Resume
Experience
Dec 2020 - Present
Chief Executive Officer
Ann Kerr, LLC
La Jolla, CA
Independent consultant on variety of science and technology projects. Current projects include co-leading team of experts developing concept to collect crucial data for global ocean monitoring. These data are needed to improve models to enable accurate assessments of climate change. Other activities include collaborating on data sonification research applying music to enhance scientific understanding of marine species.
Jan 2016 - Present
Founder/President
LJ STEAM FOUNDATION
La Jolla, CA
Founder and President of The LJ STEAM Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing STEAM (Science, Technology, Education, Arts, and Music). Projects include research roundtables, such as "Cerf's Up" and "Kiwanis Underwater Carnival" and Musical Storybook educational tools. Current initiatives include data sonification, creation of educational games to enhance understanding of whale behavior and threats to their existence. Recipient of grants from the Kiwanis Club of La Jolla, County of San Diego and Google.
Dec 2020 -Feb 2023
Consultant
Walter Munk Foundation for the Oceans
La Jolla Shores, CA
As a consultant for The Walter Munk Foundation for the Oceans, spearheaded the creation of Ocean Alley, a dynamic educational event featuring 30 ocean conservation exhibits, developed the Ocean Alley passports, and authored a detailed guide for this new annual event. Created the concept for the "Musical Journeys" project; recruited music educators to create musical structures to explain scientific information in a series of videos and educational and entertaininggames. Developed partnerships with other organizations; obtained funding and organized on-site marine WMFO educators at the Elementary Institute of Science to augment their STEM science education programs. Identified and successfully secured grants from several foundations and organizations for the benefit of foundation operations.
2007 -2011
Strategic Advisor - Consultant
Library of Congress
San Diego, CA
Investigated technologies, conducted study, and chaired meeting of experts to develop concepts for the Library of Congress of the future, Authored report, “Technology Trends and the Library of the Future,”. Engaged Vint Cerf, Bran Ferran, Danny Hillis (Applied Minds), Tim Berners-Lee, Jim Lemke and DARPA Team.. Created and demonstrated prototype at the library. Appointed Member of Blue Ribbon Task Force on Economic Sustainability for Digital Preservation, convened under auspices of NSF and OSTP. This culminated in report and White House Symposium of industry and government experts. Awarded citation for work which is being incorporated into OSTP policy
Jul 1991 -Sept 2002
Principal Investigator
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
La Jolla Shores, CA
PI on number of research grants with DARPA, NOAA and the Navy. Developed Program proposal with Walter Munk and his team of experts and led effort to obtain DARPA funding ($50M) for the ATOC program.. PI for ATOC on data collection and exchange. Developed concepts and prototypes for NOAA data centers based on interoperability of scattered databases. Organized Symposium with Walter Munk and John Orcutt to advise Navy on identifying and incorporating research ideas into the operational navy mission. Report led directly to new initiatives for current littoral combat ship design.
Sep 1979-May 1991
Principal Investigator
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
Arlington, VA
Developed Concepts and Technologies for Global Monitoring of Nuclear Testing. Identified and funded nascent technologies. Established Arpanet/Internet nodes in Europe. China, Pakistan and other countries to support US needs. Developed concept and created DARPA Center for Seismic Studies, a global data collection and monitoring operational and research center resulting in adoption of US methods into and are used today in the CTBTO in Vienna Austria. Required identifying, funding and implementing advanced Data Collection, Relational Databases, Analysis and Storage technologies.
US Delegate to the UN Conference on Disarmament Group of Scientific Experts
Represented U.S. in negotiating seismic, radionuclide, acoustic and hydroacoustic global monitoring and data exchange system. Created and authored Sourcebook for International Data Exchange for Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
Editor of book, DARPA Vela Program, Twenty-Five-Year Review of Nuclear Monitoring. Including numerous technical reports, papers, articles, and speeches.
Volunteering
Apr 2012 -Present
Founder/President
La Jolla Christmas Parade & Holiday Festival Foundation
La Jolla, CA
Founder and President of La Jolla Christmas Parade & Holiday Festival Foundation began as a vision to unite our community during the holiday season. A group of dedicated individuals worked tirelessly to organize and produce an annual Christmas Parade and Holiday Festival. This joyful event features bands, floats, equestrians, vintage vehicles, canines, Beauty Queens, and Marshals representing community leaders, schools, and service organizations. The Holiday Festival, known as Santa's Village, offers children Santa visits, arts and crafts, games, music, and face painting.
Jun 2016 -Feb 2021
President
La Jolla Town Council
La Jolla, CA
Created and Chaired LJTC Community Task Force on Sea Lions unifying La Jolla and San Diego organizations behind an effort to move and exclude California Sea Lions from the LJ Cove where presence is creating severe public health and safety problems.
Created the LJTC Community Crime Watch Committee unifying Neighborhood Watch and working with SDPD to address growing crime and drug problems. Also Working Group on Transportation with UCSD and LJVMA Created and Chairs SD Community Working Group on STVR.
2005 -2011
PTA President/ Gala Chair
Stella Maris Academy
Chaired numerous Galas and Fundraising events for local schools and charities raising close to $1M.
La Jolla, CA
Education
University of Saint Joseph
Bachelor of Science Physical Chemistry
Hartford, CT