Bio: Dirk Hedlund

Photo: Dirk Hedlund Dirk Hedlund is an IT Consultant currently working with Klatt & Associates, CPA, PC. He provides support for all internal computer systems, while also providing support to the clients of Klatt & Associates, mostly small businesses, that need it. He provides a wide range of technical services, from support for Microsoft Windows and Office platforms, to planning, developing, and deploying entire networks.

Dirk comes from a military background, having served in the US Navy from 1985 to 1996 as an electronics technician and computer systems specialist. Much of his work at that time centered around the San Diego-based anti-submarine warfare aircraft known as the S-3 Viking. He served on several ships, including, among others, the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), and the USS Constellation (CV-64). Some of the aircraft squadrons he worked with were the VS-29 Dragonfires, the VS-38 Red Griffins, the VS-41 Fighting Shamrocks, and the VF-126 Bandits. He served his country proudly during Operation Desert Storm. He also participated in Operation Fiery Vigil for which he was awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal for his role in assisting the evacuation of personnel from the Philippines during the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo. His computer experience led him to receive an award, among many others, from the Commander of the Naval Air Force, US Pacific Fleet (COMNAVAIRPAC) for his role in defeating computer viruses.

His first computer experience predates even that of the military. As a hobbyist, he was building computers and playing with electronics even in the early 80's. His first formal computer training started in 1983. Later, while in the military, he built and operated a popular Bulletin Board System (BBS) in San Diego, which could be compared to an early web server. While technically predating the Internet, his BBS system was one of the first to offer true Internet-based email, among many other features.

Following his military career, Dirk worked in Southern California for a small manufacturing company called Enertron. At Enertron he was a man of many hats. He maintained all the plants manufacturing machines and robots, and setup the company's first Internet connection and email system. He also created the companies first web site.

He left Enertron to return to his native state of Iowa, and soon began working as a systems administrator for a company called Cimtechnologies, in the Iowa State University Research Labs. Cimtech was later purchased by Engineering Animation Inc, a medium-sized computer graphics and gaming company with offices around the globe. EAI was purchased by Unigraphics Solutions (UGS), which itself was purchased by Electronic Data Systems (EDS), a huge IT company.

Currently, Dirk Hedlund is actively involved in all areas of computer technology. He is an advocate of data encryption, and actively recruits others to use technologies such as PGP and personal digital certificates to secure email. To that end, he has become a Thawte Web Of Trust notary. When not "working" with computers as part of a job function, you will often still find him sitting in front of a computer performing research, communicating online, or just playing video games.

Dirk Hedlund can be reached by sending email to:

Dirk Hedlund has a public PGP key posted here.

Dirk Hedlund also maintains a personal web log (blog) at http://maxheadroom2000.spaces.live.com/.