About me

Welcome to my technical blog! I'm James Reagan, a software engineer in Hawaiʻi focused on artificial intelligence. My path to the technology industry has been unconventional, having previously served in the United States Marine Corps and also worked as an archaeologist for about a decade.

My technical journey began though in the 1990s with Unix systems and C programming as a hobby. Today, I work primarily with AI at the application layer, with research interests more broadly in large language models and the theoretical foundations of machine learning.

I'm passionate about building AI applications, open source development, technical writing, and mentoring. Outside of tech, I practice hula and study Hawaiian language, which meaningfully connects me to community here. Culture, community, sense of place, and connection to nature are important to me.

I live on Hawaiʻi Island with my wife, where we've found a balance between modern technology and traditional culture. When I'm not coding, you might find me at hula practice, tending to our garden, reading in a cozy spot, exploring new places, or learning something new.