Hi, I'm Ferrell Ferguson
HR systems engineer for the federal government.
For 25+ years I've kept mission-critical personnel systems running, and moved them onto modern platforms without disrupting the people who depend on them. Outside of work: cyclist, triathlete in training, dad, and builder of things.
Keep It Running. Move It Forward.
Agencies need the systems they have today to work, and a safe path to the systems they need tomorrow. I do both.
Federal HR Systems
Personnel data, integrations, and compliance-driven change in systems that can't go down.
Legacy Modernization
Taking long-lived platforms like ColdFusion and moving them to modern stacks, step by step, without a risky big-bang rewrite.
Sustainment
Keeping aging systems stable, secure, and supported while the path off of them gets planned and funded.
Modern Engineering
TypeScript, React / Next.js, Node, Postgres, cloud deployment, and AI-assisted development.
Things I'm Building
Side projects where I learn new tech, scratch an itch, or just build something fun.
ferrellferguson.com
This site! My personal portfolio and blog, built as a learning project for modern web development.
TX Tough Trailers
A peer-to-peer trailer rental marketplace for Texas — browse and book trailers with Stripe checkout, calendar sync, and an owner admin panel.
unmanufactured.org
A narrative drift tracker that polls multiple AI models about the same news event over time and flags when their narratives shift without new evidence.
Built with Purpose
Some of the most meaningful things I've built aren't for clients — they're for family.
Chloeosis.com
Documenting Chloe's scoliosis journey — from diagnosis through treatment and recovery. Built to help other families navigating the same path.
MrsFerguson.com
My wife's dyslexia tutoring practice. Helping students build confidence and develop reading skills through evidence-based methods.
Latest Writing
Thoughts on learning, cycling, dev life, and parenting.
Learning Next.js with Claude Code: A 25-Year Dev's Perspective
After 25 years of building web apps — from ColdFusion to jQuery to React — I'm diving into Next.js with an AI pair programmer. Here's what I've learned so far.
Jan 15, 2025
Read more →Navigating Scoliosis as a Parent: What We Learned
Both of my kids were diagnosed with scoliosis. Here's what we learned about advocacy, research, and finding the right care — and why I built a website about it.
Dec 20, 2024
Read more →My First Century Ride: 101 Miles Around the Bay
Completing the Bike Around The Bay — 101.2 miles along the Texas Gulf Coast — taught me more about persistence, planning, and pacing than any software project ever has.
Oct 24, 2020
Read more →A Bit More About Me
I've spent my career inside federal HR systems: the ones that handle personnel actions, pay, and benefits for the people who serve.
A lot of those systems run on older platforms like ColdFusion. I know them well enough to keep them healthy, and I know modern stacks well enough to get agencies off of them safely.
These days I build with Next.js, TypeScript, and Postgres, and use AI tools like Claude Code to move faster. The side projects above are where I keep those skills sharp.
Outside of code, I'm a cyclist working toward my first triathlon. There's something about endurance sports that mirrors software development — it's all about consistency, patience, and showing up even when you don't feel like it.
I'm also a dad to Chloe and Ferrell Jr., both of whom have navigated scoliosis journeys that taught our whole family about resilience, advocacy, and the power of community. My wife runs a dyslexia tutoring practice, so we're a family that believes in meeting challenges head-on.
“Think big, start small, do it now.”
Tech & Tools
Currently
- 🔨Shipping side projects in Next.js
- 🚴Training for sprint triathlon
- 🤖Building with Claude Code
- ✍️Writing about the journey
Let's Connect
Have an HR systems or modernization effort you're staffing? Want to talk tech or cycling, or just say hi? I'd love to hear from you. My résumé is available on request.
Prefer email? Reach me at ferrellferguson@gmail.com