Education

University: Edinburgh University, Moray House School of Education

Dates: August 2003 – July 2004

Qualification: PGCE(Secondary)

Subjects: Physics and Mathematics.

University: The Open University

Dates: February 1994 – November 2002

Qualification: BSc. (Hons) 2:1

Subjects: Mathematics, Physics, Astronomy & Planetary Science, Mathematical Modelling & Methods, Space, Time and Cosmology, Artificial Intelligence, Images & Information, Electromagnetism, Quantum Mechanics, the Energetic Universe.

School: Letchworth Grammar School

Dates: September 1969 – May 1974

Qualification: GCSE ‘O’ levels

Subjects: Maths, English, Physics, Chemistry, French, Technical Drawing, Metalwork.

Professional Qualifications

The General Teaching Council for Scotland

July 2005 Full Registration (Physics with Science)

April 2006 Full Registration (Mathematics)

The Science Council (with The Institute of Physics)

July 2004 Chartered Scientist (CSci)

The Institute of Physics

July 2003 Member (MInstP), Chartered Physicist (CPhys)

The Microsoft Corporation

5/97 – 6/01 Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD)

MCSD Charter Member 1999

Subjects: Windows Architecture, Programming with Visual Basic (VB) 4.0, Access 95 & Developer’s Toolkit, Analyzing Requirements and Defining Solution Architectures, Designing and Implementing Desktop Applications with VB 6.0, Distributed Applications with VB 6.0, Databases with SQL Server 7.0.

The Securities Institute

January 2000 Introduction to Securities and Investment

Subjects: Financial Services in the UK Economy, Regulatory background to the Financial Services Industry, Securities, Derivatives, Investment vehicles & personal finance, Securities & Derivatives markets in the UK, Implications of being a shareholder, Financial Planning.

The Royal Aeronautical Society

August 1999 Corporate Member (MRAeS)

Career History

Organisation: Fife Regional Council, Education Service

Scottish Regional Council Educational Authority.

Dates: August 2005 – date

Position: Teacher of Physics and Mathematics

Achievements: Responsible for academic attainment in Physics and Mathematics of secondary schoolchildren at Kirkcaldy High School (~1200 pupils). Member of the Physics department of four staff within the science faculty and the Mathematics department of about 8 FTE. Involved in course and ICT resource development and cross-curricular work as well as creating my own online learning and revision resource at www.mrhood.co.uk. Extensive CPD portfolio including Leadership training, engagement with new media initiatives, high profile presentations at the Scottish Learning Festival 07 and TeachMeet 08.

Skill set: Subject, teaching and academic skills specified in the SFR. New media, ICT.

Dates: August 2004 – July 2005

Position: Teacher of Physics and Mathematics

Achievements: Responsible for academic attainment (100% pass rate at SG Physics in the 2005 diet) in Physics and Mathematics of secondary schoolchildren at Buckhaven School, Leven. Team member of a department of four staff within the science faculty of a large school. Achieved the GTCS Standard for Full Registration in Physics. Implemented a collaborative Science Liaison Project with Torryburn Primary School. Additional teaching in IT, enterprise and motivation.

Skill set: Subject, teaching and academic skills specified in the SFR.

Company: Al Muhandis, Fife

Sole trader business providing consultancy and technical services.

Dates: April 2002 – date

Position: Proprietor

Achievements: Internet Service Provider to local businesses, provided technical consultancy and training services to various client organisations. Developed and maintained bespoke websites for businesses from an estate agent to a car showroom. Developed websites for use in education. Development of integrated e-commerce solutions.

Skill set: Technical training, software development, Microsoft Visual Basic (VB), .NET, HTML, XML, Atom, RSS, VSS, XSLT, SQL Server, ASP and ASP.NET, Dreamweaver MX, php, MySQL, LAMP, Ajax.

Company: Cullaloe Project Resource Limited, Cowdenbeath, Fife KY4 9QU

An independent software house specialising in software development for clients including the Greater Glasgow & Clyde Valley Tourist Board, the Scottish Centre for Infection & Environmental Health, Deutsche Bank, Bull, ICL and Aspentech. Turnover up to £100K p.a. In the last five years with this Company, turned it from a simple IT contractor into a quality supplier of bespoke solutions and products.

Dates: February 1997 – July 2003

Position: Director

Achievements: Established the Company and built up its reputation for quality and good value by working with clients to meet their objectives in a professional manner. Designed and developed software solutions to time and budget constraints. Trained and developed the Company’s and Client’s personnel in technical and project management skills. Acted as expert consultant in external reviews of software development projects.

Delivered solutions on fixed-price and cost plus basis in Health, Tourism, IT, Insurance, Engineering and Finance sectors using a range of platforms and languages.

Skill set: Business, project and technical Management, Microsoft Visual Basic (VB), HTML, XML, XSLT, SQL Server, Access, Java and ASP scripting, Dreamweaver, Flash, C/C++ and Windows Operating Systems.

Company: GEC Marconi Simulation and Training, Dunfermline, Fife KY11 5JZ

A specialist division of Marconi, part of the GEC group of Companies. During almost five years here, I held key management and technical positions around the world.

Dates: February 1996 – February 1997

Position: Senior Software Engineer Civil Operations Division

Achievements: Produced GUI application for auto-generation of ‘C’ source code for model initialisation and simulation database cross-checking; Developed Fault Injection package; Developed real-time plant object models; Designed and produced developers’ toolkit for real-time parameter display/manipulation.

Skill set: Microsoft VB 4.0, Access SQL, C/C++, Visual Source Safe, Windows NT3.51.

Dates: October 1995 – February 1996

Position: Project Manager Military Operations Division

Achievements: Produced Costed Tenders for Connah’s Quay Power Station and AS90 and Warrior OPV Military Vehicle Simulators, up to £12.5 Million value. Conducted a feasibility study to implement a new internal integrated IT system (MECCA/MARCAS). Produced the Unit Business Training Plan and Budget, and detailed proposals for base/mobile technology demonstration facilities.

Skill set: Project Management, technical team management and commercial management.

Dates: August 1995 – October 1995

Position: Data Control Manager Shajiao ‘C’ Power Station, People’s Republic of China

Achievements: Introduced Software Configuration and Engineering Control Schemes, resolved a difficult customer situation by solving observation tracking problems, recovered the schedule, secured level 2 customer acceptance of the £1.2 Million training device and enabled training to support handover of the power station to the clients.

Skill set: Project Management, customer diplomacy and technical liaison, technical team management and commercial management.

Dates: December 1993 – August 1995

Position: Project Manager Military Operations Division

Achievements: Produced costed technical proposals and rationale for the £2.5 Million Warrior OPV military vehicle simulator. Championed and Managed the introduction of a new internal Life Cycle Management System. Project Managed the design and build of a £1.5 Million Sea King HAR Mk3A Radar Crew Trainer for the MoD.

Skill set: Project Management, technical team management and commercial management.

Dates: December 1992 – December 1993

Position: Bid Manager Military Operations Division

Achievements: Produced costed tenders for the £1.2 Million CATT Feasibility Study, AFV Turret Trainers for Kuwait, the £1.5 Million Sea King HAR Mk3A Radar Crew Trainer and the Sea Harrier FRS.2 Maintenance Trainer for the MoD.

Skill set: Project Management, technical team management and commercial management.

Dates: July 1991 – December 1992

Position: Business Development Manager Business Development Division

Achievements: Created Business Plan for Flight Simulation Sector entry, Identified £5M prospects to support the business case and managed Marketing and Business Development Activity in Flight/Visuals Sector.

Skill set: Project Management, technical and commercial team management.

Company: IMACS (UK) Limited, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 1HW

A specialist supplier of scientific technical staff to the Flight Simulation Industry.

Dates: February 1990 – May 1991

Position: Commercial Manager

Achievements: Produced 5-year Business Plan. Developed US Partner agreement terms for the supply of scientific staff. Conducted Business Development Initiatives including the Queen’s Award for Export and quality initiatives including AQAP 1/13. Initiated Utilities Sector Marketing Activities. Negotiated Client Agreement renewal and terms for scientific staff supply to £200K value. Managed Office, Admin Staff and Facility including Landlord/Tenant contracts. Introduced new MIS/IT Systems and Practices.

Skill set: Commercial and staff management

Company: Aviation Resources Limited, Billingshurst, West Sussex RH14 0YL

UK Office of a US manufacturer of Flight Simulators.

Dates: March 1989 – February 1990

Position: Technical Director

Achievements: Set up UK office. Established Procedures, Payroll, Accounting and Operations. Conducted Technical Survey of Lear Jet Flight Simulator. Recruited and assigned Technical Staff to US and European requirements.

Skill set: Commercial and technical management.

Company: British Aerospace Simulation Limited, Weybridge, Surrey KT13 0SF

Supplier and manufacturer of Flight Simulators & training equipment with £25M t/o.

Dates: September 1988 – March 1989

Position: Chief Project Manager – Civil Aircraft Projects

Achievements: Managed Programmes for Jetstream J31 and BAe 146-200/300 Phase II Full Flight Simulators (FFS) for BAe, Washington; Advanced Turboprop (ATP) Phase II FFS for BAe, Woodford; & BAe146 Cockpit Procedures Trainer for BAe Hatfield. Conducted Business Development within BAe and European Civil Markets. Oversaw Major Sub-Contractor Proposal Specification and assessment. Provided Technical Consultancy for US Manufacturer Reflectone, Inc., during acquisition by BAe.

Skill set: Commercial, Programme and technical management.

Company: IMACS (UK) Limited, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 1HW

A specialist supplier of scientific technical staff to the Flight Simulation Industry.

Dates: February 1986 – September 1988

Position: Consultant

Achievements: Assigned to several Rediffusion Simulation projects. Managed Visual Systems Projects from Bid to Acceptance for Flight Simulator Visual Systems, each worth about £1.5 Million, for Concorde (British Airways); B737, B747 and A320s (BA, Lufthansa, KLM and SIA) and Jetstream (BAe) aircraft. Performed dual role of Project Manager and Design Engineer on the Boeing B757/767 Maintenance Trainer update in Seattle. Designed the Autobrakes & Secondary Flight Controls Systems for a DC10-30 Cockpit Procedures Trainer.

Skill set: Project management, FORTRAN 77, Gould-SEL32, MPX3.2, Assembler.

Company: Rediffusion Simulation Limited, Crawley, West Sussex RH10 2RL

A manufacturer of Flight Simulators and Training Devices.

Dates: February 1985 – February 1986

Position: Project Manager

Achievements: Project Managed the TWA B767 Flight Test Update in Kansas City and the JAL B767 Site installation in Tokyo to achieve the first JCAB approval to FAA phase II equivalent for flight crew training.

Skill set: Project and technical team management.

Dates: August 1981 – February 1985

Position: Systems Design Engineer

Achievements: Designed and implemented Real-Time Simulation of: Fuel, Electrics, EICAS/WEU, Anti-ice, Fire D&E, Hydraulics, Landing Gear, Secondary Flight Controls and related systems in several aircraft types including B737, DC-10, L1011 and B1-B.

Skill set: FORTRAN77, Assembler, JCL & GENESIS in GOULD-SEL32 RTM & MPX.

Company: Self-employed, London

Dates: October 1980 – August 1981

Position: Freelance Sales Consultant

Achievements: Operated a sales portfolio for Liberty Life Assurance, Shipton Communications, A1 Business Machines and the Transform Clinic, Harley Street.

Skill set: Cold selling.

Service: Army (Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers)

Dates: April 1976 – October 1980

Rank on leaving: Corporal

Trade: Avionics Technician

Achievements: Exemplary military record including service in UK, Canada, Europe and Africa.

Skill set: Avionic Systems of Westland Scout, Gazelle, Lynx and DeHavilland Beaver.

Company: Wilbury Hotel, Letchworth

Dates: October 1975 – April 1976

Position: Bar/cellarman

Achievements: Worked the bars of this busy hotel, learning the trade and eventually running the day-to-day activities in the bar and cellar.

Skill set: People, stock and cellar management.

Company: C. Hartley and Sons (China & Glass) Ltd, Letchworth

Dates: May 1975 – October 1975

Position: Driver/storeman

Achievements: Delivery driver, stockman.

Skill set: People, stock handling and driving.

Company: Jones Cranes Limited, Letchworth

Dates: May 1974 – May 1975

Position: Sales Liaison Officer

Achievements: Administration and office duties supporting field sales representatives across the UK and world-wide. Preparation of quotations, letter-writing and sales statistics preparation.

Skill set: Commercial mathematics, letter writing, internal and external customer liaison.

Public Service

Institution: Forth Valley Branch of the Pony Club

A youth organisation affiliated to the British Horse Society which promotes good citizenship and develops young people through the care and responsible ownership of horses.

Dates: November 1994 – June 1997

Role: District Commissioner

Institution: Fife Region Children’s Panel

The Scottish system for dealing with children in trouble, either as offenders or victims. Has powers to deals with both, from dismissal to detention.

Dates: May 1993 – March 1996

Role: Member, Chairman

Publications

I occasionally have articles published in the Times Educational Supplement. In 1988, I published a paper in Seattle, Washington on “The Principal Officers and their Stations”. In 1994, my poem “Keen the eye” was included in an anthology of international poetry published in the USA. I maintain a web presence through inter alia http://cullaloe.com and http://mrhood.co.uk.

Personal Profile

I am interested in good music and dance; the Internet; science, mathematics and education. I like animals and have experience of showing dogs and equestrianism (show jumping, cross-country and dressage). I like aviation, especially flying. I have been a member of Mensa for over 30 years. I play the guitar and have sung choral works from Mozart to Bernstein. I am learning to play the piano. I like children. I have an interest in spiritual matters. I am a member of a health club and keep reasonably fit in the gym and relax in the pool. I quit smoking again. I have lectured on Masonic Symbolism in England and the USA. I like archery for relaxation. I like sporting achievement and keep an eye on the British Biathlon. I don't go to the theatre as often as I'd like. I read as much as I can and write a little.