I received my BS degree in Chemistry from the US Air Force Academy in 1977. I was fortunate to receive two research assignments while in the Air Force. I participated in high energy laser development and in infrared measurements of terrestrial backgrounds from aircraft. When I resigned my commission in the Air Force I joined the McDonnell Douglas Research Laboratories where I did research on gas phase kinetics for laser and atrmospheric applications. In addition I attended night school for my MS degree in Chemistry at the University of Missouri, St. Louis (1988). In 1990 I left MDRL and in 1991 went back to school full time for my PhD in Physical Chemistry at Washington University in St. Louis (1996). My dissertation was on the recombination rates of electrons and holes in CdS nanoparticles. During this time I began participating in the Ask A Scientist forum of NEWTON. After receiving my PhD I worked for a startup in California developing a tester for printed circuit boards. I have since joined Cisco Systems, Inc. where I am developing test strategies for networking products. My background in spectroscopic investigations and automation of measurement systems give me insight