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth

  • Taught algebra to gifted elementary students, providing interactive, individualized instruction.

1988-1989   Cryptologic Mathematician, Department of Defense

  • Independently solved a long-standing decryption problem involving a broad class of secret codes

  • My paper on this was published for the intelligence community and is classified Top Secret.

  • Calculated computational complexity for decryption algorithms

  • Created spoofing algorithm for exposing cryptovariable used by “enemy” encryption device

  • Implemented many encryption and decryption algorithms

ACTIVITIES and HONORS

  • Chairman of the ISU Mathematics Graduate Student Committee, 1991-2. Resolved disputes between the graduate students and the department chair by serving as a creative problem solver and effective communicator.

  • Nominated for Teaching Excellence Award, ISU Math Department, 1991

  • Nominated for Teacher of the Year, Valley City State University, 1994.

  • Nominated for VEISHA Professor of the Year, ISU, both 1997 and 1998

  • Spoke to ISU student philosophy group on the topic of philosophy of science issues related to the humanities and religion, 2000

  • Spoke at a mathematics colloquium at Iowa State University regarding foundation-level concerns in statistics, concerns that had been prompted by experimental results in parapsychology, 1998

  • Presented a “Mathematical Magic” show for people of all ages at the Ames Iowa Public Library, 1996

  • Spoke at two health conferences (Iowa Holistic Health Conference, and a conference hosted by the Nebraska Health and Human Services Department) on philosophy-of-science and philosophy-of-mind issues in medical science, 1999, 2000

  • I created a Visual Basic tool giving accurate geocentric positions of the sun, moon, and planets across a 3000-year span, in a variety of coordinate systems.

  • Gave in-house talks at Rockwell Collins on:

    • Theoretical Transport Capacity of Wireless Networks, 2007

    • Importance Sampling (statistics) for reduction of variance of estimates, 2010

    • The Mathematics of Musical Scales and Harmony, 2012

  • Earned ISSA (International Sports Sciences Association) certification as a Certified Nutrition Coach, 2020

  • In 1966, I gave presentations to fellow students on the topics of

    • ​(1) Non-Euclidean Geometries in relation to Euclid’s Parallel Postulate, and

    • (2) The geometry of the 4-dimensional hypercube

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