My constant fascination with mechanical and electrical devices has long manifested in an insatiable curiosity that drove me to dismantle things just to comprehend their inner workings. Such proclivities earned me the moniker "Wrecking Crew" from my father. However, my journey to launching a tech company was a long road. 

As a young man embarking on a Cold War-era naval career, I found myself submerged in the intricate electro-mechanical realm of a nuclear-powered submarine, where I served as a weapons officer. The experience not only engulfed me in the technological marvel of submarines but also instilled in me the tenets of Navy Nuclear Program thinking. 

After completing five patrols on the Nathan Hale SSBN 623, the Navy assigned me to the Joint Strategic Targeting Staff (JSTPS) in Omaha, Nebraska. Tasked as a Nuclear Weapons Allocator, I operated within the confines of a blast-resistant structure nestled inconspicuously in the front yard of the Strategic Air Command. Armed with a top-secret SIOP (Special Compartmentalized Information, Code word) clearance, I utilized an IBM mainframe computer to allocate weapons to targets as per Presidential directives within the Single Integrated Options Plan (SIOP). It was during my tenure at JSTPS that I witnessed the introduction of desktop computers. My interest in computers and programming naturally followed. 

Upon resigning from active Navy duty, I continued drilling with the Navy Reserves while concurrently assuming the role of an 8th-grade science teacher at Robertsville Middle School in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. While teaching science, I also coached the robotics team. Teaching science and coaching the robotics team not only enriched my

understanding of the fundamental theories but also led me to the realization that simplicity and repetition govern the success of natural organisms. Simplicity and reliability were the guiding principles that I worked from when developing the Autobotit. 

During a routine weekend drill with the Navy Reserves, a visit to a fast-food establishment highlighted the inefficiencies of human-operated systems. Frustrated with repeated errors in my order, I wondered if the disinterested cashier could be replaced with three diodes and a meter of wire. This experience ignited my pursuit of automating processes, which ultimately shifted from robotic burger flippers to revolutionizing convenience stores. 

While living in southern California, I embarked on developing the Autobotit in my garage, armed with nothing more than sprockets, roller chains, and a fractional horsepower motor. Employing a wooden structure, I devised a cart system using sprockets and chains, introducing the concept of a trapdoor to navigate both X and Y directions. A serendipitous discovery allowed the cart to seamlessly maneuver in both directions with a single drive motor. 

Expanding the system to include the Z direction, I engineered a design with eight sprockets, enabling three-dimensional operation through a single drive motor. The advent of the Raspberry Pi and smartphones further streamlined computing, control, and dynamic operability.

In August 2017, my fortuitous encounter with Frank Fahrlander, a seasoned professional from Compaq Computer and Hewlett-Packard, marked a turning point. Together, we refined Autobotit's control systems, transitioning from Arduino to Raspberry Pi and from AC induction motors to DC servo motors. 

In 2021, now retired from teaching, I determined to focus my energy on proving the Autobotit concept. I acquired a business-zoned lot on Clinton Highway in Clinton, Tennessee, with the intention of establishing an operational store to validate the concept and garner support for expansion. Having navigated the bureaucratic hurdles, on a tight budget building construction concluded in the summer 2023 and the construction of a working full size model of the Autobotit began. 

In July 2023, Autobotit transformed from my passion to a tech startup, with two of my sons joining me as cofounders. Zack, a former “biglaw” attorney with nearly a decade of experience working with startups, took charge of business, legal, and financial aspects, while Dan, an Electrical Engineer who has held positions at various organizations such as Cisco and Oak Ridge National Lab, assumed responsibilities in electronics and programming from Frank, who for personal reasons needed to take a step back.  I remain dedicated to mechanical design and fabrication as Autobotit has become a technology startup.  With our first working model almost complete, I both appreciate how much we have been able to accomplish and wake up every day excited for what we will do next.