Dwayne Sherland Home Page

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Jerry, Bing, Maria, Me
Jan 1, 2005

James Dwayne Sherland Mini- Bio

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Roots
I was born (birth certificate) in Metairie Louisiana on May the 28th 1959. A suburb of New Orleans where my mother was vacationing. I was in a hurry to start my adventure here and 3 months before I was supposed to arrive there was a sudden announcement made in the taxi my mother was in. I joined my Mother Carolyn, dad Arley and 1 older sister Kathy between the Taxi and the delivery gurney in the Metairie Hospital Jefferson Parish Louisiana. Our newly joined quartet was not going to last long. Before I was grown out of my boot box bed the news of yet another arrival was making an intrusion into my otherwise blissful existence. Yes 9 months after me came my sister Cindy. Did Mom know what was causing this ?
Evntually the family also included 3 other sisters - Sebrina, Beelinda and Janice. Our family journey took a lot of turns and diversions including Abilene,Cisco, Palestine, Fort Worth, Dallas. Plano Texas. Also South Bend Indiana and finally to Cotter, Harrison, and Mountain Home Arkansas.

The family eve Through the consistent travel and upheaval of the pseudo-nomadic upbringing I survived with a Harrison High School Diploma from Harrison Arkansas. Although the grades would not testify to it I was a fairly bright student. I generally revolted at homework assignments and tried to make up stuff as I went along. As much as everyone else I imagine.

College Years
Through a heart rending attraction to my high school sweetheart I found myself enrolling in college the fall after my high school graduation. Never mind I didn't select any particular school to my liking just followed my sweetheart to the University of Central Arkansas located in Conway Arkansas. Thirty minutes North of Little Rock.

The relationship with sweetheart didn't even make it to registration. But since I was there by golley I might as well make the best of it. I arrived in town with literally 20 dollars in my pocket. I managed to get a job and an apartment before the year actually started. The job was at VIRCO making furniture. I went through furniture maker and fork lift operator there and went on to other methods of paying my way through that semester.

I decided to major in Acting / Drama / Thespianism as it were... There is no way to overstate the blunder I made of my first college year. To keep this brief let me just say I blew my first year of college BIG TIME !! I flunked out and threw myself into making a living in the Conway Arkansas area.

I managed to earn my Associate Degree (Computer Science) and Bachelors Degree through the next 8 years by taking courses everywhere I went. I managed to rack up seven transcripts to earn my Bachelors Degree (Vocational Education Studies with a minor in Computer Science) from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale Illinois.

Military Years
Before I earned my degree I joined the US Navy. In September 1983 I entered the service from the MEPS station at Little Rock Arkansas. The trail goes through Boot Camp, Basic Electronics, Computer Hardware (DS 'A' School), and Computer Peripheral Systems School (NEC 1672) at San Diego California.

My first assignment was a ship in Indonesia. The USNS (TAGS-29) Chauvenet a shallow water research vessel mapping the ocean bottom in the Indonesian Archipelago. I caught up with the ship in Singapore and served 13 months on board. Some typical ports of call include: Singapore, Subic Bay Philippines, Ujan Pamdong, Bali, and Jakarta Indonesia, Darwin Autrailia, and numerous Pacific Islands. The duty was very interesting and I enjoyed the camaraderie and tropical sailing immensely.

I went to Dam Neck Virginia next to the Fleet Combat Training Center Atlantic. This command provides mock up training for fleet sailors. There is a virtual combat CIC for 12 different Navy Platforms. There is multi-million dollars worth of computer and display equipment that had to be maintained. While I had training in a few of the pieces of equipment I had to learn a great deal to be of any use. I climbed the military ladder to E-5 at this command and got the opportunity to return to school in exchange for my reenlistment.

I next found myself back in San Diego for a lengthy radar and display school. (NEC 1684) It was a requirement for my assignment to the USS Worden. When I reported aboard the 8000 ton missile guided cruiser stationed at Pearl Harbor Hawaii, I was the junior technician responsible for 20 million dollars worth of data switchboard, radar and video equipment. Since the ship is a combat vessel there were a great number of tests and trials, ship refits, training and cruises. I was onboard in the Persian Gulf for Desert Shield and Desert Storm. I spent and average of 320 days a year at sea or away from home at this command.

My final command was still at Pearl Harbor for the Naval Pacific Meteorological and Oceanographic Center. I was the chief in charge of all the computer, network and data systems equipment requirements. The NPMOC tour was shore based and included supervising the entire staff for on time delivery of all weather data to the Pacific Fleet.

Entrepreneur
After leaving the US Navy as an E-7 I decided to start my own business. Projects including networking, web development, remote data infrastructure and trade show technologies enabled me to be successful. I helped a local stock brokerage bring real time NYSE data into the island (one of the first). I was able to develop a number of web pages and E-Commerce solutions for local business owners before the opportunity to move to Atlanta came.

Corporate Years

Equant found my resume on the internet and decided I would be a good fit for a project in Honolulu. United Airlines replaced all of their computers (427) at the Honolulu International Airport. I was assigned as the Project Manger of the effort and proceeded to hire 10 direct reports. I was also responsible for the fiber optic cabling delivery from BellSouth Hawaii. It was a million dollar installation project and I brought it in on time and under budget.

My work with Equant got the attention of their sister company Societe Internacionale Telecomunicate Aeronautic (SITA). They offered me a job in Atlanta. I enjoyed 4 years of success with SITA. They utilized me with a number of different titles and I enjoyed the time there quite a bit. During this season we purchased our house here in Austell and have installed ourselves as real fixtures here. We enjoy being part of the community here and will be remaining here as long as we can.

Walking by Faith

After the attacks on September 11th a lot of things changed. The company I was working for was primarily serving the travel industry too a severe reduction in revenues. Along with losing my corporate job the prospect of future employment began to take the horizon for us. In times like this I am so thankful that I have been developing a close relationship with Jesus. He has kept us strong through all the ups and downs we have endured.

I have taken three separate tracks to find a steady income. I started a local computer networking repair company called SureLAN to try gaining income with my computer training. I was also invited to be a part of a start up called Canalis-Secan. It is a tremendous opportunity and I expect will bring significant returns in the long run. Finally I have continued to pursue a corporate position through networking and internet job boards.

As yet, we have not been successful in maintaining an income sufficient to our needs. However we have great hope and faith that the Lord is in control of all things. He says all things work together for the good of those that love God and are called according to His purpose. We believe that. I look forward to updating this page with the type of news that Bing (my wife) and I are anticipating.