Kenn Scribner began his professional career as an Air Force computer operator but quickly turned to engineering. While in the Air Force, Kenn managed many programs and operations, and even had the opportunity to write real-time code in support of the Air Force's premier research flight simulation facility. While there, Kenn led the Air Force efforts to incorporate a (then) new distributed simulation protocol (IEEE 1278.1-1995) used to connect distant flight simulators. During his Air Force tour, Kenn completed his Electrical Engineering undergraduate degree at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (specializing in microelectronics and computer architecture and design) and his graduate degree at the Air Force Institute of Technology (specializing again in microelectronics and computer engineering).
When Kenn left the Air Force in 1995, he joined a small local corporation to lead their Windows product development. Kenn's first Windows-based product design was a real-time test and evaluation system based upon Windows NT 4.0 and a quad SMP processor designed specifically to measure simulator latencies. Kenn designed the architecture and wrote the majority of the COM-based, multithreaded data collection infrastructure as well as the initial MFC-based user interface. He also enjoyed writing the Windows NT driver for the interrupt-driven GPS card used to measure the latencies.
Kenn then was offered a position at a large legal information service, where he wrote several portions of their flagship legal citation checking software. He specifically designed and wrote the ATL-based state processor for the citation checking server's middle tier, the encryption and compression software used to safely send the XML data files to and from the server, and he wrote the entire (thick) client user interface using heavily modified MFC classes Kenn designed for the task. Even after two years, not a single bug has been attributed to Kenn's coding efforts with this product, a feat that amazes (and pleases) Kenn.
Kenn now finds himself consulting and helping other developers understand the complexities of Windows and COM programming. Kenn considers himself fortunate to pursue his hobby as a career and enjoys sharing his experiences with other developers. To that end, Kenn has written three books: MFC Programming with Visual C++ 6 Unleashed, Teach Yourself ATL in 21 Days, and Understanding SOAP. He has contributed to several other books, including Mike Blasczak's Professional MFC with Visual C++ 6. He is currently writing a new .NET Web Services book for Sams due to be published in the Fall of 2001 (with the release of the second .NET beta). Kenn has also contributed numerous XML and SOAP articles to Visual C++ Developer, which you can find (along with many products and code samples) at his personal Web site, EnduraSoft. While there, be sure to visit his EduCenter for code and information as well as his SOAP page.
In his spare time, Kenn likes spending time enjoying the antics of his children, helping his wife through medical school, skiing, and programming Windows utilities and COM objects in support of his many projects. Before having children and writing books, he used to restore old Corvettes, climb rocks, camp and hike, play his Stratocaster (although not as well as Jeff Prosise or Stevie Ray Vaughan), and generally enjoy the outdoors. He still occasionally finds the time to read the latest Clancy or Grisham novel with the hope of someday writing such wonderful fiction himself.