From time to time, SubNet Services has been sharing the Electrical Contractor columns of Jim Hayes on our social media accounts. But who exactly is Jim Hayes aside from being the president of the Fiber Optic Association? What are his contributions to the fiber optics industry? And what was he doing before the FOA was even established? Read on to get to know him better.

Jim Hayes before the FOA

Jim had a very remarkable academic record. He graduated with honors from high school in 1963 and cum laude from the Vanderbilt University in 1967 with a degree in Physics-Astronomy. It was during his stay at Vanderbilt when he developed the first computerized data acquisition system for astronomical photometry, wrote all the software, debugged hardware, and created data analysis algorithms. Then, he worked on Ph.D in Astronomy at the University of California from 1967 to 1968. Afterwards, he held a number of posts at different high-tech companies.

While working as a Market Development Manager at Analogic/Data Precision, he was introduced to fiber optics by AT&T Bell Labs. This led him and his wife, Karen to start Fotec, one of the world’s first fiber optic test equipment companies in 1981. 20 years later, Fotec was acquired by Fluke Networks, which made Jim and Karen decide to leave in 2002. Shortly thereafter, they founded VDV Works LLC, a technology support company for the voice-data-video industry.

Jim Hayes and the FOA

The idea of the FOA started in 1994 when a group of instructors at the Fiber U training conference decided that the industry was mature enough to support a professional society. Fiber U was a training conference run by Fotec, Jim’s company. Hence in July 1995, the FOA was finally incorporated as a 501(c)(6) educational non-profit corporation, chartered to promote professionalism in fiber optics through education, certification, and standards.

As one of the founders, Jim became the first president of the FOA and even got re-elected on June 1, 2002. He also serves as the technical person of the organization who is responsible for the FOA publications (online and print), curriculum, newsletters,  among the others. He has actually authored seven (7) textbooks that are widely used in the fiber optics industry.

• Fiber Optic Testing
• The FOA Reference Guide to Fiber Optics
• The FOA Reference Guide to Premises Cabling
• The FOA Reference Guide to Outside Plant Fiber Optics
• Data, Voice, and Video Cabling
• The Fiber Optics Technicians Manual
• Lennie Lightwave’s Guide to Fiber Optics
• Uncle Ted’s Guide to Premises Cabling

Meanwhile, as a professional society for fiber optics and a source of independent certification, the FOA is now involved in numerous activities aimed at educating the world about fiber optics.

• Setting standards for and administering technical certification programs
• Evaluating and approving training schools
• Training and certifying instructors
• Providing technical information for everyone through our website, guide, YouTube, and social media (LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter)
• Developing textbooks, courses, and training programs that are given to FOA-approved schools for their use
• Participating in industry standards activities and writing our own standards
• Publishing email and online newsletters about relevant technology and industry news
• Creating and offering free online web-based training programs through Fiber U
• Promoting fiber optics applications and education through participation in various industry forums

After leaving Fotec in 2002, the FOA through Jim has adopted the Fiber U for its free web-based training. The organization has also revived Lennie Lightwave’s Guide To Fiber Optics and Uncle Ted’s Guide To VDV Cabling on the web for everyone’s reference.

Jim Hayes outside the FOA

Aside from the books he has written, Jim also shares his industry knowledge by writing articles, columns, as well as speaking at various seminars and conventions. He also has a huge interest in photography, vintage racing, farming, and traveling.

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As the only FOA-approved school in Metro Manila, SubNet Services shares with Jim and the whole FOA our belief in the industry of fiber optics. With more than 67,000 FOA certifications to date, it is our goal to keep on providing internationally certificated fiber optics training and to keep on producing international fiber optics personnel. Want to be one of them? Contact or Email us NOW!

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