ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - Kelly Thomas Davis Sr., former technical lead for the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command’s Software Engineering Center has been awarded the BEYA Outstanding Technical Contribution Award.
The award calls for a person performing technological functions, who has designed, developed, managed, or assisted in the development of a product, service, system, or intellectual property that is a substantial achievement in the field.
Background
Davis was born and raised in Paterson, New Jersey and in 2010, enrolled at Stevenson University, majoring in computer information systems and technology management. Davis also earned himself a starting role on the Stevenson men’s basketball team, winning two national championships during his junior and senior years.
Davis credits those two years as the most influential years of his life, thanks to the work ethic that was instilled in him by coaches and teammates.
While pursuing his education at Stevenson, Davis took on an internship at the tech company Helion where he obtained many technical certifications and was a model employee. He soon moved to a journeyman developer position within the tech industry.
Technical Lead for CECOM SEC
For three years, Davis met and exceeded the duties of technical lead for CECOM SEC, leading a team of software and networking engineers in the development and implementation of various projects for the Department of Defense.
“One of my favorite aspects of being technical lead was the opportunity to work with a talented and dedicated team of engineers,” said Davis. “I enjoyed the process of leading and mentoring my team and watching them grow and develop in their roles.”
As the lead, he was responsible for overseeing all technical aspects of the projects, including planning, design, software development and cyber security. He also took charge of implementation and testing, as well as ensuring that all project deadlines were completed on time and within budget.
“I enjoyed the technical challenges that would arise with working on select projects within SEC, as it allowed me to push my own skills to their limits,” said Davis. “I found that having a close and cohesive team made it much easier to handle those challenges.”
Mentorship
Davis credits many of his former leaders as role models who shaped him into the technical professional he is today, and hopes his experience and skills can mentor and support other underrepresented communities in the field. “My advice to people with similar backgrounds is to never stop learning and growing, and to stay up-to-date with the latest technologies and trends,” he said. “Maintaining strong communication and leadership abilities are just as important as technical expertise in this field.”
Davis also insists on aspiring professionals to always seek out mentorship. “It is important to seek out mentorship and to surround yourself with people who can support you in your career goals.”
Self-Starter
Davis also prides himself as a self-made game developer. Using his education and experience, he has developed and released his gaming apps on the Google Play Store.
In 2019, he published his first independent game, Chrono Ghost, through his own video game studio NITETIME Studios.
“It was a challenging but incredibly rewarding experience, and it was a great feeling to see the final product in the app stores,” said Davis. “My proudest moment.”
Davis credits his time working at his day job with providing him the necessary technical skills and patience in game development.
“It was truly a great experience working on something I am passionate about,” said Davis. “It was great to be able to bring my own ideas to life, and to see people enjoying something that I have created.”
Social Sharing