Previously he was the Director of the Reuse and Measurement Department of the Software Productivity Consortium. This department was responsible for conducting the Consortium's program in reuse and measurement, including projects in empirical studies of reuse, domain analysis, systematic reuse, re-engineering, measurement, and verification. Prior to joining the Software Productivity Consortium, Dr. Weiss spent a year at the Office of Technology Assessment, where he was co-author of a technology assessment of the Strategic Defense Initiative. During the 1985-1986 academic year he was a visiting scholar at The Wang Institute. During and prior to his appointment at the Wang Institute, he was a researcher at the Computer Science and Systems Branch of the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL). He has also worked as a programmer and as a mathematician.
Dr. Weiss's principal research interests are in the area of software engineering, particularly in software development methodologies, software design, and software measurement.
Dr. Weiss is convinced of the superiority of long distance running over all other forms of currently popular exercise programs. In addition he is attracted to other symmetrical sports and exercise methods such as cross-country skiing and yoga. A few times a year he can be found going rapidly downhill with a pair of skis strapped to his feet. In spare moments he likes to talk to his wife and children and read science fiction.