An Interview with Donald Reifer
Reifer is a leading figure in software engineering and software management, with more than 40 years of experience in industry, government, and academia.
By IEEE Computer Society on
Donald J. Reifer is a seasoned software executive with more than forty years of progressive experience in the industry, academia, and government. Starting at Hughes Aircraft, Don worked his work up from developing software from airborne radars to management. With the Aerospace Corporation, Reifer next managed the software efforts related to their Space Shuttle efforts. Next, Reifer acted as Program Manager for the Global Positioning Satellite program while with TRW and managed their R&D efforts. In 1980, Don founded a software consulting firm which focused on software metrics, management, and technology issues. Over the next decade, he grew and expanded this business to over $4 million in sales annually. From 1993 to 1995, Mr. Reifer moved to government to manage the Department of Defense Software (DOD) Initiatives Office. In this capacity, he led the DOD’s major software initiatives while serving as a Senior Executive Service official. After leaving government, Don reentered the consulting world and built a second successful business.
