Doug Hoffman

Doug is standing for election to the AST board 2023.

I’m a management consultant in software quality and have worked with computers since the punch-card days. After college I had a variety of engineering jobs before becoming a consultant. At LAWST 1 I realized that I am a software tester at heart and I have focused professionally on software testing since then. I want people to “stand on my shoulders;” expanding the profession using my work as part of a foundation to move ahead beyond the work I have done.

I was on the AST Board of Directors for ten years, President of the Board for two years, and Chaired CAST twice. I have written papers, spoken at conferences, and co-authored “The Domain Testing Workbook” with Cem Kaner. I also co-wrote many parts of the BBST series of classes, was an instructor for all of them, and co-authored the Instructor’s Manual. I was a participant in all the LAWST workshops and around 50 more of the spun off workshops. Besides AST, I’ve been very active in the local community, volunteering with several non-profits and professional societies, and becoming an officer and leading some of them.

I recently took a couple of years off from consulting to teach disadvantaged youth and people entering/reentering the job market through some non-profit organizations. Now, I want to get back to my roots and actively support the AST and its mission.

1. Please share your vision for the future of the AST, and how would you help to accomplish this vision in case you were part of the AST Board of Directors?

I want to see the AST to continue to be the premiere professional organization for software testing. As a Founding Member, long time member of the Board, Chair of two CASTs, and past President of AST, I bring unique knowledge, experience, and perspective.

2. Is there an area where you feel AST is lacking in its role as a professional organization? If so, what would you suggest doing to begin to change that and increase the value to AST members and the testing community at large?

Although I disagree with some past decisions of the Board, I do not see the need to radically change directions. Respectively exploring different opinions and opinions is healthy for good decision making. I think reinforcing the programs that have proven successful in forwarding the software testing profession and considering possible new initiatives is the best way forward.

3. In what ways have you supported the mission of AST?

Founding Member, Life Member, member of the Board for ten years, Chairing two CASTs, contributing substantially to creating and teaching BBST, and being President of AST for two years.