John Kida:  

Note use: "JHKida-at-Comcast-dot-Net" if you wish reach me. Left HHS on Oct. 19th 1973 after being placed in, "After School detention" again. I saw I was going nowhere given the group I semi-hung out with. So I purchased a 90-day Wonders Bus ticket and decided to travel the USA. From Shreveport, La, I called the HHS office and told them and I wouldn't be back for the rest of the year. I then went sightseeing traveling the USA on Trailways buses. Yep they likely had a fit in the HHS Office. Either way after a few dozen states,I eventually ended up in Fresno, Ca. and worked a lot of no nothing jobs just to get by, while waiting to turn 18 in Nov. of that year. Finally, having turned 18, I used the California High School drop out program, took an entrance exam and started Fresno City College in Feb. 1974. Where I took a handful of 099 classes and passed them. Then I took five 100 level classes passed them and I applied and was accepted at Augusta College in 1975. So I caught a bus back to Augusta and started classes there. I worked with the Bell Ringer group for the fun it involved. I met the woman I would marry for the rest of my life for the 2nd time. I had originally met her at the Roses Fair about 4 years previously. We married 5 months later and went on to raise 3 brilliant kids. I continued my college education by attending Night classes at Phillips College. Access to the Computer System allowed me to acquire Gray-Hat and programming skills resulting in me being hired as 3rd shift systems operations for First Financial Mgt. Corp (FFMC) computer center, which handled the operations for GA. Railroad Bank on Board St. I worked a few other jobs, while attending Ga. Military College, to get my Associates in Data Processing degree in 1986. I worked as a TRADOC technical writer and instructor, teaching IBM Main Frame operations and later AN-GSC-52 Satellite operations on Ft. Gordon. An IT headhunter spotted me, and I was contracted by EAI and was put to work at Security Operations Training Facility (SFOD-D aka Delta Force) at Ft. Bragg, for JSOC at Pope AFB and Seymour Johnson AFB KC-130Flight Simulator. Where I worked for 4 years as a classified IT equipment and IT communication services support contractor for whoever won the contracts. I was awarded the DOD medal for Civilian Services and Letters of Commendation for my work in systems support, during Operation Just Cause and Desert Storm. However, having lost a few close working buddies due to military related issues and now the father of 3 and wife that almost died, while I was doing things. I submitted my 30-day notice and accepted a safer position with NCI at Scott AFB, managing the Internet Security for US TRANSCOM J3-J4 Communications using SUN Systems for MAC/AMC and etc.. Where I was 1 of 7 sites to successfully halt General O'Berry's Operation White Cap Exercise out of 100+ Military sites worldwide. After 18 months, like many in my field I said the heck with this year to year 24/7 Alert stuff, LOW pay, constant US Federal DOD contract seeking stuff and went Internet. Entering the Internet IT employment field, I was quickly recruited by International Network Services (INS) a pre-IPO...Expand for more