Since joining Comcast in early 2011, Chris has taken a lead role in the architecture and practical application of programmable behaviors in the Comcast network. As a Sr. Principal Engineer within the Network Architecture group, Chris helps develop the framework for network automation. He is now working towards the goal of common abstractions based on OpenConfig, improved application/network interactions and ubiquitous automation for the network. Chris also actively serves as teacher and mentor for internal training programs aiming to give network engineers the skills to operate in a more software-driven network.Previously, Chris was a Chairperson of the OpenDaylight Advisory Group, member of the Linux Foundation Networking End User Advisory Group and a committer/reviewer on the FD.io VPP fast data-plane project.Chris’ background prior to Comcast has seen him build global multi-service IP networks, contribute code to critical parts of the Linux and FreeBSD kernels, support open-source routing daemon projects like Bird and Quagga and everything in between.

The Advisory Group has been established to assist and support ODL in its objectives by providing technical and strategic guidance to the ODL Technical Steering Committee and ODL Developers based on challenges of running a real-world network.

The Advisory Group has been established to assist and support ODL in its objectives by providing technical and strategic guidance to the ODL Technical Steering Committee and ODL Developers based on challenges of running a real-world network.

Freelance network architecture and iOS (iPhone/iPad) software consulting. Remote and onsite professional services, specializing in wide area networking (firewalls, BGP, MPLS, etc) and behind-the-scenes software infrastructure.

Investigating IP network strategy and architecture to fit longer term business needs; Determining new business opportunities to make use of the technology available in the business; Providing high-level engineering and operational support to the business.

Key role functions include: Global backbone architecture, strategy and network deployment; Industry relations, peering and vendor negotiation; Internal backbone tooling development and support; Key technical reference across News Corporation family of companies.Recent Key Achievements Global network expansion (EU capacity increase, larger US footprint, Hong Kong). Large multinational network capacity RFPs and resultant en-masse network migration. (Generally reaching 10 to 20% overall wide-area telecoms savings with each iteration) Business plan development and implementation for 5 year, BSkyB consumer DSL IP transport. (Worth >$100m, 10 to 15% gross margin and several marketable assets) OSS efficiencies. In house software development for tooling, and specification/procurement. Strategic settlement-free interconnection agreements (e.g., Comcast, SBC). Multi-service network and network management design and implementation for life-line (fire service) and broadcast-television services.

Primary responsibility was to track and plan for network infrastructure growth delivering just-in-time upgrades before the customer experience would be impacted. Other functions included providing scope and final-signoff on network policy that aimed to unify operations across ten separate operating companies in nine countries. I continued my role as global peering manager.

Relocated to the US and architected the migration to a single-network “confederated” model for the group of companies that allowed autonomous local operation with a framework to unify global operations. This included the complete centralization of all peering management, overseen by myself. Ultimately this led to a greater degree of product unification and accelerated new product development, particularly by facilitating cross-border MPLS delivery.

In this role I shifted focus from the UK to the bigger picture, including Group-wide infrastructure projects including the need to centralize connectivity between the operating companies primarily as a mechanism to reduce operating costs (a combination of bulk purchasing and reduction in effort duplication).

Easynet started as a small dial-up ISP in London, UK. I started early and formed the first dedicated engineering resource within the company managing a team that built and operated the entire internal infrastructure to deliver network and server resources. During this initial growth period there were several key achievements:• Pushed major product developments, such as supporting the trend towards free dialup internet access, ISDN, Satellite and eventually DSL. Easynet also began to shift focus away from consumers and heavily towards businesses thus prompting a technology shift. For example, I managed the transition from predominantly dialup to fixed-line and server hosting services.• Lead technology developments, such as shifting from discrete analog modems to high-density digital modems and became a key member of industry committees working toward the unbundling of British Telecom copper lines (ultimately I won Easynet one of very few seats at the first commercial technology trials of DSL in the UK).• Supported company growth into new markets and new territories. Provided the cost analysis of service construction and ultimately designed and managed the delivery of the initial infrastructure of independent subsidiary companies into new European countries.• Part of the due-diligence team in several company acquisitions, providing assessments of technological asset and intellectual property value. These activities inevitably resulted in the management of merging the various operations.• Coordination of activities between the growing number of operating companies, in particular defining a framework for the delegation of local peering activities (Internet interconnection) except under specific conditions where the management of partner networks was centralised.