Bio

Hello… I’m Jim from Chicagoland. Thanks for taking the time to look at my Bio.

https://www.qrz.com/db/kd9wnr

Back in those days, every ship in the Navy had at least 2 URT-23’s. These were 3-30 MHZ AM/SSB/FSK rigs that were built like a tank and stood about four feet high with the auto-tuner. They provided primary long-range comms back to home port when the ship was out at sea. So, it’s fair to say I had a head start on the knowledge needed to get a Ham Radio License… Thank goodness; I’m too lazy to learn stuff like that at this stage in life,

I was stationed on the Aircraft Carrier USS Midway (CV-41) for two years back in 1979 -80 when it was home ported in Yokosuka, Japan. The only thing going on then was the takeover of the American Embassy in Iran and the 52 hostages that got caught up in the Iranian Revolution. We went on two consecutive cruises to the Indian Ocean in support of our show-of-force during what was referred to as a "crisis" by the Carter Administration. The hostages were released the day Ronald Regan was sworn in as President. I guess they knew there was a new sheriff in town. Anyway, that ship had a very rich history, and today is a floating museum in San Diego.

My next duty was on the USS Hull (DD-945), the last "all guns" Destroyer class ship in the Navy. Going from an Aircraft Carrier to a "small boy" Destroyer was a whole different experience... On a small ship, everyone knows each other. And, everyone gets a chance to do cool stuff like being in the "Fire Party" (Firemen on a ship), participating in mooring operations, and being part of the Security Alert Force. Made me really feel like a Sailor.

My first job after the Navy was in Lake Bluff, IL about 10 miles or so South of the Naval Station. It was a small company, and I knew they made electronics equipment for the government. But, I didn’t know exactly what. When I went there for the job interview I was surprised to see lime green AN/URT-23’s being tested, not the Navy gray they’re supposed to be. I asked “How come they’re green?” My future boss (I got the job) told me they were being made for Saudi Arabia. When I looked closer, I saw all the labeling was in Arabic!… It was a different world back then.

 From there, I got a job at Northrop-Grumman in the USAF QRC Repair Depot. QRC stands for “Quick Reaction Capability”. It was a contract “vehicle”, to streamline acquisition of mission critical tactical electronics countermeasures systems. We designed and/or supported IR and RF Missile Jammers and a few transmitter or receiver systems. Most of it was “Classified” back then. We had the honor of providing depot level support to AFSOC for the QRC 81-01 Infrared Missile Jamming System. These were mounted on Pods under the wings on the aircraft. They emitted high intensity pulsed IR; The pulse pattern confused the tracking systems of the enemies infrared SAMs (surface-to-air missiles). They were deployed on the AC-130 Spectre Gunship during Operation Desert Storm, and subsequent operations in the Mid-East. One of my favorite systems to work on was a Receiver system that was made by Watkins-Johnson (can’t remember the nomenclature). All the units were painted matte black (spook stuff); There were modules for all the different bands; When the modules were all hooked together, the system could receive any signal in any mode “known to man”. I was told the system (at the time) was deployed by NSA at US Embassies around the world to snoop on the local airwaves… Today, you can do that with a $30 SDR dongle and a Raspberry Pi.

During my 6 years at Northrop, I took advantage of their Tuition Reimbursement Program, and completed two Associate Degrees (Electronics and Technical Communication), and a Bachelors in Management. The Illinois Veterans Grant paid for my Bachelors, but Northrop still paid the 80% tuition reimbursement to me in a check anyway; They said it was an employee benefit and I was entitled, even though I wasn’t paying out-of-pocket… I got paid to go to school!

 I left Northrop as a Process Engineer, I wanted to get into Management. So, I got a job as Operations Manager for a company that made flight data recorders for the US Navy, the AN/ASH-37 SDRS System. I was there for 6 years. But, the contracts were winding down, so it was time to leave. My next gig was Director of Repair Services at a Telecom Company, I was there for over 15 years. The proliferation of Cell Phones, and VOIP killed that segment of the industry. I got out just in-time and finally landed where I am today; I work as a Program Manager at WITTENSTEIN, a German based global company that designs and manufactures all sorts of mechatronics for industrial automation. One of our divisions makes Flight Simulators for Lockheed, Boeing, and others used to train our USAF Pilots. Among these are the F-15, F-35, and the new T-7A Trainer. If you’re still interested, my Profile is on LinkedIn.

Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to work on some pretty cool technology. A lot of folks ask me: “What took you so long to get into Ham Radio?” The answer: I don’t know Morse Code, and was too lazy to learn. When I found out the FCC got rid of the Code requirement… I put Ham Radio back on my Bucket List.