CANDIDATE FOR SECRETARY

Steve Simmons

I have been an institutional or individual member of USENIX since 1984. In that time I have written papers, given invited talks, served on conference committees and as LISA chairman, worked in the founding of SAGE as a USENIX Special Technical Group, and volunteered as staff at more conferences than I can remember.

The events of the past two years have convinced me that it is time to volunteer again, this time for service on the Board. I've been considering this off and on for over a year; the recent events between USENIX and SAGE merely made the decision faster and easier.

Of the various professional groups I've been part of, USENIX has done the most for both my long-term career and my field. It straddles the difficult line between the research world and the practical world. SAGE, for obvious reasons, is near and dear to my heart--but I stopped being a system administrator more than five years ago. I'm running for the USENIX Board, not against the current Board members. Nor am I running for the USENIX Board so I can make it do what SAGE wants. I'm running for USENIX.

USENIX and SAGE must come to either a better working relationship or an amicable divorce. I think it can be done without sacrificing either organization, and I will strongly resist anything that works to the detriment of either organization.

The current problems are partly structural (bylaws, policies, etc.), partly personalities, and partly communications failures on both sides. I can address the structural issues. I will endeavor to minimize the personalities issues and to maximize the communications. But I will not do anything to either organization at the expense of the other, and I will not act as part of a slate whose members have that as a goal.

Biography: Born 1953, Bachelor's degree University of Michigan 1980. Special interests in computing include individual software development, software management, system administration, and security. Numerous papers and talks at LISA conferences; chaired LISA IV. Member of first ad-hoc committee during formation of SAGE. First elected president of SAGE. Past employment includes researcher, director of development, system programmer, and system administrator at various companies. Ran own consulting company for seven years. Currently a software development manager at UUNET. Non-computing interests include family, music, and reading. Non-computing publications include music, humor, and fact.

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