Biography: David R. Aton

David R. Aton has 25 years of professional IT experience that includes application development on microcomputers and mainframes in multiple languages; project management; systems integration; EDI and electronic commerce; corporate re-engineering; and data modeling. He has provided technical services and consulting for such corporations as Delta Air Lines, MCI, Schlumberger, Electronic Purchasing Information Corporation, and Southern Company Energy Marketing.

Over the course of this long career, Dave has mastered a range of cutting-edge technologies. In the mid ’80s, he designed and managed the first SQL application at Delta Air Lines, as well as Delta’s first computer-based project management software. He represented Delta in France during the integration of Pan Am’s reservations and ticketing network with Delta’s. He wrote assembler-level microcomputer code for unique components of Delta’s first travel agency automation software. To speed access to time-critical flight data for Delta’s employees and customers, he spearheaded the research and acquisition of voice-response technology. As national and international EDI standards emerged, Dave helped to bring the benefits of EDI to Delta, and later applied this expertise to the design of a robust EDI-based electronic catalog and product sourcing system for EPIC, a subsidiary of the renowned Thomas Publishing Company.

In an advanced automated meter data collection project at Schlumberger, Dave’s group integrated a Windows NT/Oracle data acquisition system that used fixed-network RF technology with Illinois Power’s mainframe COBOL billing system.
At Southern Company Energy Marketing, Dave designed, implemented and managed formal quality control processes for installing, testing and deploying software that was being developed by an external consulting company.

Over the past few years as VP of Support Services for a Houston-based aviation software company, Dave has used his aviation experience to contribute to core system design, implemented a software quality assurance system, developed a customer training program, and helped build a first class team that is changing the nature of turbine aircraft services.

Dave has been a pilot for more than 35 years. He began formal flight training at age 17. Before graduating from college, he earned commercial and instrument ratings and become a Certified Flight Instructor. His flying experience includes World War II–vintage open cockpit biplanes, sailplanes, helicopters and jets.

Dave is also an award-winning photojournalist. He was part of an elite team of photojournalists assembled by the Smithsonian Institution in 1976 to document the American bicentennial in Washington, D.C. Among his accomplishments: he produced a historic photographic documentary of the opening of the Air and Space Museum—the most popular museum in America. His photographs have been published in the book The Best of Photojournalism, and displayed in galleries in the U.S. and Europe. During his IT career at Delta Air Lines, he also served on the writing staff of the Delta Digest, and provided photographs for that magazine as well as for Delta’s marketing and advertising campaigns.

In connection with the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Dave served as a volunteer host and translator for visiting French officials. He is a member of the Alliance Française. As a long-time volunteer for the Georgia Council for International Visitors he has individually hosted business and civic leaders from England, Ireland, France, Japan, Korea, Haiti and Algeria.

He holds a degree in Humanities from Emory University, and in Photojournalism from the University of Missouri. He has been active in karate since 1972.

Dave has two children.

You may contact Dave at daton@grahamroad.com

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