James J. Austin, M.S.E.E., associate in Pathology retires
For 35 years, electrical engineer and former NASA hardware designer James J. Austin, M.S.E.E., played a key role in providing information technology to UF’s Health Science Center, including hardware and software design, system design and project management.
His most satisfying accomplishment, and perhaps the most influential, was helping build the HSC/Shands computer network from 1986 to 1998. His responsibilities included installing the first computer network in Shands, installing and maintaining the first servers and e-mail system on the HSC network, designing its first fiber-optic backbone and participating in the HSC/Shands team that managed the network as it grew. He also helped develop procedures for operating and managing related infrastructure, which delivers data and information rather than electricity or water, as do older infrastructures.
Since 1998, Austin has focused on departmental business systems needed to manage funds associated with teaching, research, clinical activity and community service. This work involves technical and administrative challenges, and Austin’s efforts are being integrated with the UF Bridges project to configure and install a new business system for the entire university. In the future, Austin will continue his consulting work in technical project management and pursue his hobby, glassworking. He plans to increase his skills in bead-making and technical glassware production and repair.