• M.Phil. (Computer Science), Yale University, 1989.
• B.S., cum laude, (Computer Science), Yale University, 1979.

Summary

Mr. Ferguson has expertise in artificial intelligence, cognitive science, computer-based training, and commercial game technology. At BBN he applies this knowledge as a designer, business developer, evangelist, and technology visionary. He is also engaged in the mentoring of junior and intermediate staff and in the development of business processes for creativity. He has been the technical leader in several major projects and the principal member of business development efforts.

Professional Experience

January 2003 - Present - Technical Lead for the DARWARS Projects The DARWARS Projects are the core of a DARPA funded program to revolutionize computer-based training for the military by exploiting ideas and technologies developed in the commercial gaming world. Responsibilities include communication of the DARWARS vision to military organizations and to commercial entities in the gaming world, and acting as a liaison for these two communities. The project is also conducting research and design in the technology of networked, experience-based teaching and learning.

October 2002 - 2004 - Principal Investigator for the Behavior Authoring in Commercial Games Project The Behavior Authoring in Commercial Games Project endeavors to make behavior creation technology developed in the commercial game world available to behavior modelers in military and academic environments. The project is preparing a survey of useful tools, techniques and approaches used in the gaming world. Publication of this survey will be followed by a workshop to connect game designers and military modelers.

March 2004 - Present - Co-Principal Investigator for the Cultural Modeling Testbed, a joint DMSO/ARL/AFRL project to build a testbed for performing experimental research on culture and personality; especially with regard to their effects on team behavior. This testbed is to be built around a software game so that data can be gathered on the choices players make as they cooperate in a simulated environment.

July 1996 – May 2002 - Technical lead for the AMP program. The AMP (Analysis of Mobility Platform) system is a fielded transportation simulation confederation environment that provides interconnectivity, data management facilities and a common user interface for a set of military transportation models. Responsibilities included the management of the development team, testers and designers, the design of new capabilities, and maintaining the technical aspects of the relationship with the customer. A key aspect of this work has been working with the customer (US Transportation Command) and their other contactors to forge a vision for the AMP system that can sustain it and serve its mission into the foreseeable future.

Aug 2000 – May 2001 - Technical lead for ABC/CSMART. CSMART/ABC is a component-based system for exploring the behavior of large, heterogeneous software systems. The system is currently part of the Ultra*Log program.

Jan – May 1999 - Technical lead for the BEST Scheduling System Integration at Protection One
BEST is a Genetic Algorithm based scheduling system that BBN adapted to function for repair technician scheduling and dispatching. Responsibilities included the de facto coordination of a large poorly integrated customer organization so that they could utilize our software system. Integration was successful and customer reported better technician utilization and reduced load for scheduling staff.

August 1995 -June 1996 - Scientist with the Natural Language Understanding group. Responsible for augmenting the recognition of names in text and conducting experiments assessing the feasibility of combining the output of language recognition systems to achieve results superior to those of either system working alone. Also, constructed the framework for the verbal coaching component of a system that teaches people how to operate remotely controlled underwater vehicles.

1993 -1995 - System architect and technical lead for the OASYS (Operability Assessment SYStem) project. OASYS is a simulation-based design system providing tools that allow non-programmers to assemble simulations of proposed new equipment and software. These simulations are used to drive human-in-the-loop experiments that assess the potential future performance of the equipment and its human operators functioning together. Responsibilities included overall system design, guiding collaboration with client and overseeing an implementation team of four senior developers

1991 - 1993 - Team member on the JFT (Job Family Tutor Project). JFT is a simulation-based tutor for teaching Air Force technicians to debug computer controlled test equipment. Ported the tutoring system to PC (from the LISP machine). Enhanced GUI capabilities for problem visualization.

Institute for the Learning Sciences, Northwestern, 1989 -1990 Evanston, IL.

Graduate student and consultant. Responsible for the development of multi-media interface technology and cognitive models of human learning. Led a team that developed a story-based teaching system which has since been used as a model for the construction of many projects at the Institute. Also designed and oversaw implementation of a case acquisition and indexing system, interviewed job applicants at all levels, and headed a story generation project.

Cognitive Systems, Inc., 1981 - 1987 New Haven, CT.

Technical Lead for development of natural language understanding technology. Developed new language understanding software for the company. The job involved coordinating the efforts of a team of engineers and setting the direction for language research throughout the company. Also wrote an implementation of Lisp and several other large pieces of system software.