Things I've built

Projects

Software I've built and shipped — with a bias toward tools that keep users in control of their own data. Want to work together? Get in touch.

VetDash

In development
↗

A local-first, end-to-end encrypted desktop app that helps veterans organize records, benefits, and claims — everything stays on your machine, nothing touches a server. Built with Tauri and Rust.

  • Tauri
  • Rust
  • TypeScript
  • Encryption

Places I've Been

Live
↗

An interactive map rendering more than a decade of my own location history — 1,500+ places, aggregated and anonymized by a custom data pipeline before a single byte ships to the browser.

  • Leaflet
  • Next.js
  • Data Pipeline

Vehicle Price Forecasting

Research

Machine-learning models predicting used-car sale prices from a dataset of ~500k real auction listings — feature engineering, model comparison, and error analysis.

  • Python
  • Pandas
  • ML

Veteran Benefits Tool

In development

A Python/PostgreSQL web app helping disabled veterans compare VA benefits, tax exemptions, and cost-of-living by state — integrating Census and VA datasets to support relocation planning around finances and healthcare access.

  • Python
  • PostgreSQL
  • Census Data
  • VA Data

Food Access Mapping

Research

Collaborative ArcGIS map of grocery stores, food pantries, and transit routes in Corvallis — spatial analysis of food cost vs. access for low-income residents to identify food deserts and propose equity-focused fixes.

  • ArcGIS
  • GIS
  • Spatial Analysis

jacobmckelvy.com

Live

This site — a fast, statically-rendered home for my work. Next.js 16, Tailwind v4, deployed continuously from GitHub to Vercel.

  • Next.js
  • Tailwind
  • Vercel

Background

  1. Founder & Developer · VetDash

    2026 – Present · Corvallis, OR

    • –Designing and building a local-first, encrypted desktop app (Tauri, Rust, TypeScript) that organizes veterans' claims files, symptom journals, and appointments — no cloud, no accounts, no telemetry.
    • –Implemented the security architecture end-to-end: Argon2id key derivation, SQLCipher/AES-256 vault, encrypted file storage, and automatic locking.
    • –Shipped from scaffold to release installer across nine milestones; now preparing for commercial launch.

  2. AI Response Evaluator · DataAnnotation

    2025 – 2026 · Remote

    • –Evaluated AI model responses for accuracy, reasoning quality, and instruction-following against detailed rubrics.
    • –Stress-tested conversational AI through goal-driven, multi-turn tasks — verifying models could actually complete what they claimed.
    • –Delivered structured feedback used to refine model behavior across writing, analysis, and technical domains.

  3. Freelance Analyst · Independent

    2023 – 2025 · Corvallis, OR

    • –Built and maintained a self-hosted analytics server (Docker, Python, PostgreSQL) to manage and analyze large datasets.
    • –Conducted and presented market research for a proposed brewery — audience, competitors, and location analysis.
    • –Assisted in forming a small business, including LLC registration and early-stage operations advising.

  4. Logistics Planner · Lulu Sugar Candles

    2020 – 2021 · Laguna Niguel, CA

    • –Managed logistics and shipping for 500+ daily orders, balancing cost, size, and fragility for damage-free delivery.
    • –Optimized packaging workflows, reducing processing time and increasing daily shipment capacity.

  5. Sergeant (Team Leader) · United States Marine Corps

    2016 – 2020 · Camp Lejeune, NC

    • –Prepared and presented readiness briefings to regimental-level commanders during live-fire operations.
    • –Designed and maintained Excel-based systems tracking $15M+ in equipment and personnel status.
    • –Coordinated daily operations for 50+ Marines; led joint training exercises with foreign military partners.

Skills

Creative Media & Tech Production

Advanced Photography
Technical execution and mastery across highly specialized disciplines — wildlife, macro, landscape, and astrophotography — using full-frame mirrorless systems and high-end focal lengths.
Game Development & UI/UX Design
Asset creation and user interface development in Adobe Illustrator, combined with core implementation and logic building inside the Unity engine.
Digital Branding & Content Creation
End-to-end multimedia production covering video editing, channel management, and brand identity design for digital platforms.
Aerial Imagery & Drone Operations
Flight execution and working knowledge of FAA regulations, commercial applications, and search-and-rescue utility, in preparation for the Part 107 commercial drone certification.
Hardware Optimization
Configuring, building, and maintaining high-performance PC rigs tailored for heavy rendering, editing, and gaming workloads.

Technical Analytics & Strategy

Systems Organization & Dashboard Design
Building tailored data-management tools — comprehensive tracking systems and medical-evidence dashboards in Notion.
Business Analytics & Data Modeling
Converting complex data sets into structured, actionable insights, backed by a formal B.S. in Business Analytics.

Leadership & Specialized Operations

Military Leadership
Personnel management, operational discipline, and crisis decision-making developed as a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps.
Specialized Communications
Operating, maintaining, and managing tactical communications systems (MOS 0627).

Artistry

Juggling
Making magic with three balls tossed in the air.

Languages

  • English

    Native

  • Spanish

    Conversational — reads well, follows past tense