Independent Consultant
2019 - 2019BFRDC, LLC- Supported technological innovations in hardware and software product development through applied scientific and engineering research and development.
- Performed software development for mobile, desktop, and web applications.
Technologies: Swift/iOS, Python, Ruby/RoR, AWS, PostgreSQL, C/C++Chief Technology Officer
2018 - 2019Fhetch- Developed a highly scalable platform for real-time requests and exchange of media content across mobile devices using Ruby on Rails and PostgreSQL.
- Developed a multithreaded Core Data stack for fault-tolerant and crash persistent background networking tasks. The user never needs to restart failed background tasks (e.g., message send failure).
- Developed an intuitive UI/UX for a simpler, cleaner photo-sharing experience.
Technologies: Swift, iOS, Core Data, Ruby on Rails, PostrgeSQLInnovation Center Program Manager
2016 - 2017Air Force Sustainment Center, US Air Force- Developed a data-driven recruiting resource optimization algorithm that harvests open source data repositories to focus government resources on the best universities to engage for recruiting new engineers.
- Worked to determine the best strategy and business model for standing up innovation centers to support Agile integration of advanced manufacturing innovations into the Air Force Sustainment Center.
Technologies: Ruby, ActiveRecord, Python3, MATLABOwner
2015 - 2017The Idea Cave, LLC- Awarded utility patent (pro se application).
- Developed advanced driver assistance device for iPhone users using patent-pending process and proprietary machine vision algorithms.
Technologies: Python3, C, C++, Swift, Bluetooth LE, Linux, iOS, Image ProcessingLead Process Engineer for Depot Maintenance, Ogden Air Logistical Complex
2015 - 2016Air Force Sustainment Center, US Air Force- Created a gated process tracking and reporting system for engineering managers using VBA for Excel.
- Created an automated reporting system for management of engineers, technicians, and planners for non-conforming technical assistance requests, using smart card PKI authentication to the Oracle back-end database using VBA for Excel.
- Created a program management forecasting and tracking tool for monitoring multiple independent parallel projects consisting of identical and serial subtasks. Currently used for monitoring contracts and human resourcing.
- Developed a custom workflow application for Sharepoint 2013.
- Led multiple rapid improvement events to solve inter-organizational shortcomings in best engineering and business practices.
Technologies: Visual Basic for Applications, Java, JavaScript, CSS, HTMLDeputy Director, Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Engineering
2013 - 2015ICBM Systems Directorate, Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, US Air Force- Directed the ICBM Systems Engineering Office and four technical engineering operating locations supported by seventy civilians, 25 AD military personnel, and 100+ contractors.
- Exercised engineering authority over the Minuteman III weapon system.
- Handled $1+ billion annually in acquisitions, sustainment, and test programs.
- Directed and managed resources to provide 24/7 engineering expertise for nuclear emergencies.
Technologies: NoneSpecial Assistant for HUMINT Support
2011 - 2013Air Force Technical Applications Center with Duty Under DIA Directorate for Technical Collection- Conducted specialized rapid reaction engineering addressing multiple HUMINT technical collection capability gaps.
Technologies: Ruby, C, C++, USB Firmware and Drivers, MATLAB, Signal and Image ProcessingChief, Missiles Technical Collection Division
2010 - 2011Air Force Technical Applications Center with Duty Under DIA Directorate for Technical Collection- Supervised the work of five military and civilian engineers and scientists addressing research, development, testing, and evaluation of missile technical collection capability gaps.
- Planned, directed, and executed highly classified, national-priority intelligence technology programs valued at more than $4.8 million.
Technologies: C, C++, MATLAB, Signal and Image ProcessingChief, High Power Microwave Computational Physics Section
2009 - 2010Directed Energy Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, US Air Force- Led and supervised a team of nine civilian scientists responsible for modeling and simulating high-energy physics weapons for lethal and non-lethal military applications.
- Developed and maintained physics code for virtual prototyping weapons with applications ranging from electronic warfare to non-lethal deterrence.
Technologies: C, C++, Python, Distributed ComputingChief, Performance Analysis Branch
2008 - 2009Airborne Laser System Program Office, Aeronautical Systems Center, US Air Force- Led a multidisciplinary team of 23 scientists and engineers chartered to perform mission-critical analyses for the Airborne Laser, supported by multi-tiered modeling and simulation capability.
- Directed $6.9 million/year corresponding to 47,805 man-hours of contracted support.
Technologies: MATLAB, Java, Finite Element AnalysisChief, Technology Development Branch
2007 - 2008Airborne Laser System Program Office, Aeronautical Systems Center, US Air Force- Directed a multifaceted long-term technology development program for inserting advanced capabilities into the Missile Defense Agency's next-generation production model Airborne Laser weapon system.
- Managed $40 million/year in technology investments.
Technologies: NoneFull-time PhD Student in Electrical Engineering
2003 - 2007Air Force Institute of Technology- Researched modeling, simulation, and estimation of optical turbulence.
- Wrote and published the Covariance Delineation Theorem for computationally efficient optimization of simulators for random processes in n-space.
Technologies: C, C++, MATLAB, Image Processing, Signal ProcessingElectro-optics Research Engineer
2000 - 2003Sensors Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Force Materiel Command, US Air Force- Conducted research on electro-optic infrared remote sensing phenomenology for spatial-spectral detection and identification of concealed targets in urban, desert, and forested environments.
Technologies: MATLAB, IDL, Image Processing, Automatic Target RecognitionFull-time Master of Science Student in Electrical Engineering
1998 - 2000Air Force Institute of Technology- Researched real-time color stereovision processing.
- Researched statistical pattern recognition and artificial intelligence.
Technologies: C, C++, MATLABOptical Tracking Engineering
1997 - 1998National Air Intelligence Center, Air Intelligence Agency, US Air Force- Directed analysis and production of technical intelligence assessments on foreign optical tracking and surveillance facilities.
- Located, identified, and analyzed new tracking facilities and assessed foreign operational procedures and capabilities to identify and track US space assets.
Technologies: Satellite Surveillance, Java, JavaScript, Unix
Byron Formwalt
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Developer in Oklahoma City, OK, United States
Member since March 24, 2014
Byron has 20 years of experience in highly technical algorithm development. He holds a PhD in electrical engineering and offers extensive knowledge of machine learning and video/image processing. Byron also has Toptal specializations in AI and data science. His skillset includes full-stack iOS and macOS desktop application development.
Byron is now available for hire
Portfolio
- BFRDC, LLCSwift/iOS, Python, Ruby/RoR, AWS, PostgreSQL, C/C++
- FhetchSwift, iOS, Core Data, Ruby on Rails, PostrgeSQL
- Air Force Sustainment Center, US Air ForceRuby, ActiveRecord, Python3, MATLAB
Experience
- Image Processing 20 years
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) 20 years
- Data Science 20 years
- iOS SDK 9 years
- Swift 6 years
- Python 3 6 years
- CoreML 1 year
- Metal 1 year
Availability
Part-time
Preferred Environment
Mac, iOS, Linux
The most amazing...
...system I've built used real-time video processing algorithms to detect leading vehicle departure and traffic light transitions with a single-aperture camera.
Employment
Experience
- Fhetch (Development)
Developed a beta version of a photo sharing app for iOS, producing nearly 100,000 lines of code in 12 months, including the server (RoR) and the app (Swift).
- WatchDawg (Development)
Developed a proprietary Python/OpenGLES based realtime image processing system for detecting of leading vehicle departure and traffic light transitions.
- HDM (Development)
Texas Hold'em Poker bot created using MATLAB, C, and Java to intelligently interpret and respond in realtime to events through simulated human interface inputs.
- PFS (Development)
Headless Ruby application that downloads all scanned images of public records for a particular county, performs optical character recognition (OCR), and conducts complex boolean word and phrase searches, tolerant of OCR errors with word proximity and order constraints.
- GCM (Development)
Stock portfolio algorithm development engine for historical paper trading created in MATLAB.
Skills
Languages
Ruby, Python 3, C, C++, SwiftFrameworks
Core Data, Ruby on Rails (RoR), iOS SDK, MetalLibraries/APIs
Core Image, OpenGL ESTools
PyCharm, XcodeParadigms
REST, Concurrent Programming, Data SciencePlatforms
Linux, iOS, Embedded Linux, MacOS, AWS EC2Storage
PostgreSQL, AWS S3Other
Video Processing, Image Processing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Embedded Software Engineer, CoreML, SwiftUI, AVFoundation
Education
- PhD degree in Electrical Engineering2003 - 2007Air Force Institute of Technology - Dayton, OH
- Master's degree in Electrical Engineering1998 - 2000Air Force Institute of Technology - Dayton, OH
- Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering1993 - 1997US Air Force Academy - Colorado Springs, CO
Certifications
- Artificial Intelligence SpecializationAUGUST 2019 - PRESENTToptal, LLC
- Data Science SpecializationAUGUST 2019 - PRESENTToptal, LLC
- Engineering Certification Level IIIMAY 2015 - PRESENTAssistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition) per Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA)
