THIERRY BARSTON

LinkedIn:www.linkedin.com/in/thierrybarston/

Versatile documentation specialist with skill and experience translating technical ideas and solutions for audiences of all levels. Analyzes, researches, and creates highest quality print, online, video, and multimedia documentation and training materials; leads and coordinates projects; designs and manages SharePoint site collections; and works with SMEs, managers, and users to assure value. Degrees in law and business. Available for travel and CONUS or OCONUS relocation.

SELECT SKILLS

Designs, writes, and edits documentation, including guides and manuals, SDLC (systems and software lifecycle) documentation, Help systems and other web and online content, security documentation, policies and procedures, best practices and lessons learned, deployment and installation materials, test plans and reports, and a variety of proposal and acquisition-related materials.

Creates drawings, photographs, diagrams, charts, videos, and animation to aid user understanding.

Gathers information effectively, by performing installation and other user and admin tasks, conducting independent research, and interviewing subject matter experts and managers.

Edits documentation to ensure accuracy, completeness, consistency, and value to audience.

Defines, documents, and manages requirements.

Learns and uses tools and languages quickly. Proficient in use of SharePoint, VISIO, Office, Project, Acrobat, RequisitePro, ClearCase, ClearQuest, AWS, Flare, RoboHelp, Camtasia, Capture, Confluence, SVN, Github, Markup, HTML, Visual Studio, and CSS – as well as other web design, app creation, and graphics tools.

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

Self Employed DC

Metropolitan Area/UK/Spain

August 2015 to present

Writer/Editor, Illustrator/Graphic Designer, and Actress/Business Manager

Working on a children’s book and app.

oDesigning, writing, and illustrating book.

oStoryboarding, creating, editing, and animating graphic and video components.

oDesigning and developing Android and iPhone/iPad apps.

Adapting, editing, and acting in radio-style stories and plays for Anansi Storytime (www.anansistorytime.com).

Endgame Arlington, VA

January 2015 to August 2015

Senior Technical Writer

Responsible for software documentation and documentation standards and processes, including creating and maintaining user manuals and guides, developer guides, templates, and analyses; and marketing and training materials.

Gathered and analyzed requirements.

Created and updated print and online documentation.

Designed templates, quality standards, and processes.

Designed, created, revised, and maintained charts, diagrams, drawings, and video clips.

Performed, edited, updated, and produced voiceover work for company Support site.

Led tool acquisition process: gathered requirements, researched and analyzed alternatives, collected quotes, coordinated presentation and review sessions, created samples for integration analysis, and drafted reports.

FireEye / Mandiant DC Metropolitan Area/Milpitas, CA

June 2012 to December 2014

Senior Staff Technical Writer/Technical Writer

Created and maintained multimedia online Help systems and user, administrative, setup, and support guides.

Created and updated architectural drawings.

Designed, created, acted in, edited, and produced video tutorials.

Drafted and updated collaborative, wiki-style documentation.

Built cross-team and cross-company group projects and facilitated and led meetings.

Created and worked with cross-company collaborative groups – including management, marketing, engineering, support, and quality assurance – to gather and share information and to create, edit, and maintain internal and customer-facing documentation for endpoint, network, and cloud-based information security products, services, and proposals.

Worked on pilot team and company knowledge management projects.

Other Achievements:

oCertified Product Specialist

o“You've Got Our Back” (Teamwork Award)

o“Respect” (Company Value Award)

Contractor / Consultant DC Metropolitan Area

May 2003 – June 2011

Contracts/subcontracts included The American Red Cross, Washington Post, Nextel, VeriSign, Mobile Posse, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Customs & Border Protection (CBP), and others:

Developed documentation and managed SharePoint site collections for a major Unisys DHS CBP contract and associated Task Orders:

oDocumented and illustrated software, hardware, data, and web architectures, interfaces, and operations.

oAnalyzed charts, data, code, product interface, and architectural and data diagrams to document and illustrate processes, flows, systems, test reports, and interfaces.

oCreated and maintained RoboHelp online help systems, procedural guides, wikis, and training materials.

oDesigned and administered SharePoint sites, worked with stakeholders, and provided Tier 1 and 2 support for two program-wide site collections.

oFilled in as Requirements Analyst, Senior Tester, and Configuration Manager.

Documented mobile client-server applications (and six related software systems including a Drupal web site) to support audit and investment initiatives for Mobile Posse startup:

oDocumented software and data architecture and design for investment and audit purposes.

oDeveloped training materials for end users and new administrators.

oCreated a graphics-based technical overview of the company's product and user interfaces (for new developers) – and charts, diagrams, and graphics to illustrate processes, flows, and systems.

oOrganized and collected documentation for configuration management purposes.

oConsulted on business process re-engineering and organized SharePoint sites.

Developed, illustrated, and edited system and task-focused training materials for The Washington Post's circulation accounting system migration.

Completed and revised an online Help system for an American Red Cross software application; coordinated and led training sessions and walkthroughs for its stakeholders and other reviewers.

Led initiative to formalize software documentation for Veridyne’s Coast Guard supply chain management contract and worked on proposal technical and staffing sections. Gathered and analyzed information, developed text, and created graphics for documents (including illustrations of architecture and interfaces). Prepared corporate PowerPoint presentation (explaining impact of contract vehicles). Created and maintained Project plans. Researched and collaborated with engineers and senior managers on ways to present proposed approaches and solutions. Developed and illustrated proposal sections and acted as volume lead for staffing and resume sections.

Analyzed, developed, and edited information, text, graphics, and flowcharts for a communications briefings library, an overseas travel guide, an international outsourcing process guide, and other collateral material to be used in launching VeriSign’s outsourcing initiative. Interviewed subject matter experts and researched company and Internet materials. Analyzed existing collateral.

DigitalNet Government Solutions DC Metropolitan Area

(formerly Wang and Getronics Government Solutions – now BAE)

November 1999 – April 30, 2003

Principal Technical Writer / Editor / Analyst

Provided comprehensive technical writing, analytical expertise, and leadership on a variety of projects and contracts.

Led technical communications team for a major project. Work included drafting proposal and statements of work (for subcontractors); working with team to analyze, define, and document requirements, system design, analysis of alternatives, and solution; and managing junior technical writers.

Became company expert on memoranda of understanding (MOA): headed team efforts to negotiate and draft a series of MOAs with other contractors on Treasury enterprise management contract; provided training, guidance, and expertise to MOA teams on other contracts.

Drafted and illustrated manuals and guides; project and program plans and reports; software and systems development lifecycle documentation; case studies; policies and processes; analyses; security plans; test plans and reports; training materials; change management plans and reports; proposal sections; and web content.

Built cross-company teaming relationships and provided guidance and support for coworkers in a broad range of areas (including writing and use of spreadsheet and word-processing applications).

Revised and edited print and online GSA catalogs.

Analyzed FR and CFR regulations.

Deputy Webmaster

Created content and maintained information and coding for company Intranet and Internet pages and sites. Filled in for Webmaster, as needed.

Designed and maintained sophisticated Web sites and pages.

Created and edited menus, graphics, cascading style sheets (CSS).

Interviewed users; analyzed and defined requirements; prepared and presented customer demos; documented Intranet and Internet configurations; and implemented, processed, tracked, and documented changes.

Drafted and edited scientific, technical, marketing, and human resources Web content.

Senior Technical Writer / Editor

Provided senior level technical writing and analytical expertise to several Department of Justice (DOJ) Program Management Office (PMO) and Tax Division projects, including MS Office deployments.

Acted as senior lead technical writer for a major Tax Division migration: researched, drafted, and illustrated a system operating plan and guide that included system operating procedures, user support policy and processes, and configuration management policies and procedures. Other DOJ divisions used this publication as a model.

Worked with architect to develop and draft a Security Test & Evaluation Plan that became the template for other DOJ Justice Consolidated Office Network II (JCON II) Components.

Wrote and edited technical proposal sections and requirements analyses.

Advised and assisted other writers in completing their assignments.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

Love and Associates/Love, Kielsgard, & Associates: Senior Associate / Administrator (Appellate Litigation Division).

Office of the County Attorney for Fairfax: Assistant County Attorney (Contract).

Commonwealth of Virginia, Nineteenth Judicial Circuit: Law Clerk to the Chief Judge.

George Washington University (National Law Center): Instructor / Teaching Fellow; Bankruptcy Clinic Associate.

Unites States Small Business Administration, Office of Advocacy: Intern.

EDUCATION

Juris Doctor cum laude, George Washington University National Law Center (top 20-25%).

Bachelor of Science, Commerce, University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce (Human Resource/Organizational Management concentration).

Classroom and online workshops and training classes.

CURRENT LICENSES AND MEMBERSHIPS

Licensed to practice law in Virginia state and federal courts and the U.S. Supreme Court.

PASSIONS

Live action role-playing (LARP) and board games, acting, reading, writing, cooking, travel, and painting.

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