Marco Figueiredo

Computer Researcher / Digital Inclusion Activist

marco@gemsoftheearth.org

Summary
Directs the Loyola University's Center for Community Informatics in Columbia, MD. Directs a
volunteer organization to promote rural digital inclusion in Brazil. Supports flight FPGA project
assurance for the NASA/NOAA GOES-R and NASA GLORY programs. Developed Software Defined
Radios for the NASA SDR Applications Research Center. Led a team of researchers at NASA in
advancing the state-of-the-art in reconfigurable computing. Took the 5-year project from concept to
recognition as one of the most important computing technologies in the agency. Created Paradigm
Computing LLC to commercialize the technologies developed at NASA. Published papers and
presented at conferences. Wrote a UNESCO sponsored book.

Specialties
Spacecraft high-performance computing research and development, high-tech business
entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship, corporate social responsibility.

Experience
R&D Engineer at MEI Technologies, Inc
May 2005 - Present (4 years 10 months)
Technology researcher in the area of Software Defined Radios at NASA Goddard Space Flight
Center. Reviewer of flight FPGA projects for the NASA/NOAA GOES-R program.

Founder at Gems of the Earth Rural Community Telecenter Network

November 2001 - Present (8 years 4 months)
Provided support to the Brazilian Government with the United Nations Information and
Communications Technologies Task Force. Received support from UNESCO, the Brazilian Ministry
of Communications and local organizations to establish five rural community telecenters with
access to the Internet via satellite. Created the non-profit organization Gems of the Earth Rural
Community Telecenter Network. Leads a group of social entrepreneurs and about 80 volunteers
worldwide. Main author of the “Guide to Rural Community Telecenters”, a document published by
UNESCO. Currently supports fundraising for the project among Brazilian immigrants in the US and
their friends. (www.gemsoftheearth.org).

Papers:

1) Impact of the Insertion of Modern ICTs in Brazilian Rural Communities - ICTD2006, Berkeley, CA
http://cci.cs.loyola.edu/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=viewdownload&cid=3

Page 1
 2) Empowering Rural Citizen Journalism Via Web 2.0 Technologies
http://www.gemasdaterra.org.br/docs/ct112-figueiredo.pdf
1 recommendation available upon request

Affiliate Faculty of Engineering Science at Loyola College in Maryland

January 1995 - Present (15 years 2 months)
Directs the Loyola Center for Community Informatics. Teaches classes in the Computer Science
Graduate program.

Technology Director – Founder at Paradigm Computing LLC

October 1999 - April 2005 (5 years 7 months)
Consulted to clients at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in the application of FPGAs
in high-performance data processing. Developed a 16-Computer Satellite Image Classification
system based on Linux. Supported the development of the FlightLinux research project. Elaborated
and submitted 2 NASA SBIR proposals. Developed a business plan for the commercialization of a
reconfigurable computing systems design tool. Presented plan to investors and potential partners.

Research and Development Engineer at SGT, Inc.

March 1997 - October 1999 (2 years 8 months)
Managed the Adaptive Scientific Data Processing project at NASA GSFC. Led a team of 5
computer researchers in the development of reconfigurable computing technology. Evaluated
computer design tools. Created the concept, raised funds, planned and managed the development
of the Adaptive Level One Accelerator, a high-performance computer system to process satellite
images at real time. Published several papers and presented at several conferences.

Research and Development Engineer at GST, Inc.

July 1995 - February 1997 (1 year 8 months)
Supported Goddard Space Flight Center's Microelectronics Systems Branch as lead researcher of
reconfigurable computer architectures. Developed the proof of concept for the use of Field
Programmable Gate Arrays in high-performance satellite data processing. Implemented a
Probabilistic Neural Network for the automatic classification of Landsat multispectral images
utilizing an FPGA-based computer.

Systems Engineer at Presearch Inc.

June 1994 - June 1995 (1 year 1 month)
Supported the commercialization of a video security system based on FPGAs and multi-processing
architectures. Designed a remote surveillance system, which used video and audio compression
techniques for digital data transmission over analog telephone lines (High-speed digital design and
PCB design using CAD tools).

Computer Design Engineer at Omitron, Inc.

August 1991 - April 1994 (2 years 9 months)
Designed a 64 nodes parallel computer using Transputers. Designed the migration of the NASA

Page 2
 Standard Spacecraft Computer (NSSC-I) from TTL MSI to FPGAs. Designed a prototype spacecraft
super-computer based on Transputers.

Education
Loyola College in Maryland
Masters, Computer Engineering, January 1990 - June 1991

Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais

BS, Electrical Engineering, August 1983 - June 1988

Honors and Awards

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Group Award - Technology Showcases 1998 and 1996.

Interests
Poverty eradication, environment protection, business development, politics, soccer, great Brazilian
barbecue, nature.

Page 3
Marco Figueiredo
Computer Researcher / Digital Inclusion Activist
marco@gemsoftheearth.org

1 person has recommended Marco

"Innovative thinker, implementer and practitioner."
— Dan Jenkin, was with another company when working with Marco at Gems of the Earth Rural
Community Telecenter Network

Contact Marco on LinkedIn

Page 4