Alex Fielding has spent his career innovating in the areas of advanced research and development of networking and communications products. He served in: data center infrastructure management as CTO of TVDC, network engineering management of the West Coast Platinum Team at Exodus (supporting the worlds largest data network), engineering management for network drivers at Apple with prior work in Network Server Engineering and QA, and as an engineer at Cisco, DEC, and Cadence. Alex has co-founded two companies. First in the GPS space, he founded Woz.com, with Apple co-founder, Steve Wozniak. Second, as CEO and co-founder of Ripcord, Alex drives forward development of secure VVoIP products and services.

Alex serves on the board of directors of: Ripcord and CAWEW (California Women Empowering Women). He is an advisor to Network Physics and the Santa Clara County Sheriffs Department.

He also is a distinguished individual contributor to ARIN (American Registry of Internet Numbers), and active contributor to the IETF. Alex is currently a volunteer and donor to UNICEF. Alex is a prior member of SVASE and MENSA. Alex currently holds one patent on satellite routing and has two applications pending approval.

-- Now, for the real human speak bio...

FAQs: A Virtual Interview of Alex Fielding Based On Questions Asked Through Email...

Q: So, what have you learned from your experience so far?

A: The largest lesson worth learning is something we were taught when we were kids; Say what you do and do what you say. Integrity. I have the highest integrity board and close friends anyone could ask for. These people are not afraid to ask the tough questions, not afraid to call it like they see it, not afraid to just put on the table their suggestions and feedback and not afraid to do the due diligence to know they have enough information to make an informed decision. The biggest lesson is trust, integrity, honesty, and communication. If you have these things, you are bound to succeed by the weight of your own convictions. It really helps if you do what you love because it will never seem like work. These two things are the most important. To summarize; love what you do and be honest.

Q: Is Ripcord your company?

A: Ripcord isn't really my company. It's a company owned by the employees and by the board and by investors. It's my job to make sure that everyone gets a positive return on their experience; a positive financial return and a positive return upon society so that what we do makes sense. If what we're doing doesn't benefit society, I'd rather not do it. If I don't love it, I don't think I should be in the business. Obviously, we're in the business to make money but we do it at a lesser cost. We want to do it in a way that gives back tenfold.

Q: Where were you born?

A: Santa Clara, California, USA. I grew up in the valley, Silicon Valley. When I was a kid, there was little to no traffic and orchards were where there are now shopping malls. It was a fun fun place to grow up. Now... well, maybe I haven't grown up but certainly a bit older... :) ha ha!

Q: Marital status?

A: Unmarried but taken. Happily with the woman of my dreams. Not a complaint in the World. Thanks sweetie, you are the best! Love you!

Q: What are your favorite hobbies?

A: My hobbies include: Sailing, Surfing, Mt. Biking, Hiking, Music (Live Concerts), Playing Guitar, Movies, The Theater (plays/shows), Wine Tasting, writing programs that are useful, and more.

Q: What exactly does Ripcord do?

A: We've annouced several products in the VVoIP security space. Ripcord is the only company in the World that I'm aware of that provides products that offer NSA Suite B compliant crypto security solutions for cell, desktop PC, satellite phone, desktop telephone, and conferencing. This makes us a unique niche player all by ourselves. It's a good place to be.

Q: How do you feel about kids?

A: I love kids. I have 12 god children. I have 8 nieces and nephews. I think that if you want to know what is wrong with this World look at how fast kids grow up. Kids should be allowed to be kids, believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and play and make believe as much as they want. As for wanting kids... That's another question. ha ha!

Q: Who were your childhood heros?

A: Easy question. My Dad, the strongest man I'll ever know. Bugs Bunny was a distant second.

Q: If you could meet anyone in the World, who would you want to meet and why? (this question came in from one of my god-children who was doing a report at school and was looking to cheat! ha ha!)

A: Yikes! Well, first of all, I've met a ton of people I always wanted to meet; I've been so lucky to have friends that are mentors and public figures but just real and wonderful people. There are so many in this list that I won't bother naming them all; they know who they are! So, barring those who I've met or know... I'd put Nelson Mandela, Burt Rutan on top this short list with Paul Allen and Alwaleed; throw in Stevie Nicks and you have a party. I also would have loved to meet Bob Noyce. I am really bummed that I never had that chance before he passed on. The same is also true for Chuck Jones; I was actually mildly depressed for weeks after the news of his passing. There is a short list of people that I'd have loved to meet from history: Nicolaus Copernicus, Thomas Edison, Benjamin Franklin, Albert Einstein, Dale Carnegie, Jacques de Molay, Leonardo DaVinci, Nikola Tesla, John Lennon, Chris Farley, Joseph Campbell and Eric Weiss.