Background in Technical Writing
My technical writing experiences are diverse, ranging from preparing first article inspection reports for parts on the M242 Bushmaster chain gun to drafting, proofreading, and revising plans and reports for the Aviation Systems and Electronic Test Division at Yuma Test Center, part of the Army Test and Evaluation Command. Since moving to the Huntsville area, I have supported software development, cybersecurity, software assurance, and threat systems projects. Over the years, I developed a reputation for rendering complex details into readable and usable documentation that adheres to Government standards on a wide variety of topics, including manufacturing, metrology, radars, sensors, aircraft, missiles, cargo and personnel parachutes, electronic warfare, unmanned air vehicles, and threat-representative targets.
I have a strong history of meeting deadlines, exceeding expectations both in a team environment and independently, and relating well to people at all levels within an organization. I currently work with approximately 30 engineers and 10 engineering technicians to produce documentation for a wide range of audiences with various reporting timelines.
In an effort to hone my craft, I have also taken the following graduate-level courses:
CM 662: Information Architecture
EH 501: Theory and Practice Technical Communication
EH 540: Writing about Science and Technology
EH 603: Editing for Publication
TCM 53000: Advanced Technical Writing
TCM 54000: Advanced Managing Document Quality
TCM 55000: Advanced Research Approaches for Professional and Technical Communication
Technical Writing Sample 1
Summary:
This beginner’s guide to Extensible Markup Language (XML) includes the following information:
Basic introduction to what XML is
Discussion of why XML matters to technical communicators
Information for getting started using XML, including definitions, samples, activities, tutorials, and software/resource recommendations
I carefully considered the format of the guide to ensure maximum usability. I added headers, visuals, samples, illustrations, and other helpful elements to increase user understanding.
Applicability to Industry:
User, Operations and Maintenance (O&M), and technical manuals are common documents that accompany nearly every military system. One of the target audiences for these manuals is people who are using the product/equipment for the first time. This beginner’s guide demonstrates my ability to write for someone that has zero experience with a technical concept. This guide also demonstrates my ability to follow standardization guidelines set forth by my professor. This is similar to me adhering to Data Item Descriptions (DIDs) that specifically define the data content, format, and intended use of a contract deliverable.
Furthermore, while writing this guide, I gained a working knowledge of the Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA), an XML data model for authoring, producing, and delivering technical information. This data model consists of a set of design principles that help to create and manage content separately from formatting. This enables the reuse of content among different publications and within the same publication.
Technical Writing Sample 2
Summary:
In my Editing for Publication class—EH 603—I was asked to edit a draft of the journal article "Evil Twins and the Multiverse: Distinguishing the World of Difference between Epistemic and Physical Possibility” for accuracy. This edit required me to review public and internal records to verify information in the article. In addition, I had to tactfully query the writer when I was uncertain whether a mistake had been made.
Applicability to Industry:
When we think about editing for correctness, we usually think about editing errors or issues in grammar, mechanics, or usage. However, it is just as important to ensure that all of the information in the document is accurate. This assignment demonstrates my ability to check facts like the following:
The spelling of people's names
Individual's job titles
The names of departments/offices/organizations/companies
Book, magazine, and article titles
Years and dates of important events
Quotations (for accuracy) and quotation page numbers
Hyperlinks (to ensure that the link goes where it is supposed to go)
Common equations and well-known facts
Results of simple mathematical formulas (for instance, if a table adds up numbers, ensure that the sum is correct)
As a technical writer, I always take the time to edit for correctness because inaccuracies can diminish a work's credibility.
Technical Writing Sample 3
Summary:
I edited and formatted the following papers: Aircraft Wing Tip Vortex Testing Methodology, Simulation and Analysis Techniques written by Dr. Keith Allen; Analysis of Airdrop Instrumentation Limitations and Development of Solutions to Meet Current and Future Testing Requirements written by Mr. Ryan Tiaden; and Enhanced Meteorological Instrumentation in Airdrop Environment written by Mr. Ryan Fraser. These papers were presented at the 24th AIAA Aerodynamic Decelerator Systems Technology Conference in Denver, Colorado.
Applicability to Industry:
AIAA has strict guidelines for submitting manuscripts for consideration for publication. By editing and formatting in accordance with those guidelines, I eliminated the Government’s need to hire a third-party editing service.
I can ensure your manuscripts comply with your target journal’s instructions for authors; the language you use makes sense and is clear; and check for spelling, grammar, syntax, tense, and sentence structure.
Aircraft Wing Tip Vortex Testing Methodology, Simulation and Analysis Techniques Abstract
User requirements prompted new field testing procedures to collect and examine the behavior of wing tip vortices that are generated by large aircraft, such as the United States Air Force C-17 Globemaster III. This study describes the unique test methodology, rationale, and data analysis of wing tip vortices recorded in a series of flight tests that occurred at U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground, AZ in April 2014. The study provides lessons learned, conclusions, and recommendations for future studies. Empirical wing tip vortex data was then used to perform an initial validation of a Vortex Modeling Tool to determine its accuracy in predicting actual wing tip vortex behavior. Although this study was performed in a personnel parachute airdrop environment, data and test techniques discussed have potential benefits in commercial passenger and cargo aircraft flight planning, which are also significantly affected by wing tip vortices.
Analysis of Airdrop Instrumentation Limitations and Development of Solutions to Meet Current and Future Testing Requirements Abstract
To ensure the United States (U.S.) Army Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) has the instrumentation capabilities to meet current and future airdrop instrumentation requirements. YPG has developed a comprehensive plan to assess the phases of airdrop from pre-flight, through aircraft exit, to ground impact for capability limitations and gaps. This plan has identified areas that YPG has addressed with new instrumentation development programs and procurements. The solutions for technically challenging limitations are presented along with analysis of the quality, cost, availability, and complexity of each solution. The primary instrumentation areas covered include: Time-Space-Position Information (TSPI) for the airdrop load, systems to measure the forces on the airdrop load, and video systems to collect multiple vantage points during the airdrop. By addressing these limitations, YPG has developed a robust plan that ensures instrumentation capabilities are available to support current and future airdrop technologies.
Enhanced Meteorological Instrumentation in Airdrop Environment Abstract
The ability to measure the wind, pressure, and temperature profile of an air delivery payload during the airdrop event adds to the data collected during test events. Air temperature and pressure are used to derive air density, which is critical for parachute performance. Traditionally, a Radio Wind Sounding (RAWIN) weather balloon is used to collect these data, but it has its limitations in location and time of data collection. To address this Yuma Test Center (YTC) developed a Windpack, a Global Positioning System (GPS) based wind sounding system, limited to wind data. The Windpack 2.0 was then developed to collect all the desired types of data.