Biography of Dr. Standler
Atmospheric Physics
During 1967-77, when I was a full-time physics student in a university,
I took the usual physics classes to prepare me to do research
and solve problems in almost any area of classical physics.
There are some themes in physics, such as oscillations and motion of waves, that occur in many areas
of physics (e.g., mechanics, acoustics, optics, electromagnetism, plasma physics, etc.),
and understanding these themes make it easier to learn new areas of physics.
In 1969, I purchased a copy of a technical book on lightning by Prof. Uman,
and became interested in research in lightning. I selected graduate schools
to attend, based on their research program in lightning. Essentially, I chose
my thesis advisor first, then went to the university where that advisor was
a professor.
During 1971-79, I did scientific research in atmospheric physics,
including lightning and
electrical discharges in gases.
Electrical Engineering
After earning my doctorate in physics in 1977, there were few jobs for physicists,
because of decreases in funding for pure scientific research.
I switched careers to electrical engineering.
I was a professor of electrical engineering for 10 years
and an employee of, or consultant to, industry for 7 years.
During 1973-1989, I designed and built electronic instrumentation, using both
analog and digital circuits.
My career in engineering built on my previous experience in physics research,
in which I designed and built some electronic instruments and
protected them from lightning.
electrical surges
Since 1973, I have designed and built numerous surge suppressors for ac power circuits,
analog and digital data lines, and telephone lines.
During 1982-93, I did engineering research in protection of electronic circuits from
electrical surges
(i.e., transient overvoltages), such as caused by lightning, switching inductive loads, and
electromagnetic pulse (EMP) from nuclear weapons.
I continue to consult part-time in the design and application of surge suppressors and
surge arresters. For that reason, I continue to maintain my collection of catalogs of
components for surge-protective devices.
conclusion of my scientific & engineering research
During 1971-93, I wrote more than 35 archival papers in science and engineering, plus
one book that has been in print for more than
twenty years, and I am an inventor on three U.S. Patents.
In 1990, at the end of the cold war, the U.S. Congress declared a "peace dividend"
and annihilated funding for research in all of my areas of electrical engineering and physics.
(See my detailed remarks on U.S. Government
funding of scientific research.)
Simultaneously, there was a recession that ended funding for research in my areas
by corporations and electric utilities. Concurrently, design and manufacturing
of surge suppressors moved from the USA to Asia, mostly Communist China.
All of these events together ended my career in engineering research.
Teaching
My teaching experience includes:
- teaching assistant for physics of music class, University of Denver, 1971.
- teaching assistant for physics laboratory classes, New Mexico Institute of
Mining & Technology, 1972-73.
- taught analog electronic circuit classes in the electrical engineering
department at the University of Florida (1978-79), Rochester Institute of
Technology (1981-83), and The Pennsylvania State University (1984-89).
- taught transmission line laboratory and undergraduate electromagnetic fields
class at Rochester Institute of Technology (1982).
- supervised undergraduate analog electronics laboratory at the University of
Florida (1978) and The Pennsylvania State University (1986),
including writing new laboratory instructions.
- I supervised two candidates who chose to write a thesis for their MSEE
degree at The Pennsylvania State University.
- I also was a member of the advisory committee for various candidates
for the Ph.D. and MSEE degrees at The Pennsylvania State University (1986-1990).
- I was a member of the electrical engineering department curriculum committee
at Rochester Institute of Technology and at The Pennsylvania State University (1985-88).
All of this teaching experience helps me solve disputes about grading,
acceptability of a thesis, and similar academic issues.
Law
I had been interested in privacy law and First Amendment law since the 1960s and I had worked
as a consultant on scientific evidence to litigators, so I decided in 1994 to become an attorney.
When I was a full-time law student during 1995-98, I broadly studied torts, contracts, and
constitutional law, as well as intellectual property law.
I used the same broad, general approach to law that served me well in my previous careers
as a physicist and electrical engineer.
An attorney who has a narrow focus in only one specialty can miss analogies from
other areas of law when novel or nonroutine cases arise.
In the areas of computer law and technology law,
new technologies are continually creating cases with novel legal issues.
My earlier career as a professor for 10 years
helps me understand and solve problems in higher-education law.
My writing computer programs since 1968, and my being a webmaster since 1997,
helps me understand and solve problems in computer law.
My experience in scientific and engineering research for more than 16 years
helps me understand torts involving technology
and also appreciate the importance of intellectual property law.
In this way, my current career in law builds on my experience
in my previous careers in physics and electrical engineering.
Since becoming an attorney in Massachusetts in December 1998, I have continued to learn law,
mostly by assigning myself legal research projects on topics that interest me.
Some of these self-assigned projects became essays at my website
with citations to statutes, cases, and law review articles.
You can see my intense interest, enthusiasm, and scholarly approach to law in the
more than 97 essays at my websites.
I have also gained experience through work for my legal clients in Massachusetts,
and from my nationwide consulting to litigators.
Credentials
My curriculum vitae gives my credentials,
a bibliography of my publications, and a summary of my professional experience.
I shall personally do all work on my client's case or problem,
so that my client gets the full benefit of my education and experience.
this document is at http://www.rbs2.com/about.htm
text first posted 16 May 2009, revised 21 March 2014
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