A self-taught software engineer from the midwest United States, J. Austin Hughey has been building applications and automated infrastructure for over 20 years, working with clients from all over the world that range from independent small businesses to Fortune 500 companies, and even the United States Marine Corps. He's spoken at conferences and meetup events ranging from 50-400 people in attendance including Lonestar Ruby Conference, RailsConf, and unofficial events during SXSW. Austin was the first in his family to earn a college degree, is a proud "dog dad", having adopted a rescued stray in 2021, and enjoys hobbies such as martial arts and stage acting. He even does a killer Yoda impression!