Senior Technical Writer

Professional Overview

More than thirty-five years experience as a writer and editor, working in various professional and technical arenas, including information technology, cyber security, telecommunications, engineering, aerospace, and construction. Extensive experience in both public- and private-sector environments. Experienced and expert in corporate communications, document design, documentation-systems design, as well as technical and business documentation, including the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and training materials. Assignments have afforded experience in support of project management, primarily through integration and application of documentation systems and products. Proficient in current tools, including Microsoft Word, Visio, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and Rational Tools. Granted Top-Secret security clearance in February 2013.

Experience

Bullseye Computing Solutions, Inc.

Ellicott City, MD, MD

Contract Technical Writer

May 2016 to August 2016

Contract Technical Writer assigned to Maryland Port Administration (MPA), Baltimore, MD

Created or edited various documents in support of MPA’s Information Systems Department (ISD).

Documents included:

oDisaster Recovery Plan (comprehensive update)

oService-Level Agreements (SLAs)

oInternal forms (designed new, consistent “look and feel” for suite of forms)

oInternal procedure documents (new-employee, etc.)

oVarious ad-hoc assignments

Independent Consultant

October 2015 to May 2016

Provided contracted editorial support and services to various clients, including:

RipMeister Publications

White Tiger Corporation

The Hellenic Electronic Center (HEC)

References available upon request

SAIC

Mclean, VA

Lead Technical Writer

October 2012 to September 2015

Provided editorial support to US State Department’s Bureau of Information Resource Management (IRM) (Information Assurance [IA]) as part of SAIC’s Vanguard 2.2.1 effort.

Integrated into IRM/IA’s Documentation Services group, providing on-demand support to various organizations, developing SOPs that adhered to established templates and ITIL standards, but frequently afforded an organization a first opportunity to critically examine and document long-standing processes.

Supported the State Department’s enterprise-wide Certification and Accreditation (C&A) of its IT infrastructure. Expanded upon existing templates to create current and comprehensive models for requisite System Security Plans (SSPs) for Department’s various IT systems and subsystems. Applied the SSP template to create numerous SSPs that closely adhered to NIST Special Publication 80018, Guide for Developing Security Plans for Federal Information Systems, ensuring that State Department information systems conformed to the requirements set forth in the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) and the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX). Edited disaster-recovery plans submitted by system owners, to ensure conformance to NIST requirements and comprehensive clarity and serviceability.

Experience (Continued)

SAIC (Continued)

Lead Technical Writer

October 2009 to October 2012

Provided sole editorial responsibility within National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Office of Information Systems in College Park, MD, managing all editorial facets of multiple deliveries (documents, PowerPoint presentations, etc.) to NARA client.

Provided liaison with NARA management with regard to ongoing efforts to supply Information Security Awareness training to NARA staff.

Created PowerPoint slideshow providing internal NARA users with tips and guidelines on maintaining security for cyber resources. Deck was presented at Archives sites, Presidential Libraries, and Records Centers. Included input from Office of General Counsel, specifically addressing PII concerns.

Lead Technical Writer

May 2008 to October 2009

Provided sole editorial responsibility for IRS IT Infrastructure Strategy and Investment Planning (ISIP) effort in Lanham, MD, managing editorial facets of multiple deliveries (documents, PowerPoint presentations, etc.) to IRS client.

Documented the transition of “as it” systems to a target (“to-be”) environment.

Assumed CM responsibility (i.e., SharePoint management) for project; supported the ISIP project in successfully achieving a CMMI level3 rating.

Vision-IT, Inc.

Herndon, VA

Lead Technical Writer

December 2001 to April 2008

Provided editorial and project-management support to IRS business-systems modernization effort in New Carrollton, MD.

Provided sole editorial responsibility for Web-based Enterprise Architecture (EA) document, interfacing with both engineering and technical-publications staffs, as well as management at all levels. By definition, the EA described the evolution of IRS systems from a dynamic “as-is” environment to a target, or “to-be” environment.

Assisted in the development of information to populate IRS Business System Reports (BSRs) and Design Specification Reports (DSRs).

In September 2007, the IRS EA was awarded the fifth annual Excellence in Enterprise Architecture Award by the egov Institute in recognition of the IRS EA’s overall design and usability.

Researched status of more than 150 commercial and technical standards governing development of business systems, to ensure currency of online database of standards approved for use at the IRS.

Provided editorial support to various documentation efforts throughout the business-modernization project, including white papers, presentations, etc.

Independent Consultant

July 2001 to December 2001

Provided contracted editorial support and services to various clients, including:

Initiative on Global Opportunity, Fairness, and Growth (proposal)

Conrod Associates Communications LLC (annual report)

Office on Diversity, National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) (brochures and newsletter articles)

US Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, Office of Human Resources (strategic-planning documents, correspondence, reports, etc.)

References available upon request

Experience (Continued)

Cable & Wireless USA

Reston, VA

Lead Technical Writer

July 2000 to July 2001

Created technical documents, including detail design documents, site-planning documents, and maintenance manuals from drafts created by telecommunications engineers, conforming to established C&W formats.

Suggested ways to enhance documentation procedures and processes.

RCM Technologies

Bethesda, MD

Contract Technical Writer

January 1999 to July 2000

Contract Technical Writer assigned to Concert Communications in Reston, VA.

Provided editorial oversight and design input for internal technical documents.

Alcatel Data Networks

Ashburn, VA

Manager

January 1995 to November 1998

Supervised three full-time writers and as many as two other contract writers.

Assisted writers in assessing priorities, determining approaches to assignments, and achieving professional and departmental goals.

Prepared weekly status reports and project schedules.

Assisted in planning for staffing and budgets.

Was given full responsibility for acquisition of outside translation-services vendor (reviewing marketplace, establishing criteria, soliciting bids, and awarding assignment).

Headed group of writers devising new procedures for development and publication of complex configuration-guidelines documents.

Assumed responsibility for tracking second-party (OEM) documentation, verifying successful integration into Alcatel document stock.

Lead Writer

November 1990 to January 1995

Assumed responsibility for more visible tasks (such as developing prototype documents).

Reviewed work of more junior writers.

Assumed functions of manager in her absence.

Assisted manager in coordinating department's overall operation.

Designed, researched, and wrote configuration-guidelines document for major data concentrator product.

Senior Writer

May 1988 to November 1990

Researched, wrote, and oversaw production of customer/user documentation in support of various data-communications products, systems, and services.

Consistently and reliably met rigid delivery requirements, acquiring familiarity with complex concepts intrinsic to products and systems, as well as the dynamic requirements of changing marketplace and corporate requirements.

Represented manager at meetings with upper management and technical staff from various parts of company.

Experience (Continued)

Cosmos Corporation

Rockville, MD

Manager, Documentation

July 1987 to May 1988

Directed and planned documentation efforts, supporting customer and internal requirements.

Assisted in establishment of internal style and usage standards and in development of in-house desktop-publishing facilities.

Assisted in the design, writing, and production of various documentation products.

Developed and maintained library of documentation resources and products.

Provided direction and oversight to internal training.

Boeing Computer Services

Vienna, VA

Senior Writer

July 1984 to July 1987

Planned, designed, and wrote technical and marketing documentation in support of large automated system and applications, as well as PC-based application products.

Publications included user's guides, access guides, and marketing newsletters.

Managed all aspects (design through distribution) of large internal reference resource in support of Sales organization.

Managed production (reproduction of diskettes, binding, printing, and distribution) of major software release.

Provided editorial assistance to major proposal effort.

Calculon Corporation

Germantown, MD

Technical Writer

December 1981 to July 1984

Served as Managing Editor of Computer Center User's Guide for US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Computer Services and Telecommunications.

Planned and wrote numerous amendments, bulletins, conference records, and reports.

Developed SOPs and provided assistance to other projects, including editorial support to several proposal efforts.

TAD Technical Services

Ellicott City, MD

Contract Writer

April 1981 to December 1981

Provided technical writing and editing services to Morrison-Knudsen Saudi Arabia Consortium.

Assisted in designing, editing, writing, and producing report detailing history of multi-billion-dollar construction project in Saudi Arabia.

OAO Corporation

Beltsville, MD

Technical Writer

September 1980 to March 1981

Prepared proposals, reports, and other technical documents in support of various Government agencies, primarily NASA and DOE.

Assisted in preparing in-house style guide.

Edited personnel resumes and contract summaries to reflect corporate style and formats.

Assumed management and editorial control of contracted documentation services to DOE/Strategic Petroleum Reserve office.

Experience (Continued)

US Navy Finance Center

Cleveland, OH

Intern/Congressional Liaison

September 1979 to August 1980

Served as senior writer within Congressional Correspondence Unit.

Composed responses to active, retired, and former members of the Navy who had directed inquiries regarding their pay, retirement, or benefit accounts to members of Congress.

Frequently resolved problems through direct telephone contact with Navy member and Congressional staff.

Gained extensive understanding of Navy pay and benefit systems.

Education

1975 Washington College

Chestertown, MD

B.A., English

1980 Bowling Green State University

Bowling Green, OH

M.A., English

Tools Proficiency

MS Word

SharePoint

Visio

MS PowerPoint

Rational ClearCase

Interleaf

MS Office

Clearance

Top Secret security clearance, granted February 26, 2013

LinkedIn Profile

https://www.linkedin.com/in/hughsilcox

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