Bill Laboon

Bill Laboon has a diverse work experience spanning multiple industries and roles. Bill is currently the Head of Education and Grants at Web3 Foundation, where he oversees educational initiatives. Prior to this, Laboon served as the Director of Education and Community at the same organization. Before joining Web3 Foundation, Laboon worked as the Technical Education Lead at Web3 Foundation from 2019 to 2021.

Laboon also has experience in academia, having worked as a Lecturer and Visiting Lecturer at the University of Pittsburgh. Bill taught courses in software quality assurance, blockchain technology, and cryptocurrency, among others. During his time at the university, Laboon also led a team of developers on a project called QuACC, which focused on analyzing and comparing the internal quality of various cryptocurrency codebases.

Laboon has also worked in the private sector, with roles such as a Senior Software Developer at Think Through Learning Inc. and a Consultant at FP Complete. Additionally, they worked as a Technical Lead at UPMC Technology Development Center, where they were involved in a big data project for clinical document storage and search.

Earlier in his career, Laboon gained experience as a Senior Software Engineer at General Dynamics C4 Systems, where they led teams and implemented project management strategies for a military command and control system. Bill also worked as an Internet Application Specialist at Eyeflow and volunteered at the Welcome Center for Immigrants and Internationals.

Laboon's work experience showcases their expertise in education, software development, project management, and technical leadership across various industries.

Bill Laboon attended the University of Pittsburgh from 1997 to 2001, where they obtained their Bachelor of Science degree. Bill studied Computer Science, Political Science, and a related area of Mathematics during their time there. Later, from 2010 to 2012, they pursued a Master of Science in Information Technology degree at Carnegie Mellon University, focusing on Software Design and Management.

Bill Laboon embarked on his professional journey as a Software Engineer and Software Engineering Co-Op at Medrad. During this time, he honed his skills in developing software for the Service Engineering and Verification & Validation departments, before joining Northrop Grumman in 2002 as a Software Engineer. Here he played a crucial role in developing, building, and fielding the JIOC-I system, an accomplishment achieved within a record-breaking 112 days from proposal to deployment. His responsibilities extended to administering JIOC-I subsystems in Iraq, including system administration, security fixes, hardware repair, and integration of new subsystems. He also contributed to the development of data discovery, networking, and interfaces for other military systems in Java. 

In 2007, Bill Laboon transitioned to the academic realm as a Systems Engineer IV at the University of Pittsburgh. His work primarily involved developing software for the Imagery Research group, where he focused on "scrubbing" images of personally identifiable information.

In 2008, he joined Eyeflow as an Internet Application Specialist. Here, he developed software in Perl and PHP to manage and track the SEO capabilities and effects of campaigns, contributing to the digital marketing domain. Bill explored ways in which Haskell could solve complex problems in Ruby/Ruby on Rails development environments while working as a Consultant at FP Complete.

Bill served as Adjunct Faculty at the University of Pittsburgh from 2014 to 2015. During this period, he taught courses in Software Engineering and Software Testing, imparting his knowledge and expertise to the next generation of innovators.

Bill also made significant contributions to General Dynamics C4 Systems as a Senior Software Engineer, where he led teams in integrating, testing, and deploying the military command and control system, CPOF (Command Post of the Future). His leadership ushered in a Scrum system of management, fostering clear task prioritization and improved team understanding. Bill also proactively developed a continuous deployment system, resulting in substantial cost savings. His technical prowess extended to developing tools in Perl and Java to measure, analyze, and track system performance.

Bill assumed the role of Lecturer at the University of Pittsburgh from 2017 to 2019. He taught a range of computer science courses, including Software Quality Assurance and Blockchain Technology and Cryptocurrency. His dedication to quality education led him to develop and publish a textbook titled "A Friendly Introduction to Software Testing."

In 2019, Bill assumed the role of Technical Education Lead at Web3 Foundation, Zug, Switzerland. His responsibilities included spearheading a project called QuACC (Quality Analysis of Cryptocurrency Codebases), which involved using static analysis, test coverage, and other metrics to compare the internal quality of various cryptocurrency codebases. This project covered prominent cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Monero, Ethereum, and Litecoin. Bill also led a team of developers in this endeavor.

In 2021, Bill took up the role of Director of Education and Community at the Web3 Foundation, where he provided strategic direction and day-to-day management of Technical Education, Support, and Community teams, further advancing the global adoption of blockchain technology. His commitment to education and innovation continues as he currently serves as the Head of Education and Grants at the Web3 Foundation in Zug, Switzerland, where he provides strategic direction and oversight of Technical Education, Support, and Grants teams.

Published work

He is the author of two books: A Friendly Introduction to Software Testing, an undergraduate textbook; and Strength in Numbers, a near-future novel set in a world in which cryptocurrency has eliminated traditional money.

Bill Laboon envisions a world where blockchain technology serves as a catalyst for positive change and innovation across diverse industries. His vision revolves around harnessing the transformative power of blockchain to create more efficient, transparent, and accessible systems. Bill is committed to advancing education and fostering a collaborative community that empowers individuals to understand and leverage blockchain's potential fully.

In his role as Head of Education and Grants at the Web3 Foundation, Bill Laboon's vision is to equip individuals with the knowledge and resources needed to navigate the rapidly evolving blockchain landscape successfully. He aims to bridge the gap between traditional systems and blockchain technology, making it more approachable for both newcomers and experienced professionals. Ultimately, Bill Laboon's vision revolves around building a future where blockchain technology contributes to a more equitable and decentralized world, driving innovation and reshaping industries.