Robert J. Leahy, Jr., Ed.D.

A highly skilled technical writer, instructional designer, instructor and trainer with exceptional ability to translate complex concepts to a wide audience and level of understanding.  A complementary blend of experience and training in corporate, government, military, higher education and secondary school environments. An experienced communicator and team player.  A veteran of the US Army with extensive service, active and reserve, as an enlisted Soldier, non-commissioned officer and officer.

• Over 25 years of experience in technical writing, training, facilitation, instructional design, course development, and resource coordination.
• Able to effectively communicate orally and in writing with people from varied backgrounds and levels of understanding.
• Able to design web-based training, classroom, and instructional materials, devices, training aids, user guides, troubleshooting and maintenance manuals.
• Excellent diagnostic, communication, interpersonal, and technical skills.

TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 211, Palatine, IL
Sep 2020 - Present

Adult Continuing Education Instructor, Substitute Teacher, Classroom Monitor
Supporting a local High School District (multiple schools) by performing as a Substitute Teacher or Classroom Monitor during the initial 100% remote learning (for students) and transition to hybrid learning (50% onsite and 50% remote) programs for the 2020-2021 school year. Remote learning is conducted using Zoom and Schoology. Traditional in-classroom learning returned for the 2021-2022 school year. This is a temporary assignment and is part-time.

• Currently serve as an Adult Continuing Education Instructor teaching the College & Career Ready Bridge course.
• Serve as a Substitute Teacher if a regular Classroom Teacher is not available. For the 2020-2021 school year, students were in a hybrid learning format (50% remote, 50% in classroom). As of the 2021-2022 school year, all students are back in the classroom. Have had the opportunity to substitute for all academic departments within the schools. However, primarily substitute for the Applied Technology, Business Education, English, Science and Social Studies departments.
• Served as a Classroom Monitor (Fall 2020) located at the school to provide supervision for students while they were taught remotely by their regular Classroom Teacher. Students were taught in a hybrid learning format. This was for an Applied Technology teacher and a Special Education teacher.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, Hines, IL  
Dec 2011 – Sep 2019 (Retired)
Information Technology Specialist (Technical Writer)
Researches, develops, and writes content for user manuals, technical documentation, and supporting materials for technical procedures and internally developed software applications. The position is located within the Office of Information and Technology (OIT), Systems Design and Core Systems Engineering Services at the Hines, IL field office but associated with projects staffed or developed anywhere in the United States.  

• Serves as a Technical Writer for software applications.
• Design and write both paper and on-line technical and user oriented documentation using various authoring tools.
• Researches, develops, and writes content for user manuals, technical documentation, and supporting materials for technical procedures and internally developed software applications (e.g., Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture).
• Develop, review or edit white papers, briefings, training programs and other documentation.

TRADOC CAPABILITY MANAGER - AIR DEFENSE ARTILLERY BRIGADE (US ARMY), Fort Sill, OK   May 2011 – Sep 2011
AMD Systems Analyst (Contractor – Milvian Solutions)
The Air and Missile Defense (AMD) Systems Analyst is a civilian subject matter expert (SME) on assigned AMD systems to the US Army.  They represent the end-user (Soldiers and Air Defense Artillery units) to insure that user interests (personnel, training, logistics, operations, organization, test, and doctrine) are adequately addressed in all phases of the material acquisition process.  

• Provide, coordinate and interface between combat developers, material developers/managers, and system contractors on product improvements, operational testing, system fielding and modifications on the Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor (JLENS) system.
• Support working groups, studies and analysis, and coordinates meetings.
• Conduct various level briefings.
• Develop, review or edit white papers, briefings, training programs and other documentation.

NOKIA CORPORATION (formally Novarra, Inc.), Itasca, IL  
Sep 2009 – Oct 2010 (Corporate downsizing)
Senior Technical Writer
Create and update Vision™ and Ovi™ software products (client/server) documentation to reflect new products and major enhancements.  This includes sales, client and end-user documentation for Marketing, Product Management, Sales and Engineering.

• Documents produced included User Guides, Installation & Administration Guides, Quick Reference Cards, Developer Guides, Menu Flow Diagrams, white papers, and marketing product overviews.
• Captured, modified, edited or create graphic content for all documentation using Snagit, Corel Draw, Corel PhotoPaint and Microsoft Visio.
• Customized documentation for software use on various manufacturer cellular phones, wireless carriers and product presentations at industry events.
• Developed the company’s (Novarra) new style guide prior to the acquisition by Nokia.

TRADOC CAPABILITY MANAGER – LOWER TIER (US ARMY), Fort Bliss, TX  
Sep 2006 – Sep 2009  (Retired and returned to civilain employer)
Assistant TRADOC Capability Manager – Lower Tier (Major, US Army)
The Assistant TRADOC Capability Manager (Action Officer) is a subject matter expert (SME) on assigned Air and Missile Defense (AMD) systems to the US Army.  They represent the end-user (Soldiers and Air Defense Artillery units) to insure that user interests (personnel, training, logistics, operations, organization, test, and doctrine) are adequately addressed in all phases of the material acquisition process.

• Temporarily recalled to active duty to support the Global War on Terror.
• Surface Launched Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (SLAMRAAM) system and Counter-Rocket, Artillery, Mortar (C-RAM) system subject matter expert (SME).
• Developed, reviewed or edited white papers, briefings, training programs and other technical documentation. Conduct various level briefings to General Officers, Pre-command Course students and Captain’s Career Course students.
• Developed a Staff & Planners course for instructors of the Air Defense Artillery School.
• Assisted in the establishment of the C-RAM system training base at Fort Bliss.

NOVARRA INCORPORATED, Itasca, IL
Nov 2001 – Sep 2006 (Military recall to Active Duty)
Senior Technical Writer
Create and update Engines for Wireless Data™ and Novarra’s Vision™ Suite of Mobile Internet & Multimedia products (client/server) documentation to reflect new products and major enhancements.  This includes sales, client and end-user documentation for Marketing, Product Management, Sales and Engineering. Documents produced included User Guides, Installation & Administration Guides, Quick Reference Cards, Developer Guides, Menu Flow Diagrams, white papers, and marketing product overviews.

• Created and edited source content, in Adobe FrameMaker or Microsoft Word, and convert it for publication as online help, PDF files and for the company (Novarra) web site.
• Captured, modified, edited or create graphic content for all documentation using Snagit, Corel Draw, Corel PhotoPaint and Microsoft Visio.
• Developed an online training program for teaching a customer’s sales force and for the promotion  of Novarra products. Created content and posted to the company’s (Novarra) website using Dreamweaver or hand-coded HTML.
• Wrote weekly software release notes and customized documentation for software use on various manufacturer cellular phones, wireless carriers and product presentations at industry events.

COLLEGE OF LAKE COUNTY, Grayslake, IL  
Jan 2002 – May 2002 
Multimedia Instructor (Adjunct Faculty - Part Time)
Taught COM 116, Developing Web Pages, an introductory Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) course as part of the Associates in Science, Multimedia Communications degree program.

• The students examined page and site design concepts with an emphasis on interface design for good navigation. 
• Introduced and used style rules and style sheets in web page development.
• Discussed the target audience, their hardware and software capabilities, and the impact on the website produced.
• Students developed projects throughout the course using only hand-coded HTML.

NIKU CORPORATION, Lincolnshire, IL  
Sep 2000 – Jul 2001 (Corporate downsizing)
Technical Writer
Create and update Niku Services Relationship Management (SRM) software documentation to reflect the major enhancements and new features.

• Wrote two user’s guides and two installation guides. Converted four user’s guides from Microsoft Word to FrameMaker (legacy documentation).
• Wrote the graphics chapter to the department’s style guide.
• Assisted the Curriculum Developer in the development of software training manuals for eNiku 4.1.
• Was the department’s Microsoft Word “troubleshooter.”

ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, Vernon Hills, IL  
Apr 1998 – Sep 2000 
Supervisor, Technical Documentation
Responsible for supervising four Technical Writers, a Technical Illustrator, and a Multimedia Specialist. Department is responsible for writing, editing and updating user’s guides, maintenance manuals, service bulletins and installation instructions for Zebra Technologies products.

• Combined and led two formally separate writing departments (User Documentation and Maintenance Documentation) under the newly created Technical Documentation department.
• Personally wrote four maintenance manuals, over 40 option/maintenance kit instructions and four user’s guides using Adobe FrameMaker, Microsoft Word, or Ventura Publisher.
• Developed interactive maintenance manuals using Adobe Acrobat and Authorware 5.
• ISO 9001 Author for the Technical Training and Documentation Department.

EQUISERV (a Snap-On Tool Company), Lincolnshire, IL  
Jun 1997 – Apr 1998 
Technical Support Specialist
Responsible for telephone technical support to company technicians, sales representatives and customers for Snap-on/Sun computerized engine analyzers, emission analyzers and information systems. Other responsibilities include writing and updating service manuals, service bulletins, mechanical and electrical drawings.

• Rewrote several chapters on two engine analyzers to include creating and editing drawings of the equipment and accessories.
• Developed software menu flow charts on four different engine analyzers to allow Technical Support Specialists to effectively assist in troubleshooting over the phone.
• Developed lesson plans, presentations, training aids, and conducted training in Basic Personal Computer, Basic DOS 6.0, Basic Windows 3.11 and Basic Windows 95 for Field Service Technicians.

GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION, Wheeling, IL  
Mar 1993 – Jun 1997
Technical Specialist
Responsible for telephone support to company technicians, company sales branch offices, independent equipment dealers and customers for the repair of all General Binding, Velobind, Bates, Pro-Tech and Sickinger office and industrial equipment. Wrote and updated service manuals, technical bulletins, mechanical and electrical drawings for new and legacy equipment serviced and supported by GBC National Service Department.

• Developed lesson plans, presentations, training aids and other training materials, and conducted training for new technical representatives and dealer representatives.
• Developed a technical trouble and solution coding system used by field technicians on the computerized dispatch system.
• Developed a “read ahead” training packet for new hire technicians and published the department monthly newsletter.

• Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Leadership, American College of Education, Indianapolis, IN
• Education Specialist (Ed.S.), Career and Technical Education, University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, WI
• Graduate Certificate, E-Learning and Online Teaching, University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, WI
• Graduate Certificate, Instructional Design, University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, WI
• Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.), Adult and Higher Education, Northern Illinois University, De Kalb, IL
• Combined Arms Services and Staff School, US Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS 
• Bachelor of Arts (BA), Liberal Arts, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL
• Associate of Science (AS), Business Administration, College of Lake County, Grayslake, IL
• Digital Electronics/Microprocessor Technology, Harper College, Palatine, IL