John D’Ambrosia
Chief Ethernet Evangelist, CTO Office
Force10 Networks, San Jose, California, U.S.
Previous industry positions: (Current) Chair, IEEE 802.3 100 Gb/s Backplane and Copper Cable Study Group; (Current) Chair, IEEE 802.3 Ethernet Bandwidth Assessment Ad hoc; Chair, IEEE P802.3ba 40 Gb/s and 100 Gb/s Ethernet Task Force; Secretary, IEEE P802.3ap Backplane Ethernet Task Force; (Current) Chairman of the Board, Ethernet Alliance; Secretary, Ethernet Alliance; Director, Ethernet Alliance; Chair, 10GEA XAUI interoperability Committee; OIF, MA&E Chair
Industry affiliations or organizations: IEEE, Ethernet Alliance, OIF
Accomplishments you’re proud of: My family (wife and children); Chairing the IEEE 802.3 Task Force that developed 40Gb/s and 100Gb/s Ethernet
First job: Delivering papers
Favorite website: Facebook
The last book I read: Altar of Eden by James Rollins
Why did you choose this industry for your profession? As a child I went to Disney World a lot, and wanted to become an “Imagineer”—who would of guessed where it would lead me?
If I knew then what I know now, I would have: Not looked backwards; it’s not productive.
The best advice anyone ever gave me was: Two pieces: 1) Do the right thing; 2) Everything you do is marketing! If you’re not marketing a product, you are marketing yourself.
What trend in the industry is affecting your job and what would you like to do about it?
Multiple trends are affecting our industry, and this will continue, given the industry’s breadth. I am personally involved with two trends: 1. Feeds & Speeds—this continues, and shows no sign of letting up. I address this trend via my current chair roles in the IEEE. 2. We live in an eco-system—it is becoming more obvious that the “network” is an eco-system of networks, and for its continuing expansion, all stakeholders need to participate in its development.
Other comments: We should not lose sight of the positive impact networking and technology have had on our lives. From the simple things, such as being able to speak to your child via Skype in a hotel lounge while traveling in China, to complex things, like their role in changing the world via communications and making the world a smaller place.