August Simonelli's OCM Application: Community & CNCF

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Hey everyone! I'm super excited to share my application to become an Open Cluster Management (OCM) member. I'm August Simonelli, and I've been deeply involved in the OCM project as a community delegate and advocate, and I'm stoked to take my involvement to the next level. Let's dive into what this is all about!

Community Roots and Contributions

My journey with the Open Cluster Management project has been nothing short of amazing. As a community delegate, I've had the privilege of contributing in various ways, ranging from governance and outreach to technical contributions. My primary focus has always been to bridge the gap between OCM's technical roadmap and the evolving needs of the community. I make it a point to attend project meetings regularly and act as the internal champion for OCM within my organization. My goal is to drive external adoption and visibility of the project. I also actively communicate and engage within the project Slack channels, making sure everyone is up to date and can easily participate in the conversation.

I'm passionate about the potential of OCM and I believe it's critical to make sure the project is front and center in the industry. I love being a spokesperson for OCM and regularly speak at industry conferences, such as KubeCon, KubeDays, and various vendor events. I'm proud to say I've been involved in supporting the process of applying for incubation and I'm eager to continue contributing in that capacity.

I'm seeking to become a nominated maintainer liaison for our community with the CNCF, as outlined in our project GOVERNANCE document. This role is crucial for ensuring OCM remains aligned with CNCF's broader strategy and guidelines. I'm ready to bring my energy and experience to this new challenge and help OCM thrive within the CNCF ecosystem. I'm committed to helping OCM grow, and I firmly believe that this is a great step toward achieving that goal.

Key Requirements and Contributions

To give you a better idea of my commitment and contributions, here's a look at how I meet the requirements for this application. My community contributions, supporting governance, and project awareness are evident in the following pull requests:

These pull requests demonstrate my active participation in community discussions, helping refine our governance processes and increase project awareness. I've consistently worked to improve our community guidelines and ensure that OCM remains a welcoming and inclusive project for all contributors.

I'm passionate about sharing OCM with the wider community. I've been actively involved in public speaking engagements to share knowledge and insight about the project. These engagements are vital for increasing visibility and inspiring others to contribute. I've already presented at several prominent industry events:

  • KubeDay Australia 2024: Open-Sourcing the Open Cluster Management Project and the Lessons We Can Learn for AI
  • KubeCon EMEA 2025: How the SIG-Multicluster API Specifications Are Used for Real World Multicluster Management (with Microsoft)
  • KubeCon Japan 2025: Project Lightning Talk

These speaking engagements showcase OCM's capabilities and its relevance within the cloud-native landscape. They provide opportunities to connect with the community and spark conversations that drive innovation and collaboration.

Checklist and Supporting Documents

I've made sure to cover all the bases to meet the necessary requirements. Here's a quick checklist to show I'm on track:

All of these points are essential for me to fulfill my role as a CNCF liaison and community maintainer. It means I'm not only committed to the technical aspects but also to the health and vitality of the OCM community.

I'm deeply grateful for the support of @qiujian16 and @mikeshng, who have sponsored my application. Their endorsement means a lot and underscores the collaborative spirit of the OCM community. I'm excited to continue working alongside all of you to advance the Open Cluster Management project and help it reach new heights.

I hope this application provides a clear picture of my commitment and dedication to the OCM project. I'm eager to get started as a CNCF liaison and contribute even more to our thriving community. Thank you for your time and consideration!