Jim, Thanks for the kind message. I should point out that while I did spend an excessive amount of my life working on the stability of the T3 net and that transition, several other folks should get credit for helping to oversee it (Hans-Werner Braun, Jordan Becker and Elise Gerich for example). Also, I'll still be active in IETF meetings and activities. Since I plan to help Ameritech Advanced Data Services become an IP network service provider, I'll also continue to participate in the various network operator coordinating groups (such as this one). I'm looking for office space in Ann Arbor and will be hiring a staff, beginning January 4. Mark ps. Good luck to Elise, and may her transitions be straightforward....
From: Jim Williams <jimw@merit.edu> To: regional-techs@merit.edu
About two years ago, Merit called upon Mark Knopper to accept the position of manager of the Internet Engineering Group and to oversee the transition from the T1 NSFNET to the T3 NSFNET. Mark stepped up to the challenge and guided the NSFNET through that difficult transition. His technical expertise and management skills have proven valuable not just in the context of the NSFNET but to the global Internet community. It should not come as a great surprise that many organizations and companies have been courting Mark, and one of them has finally offered him a project that sounds interesting enough to intice him to move on. Mark will be leaving Merit as of January 1, 1994 for new and exciting challenges at Ameritech. He will be opening an office in Ann Arbor and will be part of the the Advanced Data Services group. He has also promised all Merit staff better phone service and IP to every home in the service area :=)
Effective today, Elise Gerich will take the lead as Manager of the Internet Engineering Group. As most of you know, Elise has been instrumental in the management and operation of the NSFNET since its inception. Elise is looking forward to helping the regional-techs group evolve to a broader operational forum and to working with the regionals to transition from the current NSFNET architecture to the future architecture.
jim