What do you enjoy about the work you do and what is most rewarding?
I really like when the work is creative, when you can “step back” and admire the result of my efforts. Of the many occurrences, a few highlights for me include hearing the chime of a seat-belt-warning design, watching the simulation of a self-timed ROM, and having a complex PPA analysis program (finally after many trails) successfully run the flow and print out the desired data tables. I get a kick out of automating tasks to make my and others’ work easier and faster. I really enjoy doing methodical “private investigation” to determine the root causes of design errors and unexpected design behaviors, which come up daily. I’ve always enjoyed being able to do a variety of things, learning new skills and broadening my understanding of other parts of the IC design flow. The potential alternative of spending my whole career focused on a single design aspect, for example, just clock tree design, sounds very tedious.
What is one of your greatest career accomplishments?
Rather than one specific career achievement, I think my greatest accomplishment has been the consistent steady stream of daily solutions to the problems that must be overcome for the success of a project. One of the most interesting things I worked on was a radiation-hardened standard cell technology for space applications. It is likely that designs created from that library are currently orbiting Earth on the International Space Station. That’s pretty cool!
What do you do for fun outside work?
I like keeping up with what’s going on in space technology, watching science fiction shows and movies (I’m a Trekkie), and looking at the stars. A clear view of the Milkyway on a cold night leaves me awestruck. One of the things I love most is spending time with my 12 grandkids (yes, 12), reading books on the couch or playing with toys on the floor. I enjoy large family reunions and playing strategy games. I love going out to dinner with my wife or sharing a getaway with her in the mountains of Virginia, on the beaches of South Carolina, or by the fire pit in our backyard.
Manager Comment:
Paul is the kind of person that is not content with the status quo. He seeks out better ways to accomplish a task or improve his skills and then makes it happen. By doing so he has increased our customer’s productivity and quality to new levels and has earned accolades for himself and ASIC North. Always well-organized, he is able to break down large projects into manageable milestones and clearly communicates progress towards those goals. It is reassuring to know that no matter what the assignment, Paul will be able to execute independently and at a high level. Paul is also a member of the ASIC North Wellness Committee and his enthusiasm in keeping his co-workers informed about Wellness opportunities is to be admired.