Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Timeline
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DARREN BIGGS

Arlington,VA

Summary

Dynamic Visual Database Manager at GDIT with proven expertise in project management and cross-functional collaboration. Successfully directed large-scale maritime simulator projects, enhancing technology integration and delivering high-quality results. I have served as Visual Database Technical Lead while also managing the visual database engineers. I have created visual models for 100+ maritime databases and 1,000+ assets and generated and maintained the data to integrate them with the simulation software I have a firm grasp on the Agile software process, data design for products, the life cycle of digital content, problem-solving of client data issues, technical inputs, estimates, and management of contracts from less than 100 hours to greater than 18,000 hours with 15+ team members.

Overview

24
24
years of professional experience

Work History

Visual Database Manager

GDIT
Fairfax, Virginia
04.2018 - 09.2025
  • Worked alongside program management to gather requirements, develop scopes and oversee projects to delivery maritime simulators
  • Created detailed project plans outlining tasks, deliverables, timelines and resource requirements.
  • Directed planning for each sprint as well as post-sprint reviews and retrospectives.
  • Facilitated regular team meetings to discuss
  • Evaluated organization's technology to recommend upgrades for hardware and software.
  • Managed multiple projects simultaneously while meeting tight deadlines without compromising quality standards.
  • Hired and trained staff members, oversaw department teams and delegated assignments to employees according to skill sets.
  • Provided the technical input and hours estimates for contracts ranging from $5,000 to $50,000,000 and tracked status and schedule during contract execution.
  • Defined the product and file structure, establishing a modular data baseline to combine custom customer assets with the product baseline. Supporting large-scale deliveries to the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, U.K. Navy, and the Royal Dutch Navy. With concurrent schedules, handling data configuration management for the multiple project-product baselines.
  • Designed VirtualShip NavTool, a GUI interface to generate maritime database features from chart data and user inputs for navigational aids, tides, currents, depths, banks, piers, and bottom types.
  • Designed and implemented a pipeline for migrating OpenFlight assets into an Unreal-based visual engine. Created and customized hundreds of blueprints for assets, including ships, aircraft, people, weapons, vehicles, halyards, flags, and navigational aids. This involved upgrading models to leverage Unreal’s additional capabilities to dynamically swap textures, materials, and particle systems.

Visual Content Developer Lead

CSRA
Fairfax , VA
11.2015 - 04.2018
  • Provided technical guidance on best practices related to visual content development.
  • Coordinated production across stages from concept and design development through final testing and optimization.
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to define project requirements and specifications.
  • Participated in regular meetings with stakeholders to discuss project progress, changes, challenges.
  • Researched new technologies and methodologies to propose innovative software solutions.
  • Assisted in the estimation of project scopes and timelines during planning phases.
  • Provided technical support and troubleshooting assistance for software users.
  • Performed troubleshooting of post-release software faults.
  • Served as Visual Database Lead on a U.S. Navy contract to implement mine-hunting modules in the LCS class of ships. Creating submersibles and surface watercraft that would integrate with a sonar simulator.
  • Customized a maritime database pipeline to use a maritime surface simulator's data in an external government submarine simulator’s visual engine.

Visual Content Developer

CSC
Falls Church, Virginia
08.2001 - 11.2015
  • Created detailed 3D models using industry-standard software and tools.
  • Assisted in troubleshooting 3D modeling issues as quickly as possible.
  • Applied knowledge of anticipation and impact variables for model development.
  • Modified existing models by adding and removing polygons, adjusting UVs, optimizing material channels, as needed per project specifications.
  • Communicated directly with clients before and during modeling work to verify full understanding and delivery of required products.
  • Managed asset libraries, ensuring organization and easy access.
  • Kept abreast of industry trends and advancements in 3D technology.
  • Integrated dynamic weapons for a maritime simulator, including crew-served, remotely operated, and missile systems.
  • Developed key components for crane simulator assets. These high-detail models were created to work with a high update rate dynamics engine.
  • Created a modular dynamic asset configurable system in support of anti-terrorism force protection for a maritime simulator to select different clothes, ethnicities, accessories, and weapons.

Education

Master of Arts - Visual Technologies

George Mason University
Fairfax, VA
01-2008

Bachelor of Fine Arts - Theater Technology

Ohio University
Athens, OH
06-1998

Skills

  • Project management
  • Cross-functional collaboration
  • Team leadership
  • Technology evaluation
  • Requirements analysis
  • Proposal estimation
  • Problem solving
  • Strategic planning
  • Customer proposals
  • Technical consulting
  • Technical solutions
  • Time management
  • Data management
  • Visualization techniques
  • Project planning
  • Data migration
  • Team collaboration
  • Scrum methodology
  • Stakeholder communication
  • Client requirements
  • Troubleshooting
  • Functional and integration testing
  • Technical presentation
  • Requirements gathering
  • 3D modeling
  • Unreal Engine
  • Issue resolution
  • Technical leadership
  • Virtual workforce management
  • Software testing
  • Software integration

Websites

Timeline

Visual Database Manager

GDIT
04.2018 - 09.2025

Visual Content Developer Lead

CSRA
11.2015 - 04.2018

Visual Content Developer

CSC
08.2001 - 11.2015

Master of Arts - Visual Technologies

George Mason University

Bachelor of Fine Arts - Theater Technology

Ohio University

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