Senior Site Reliability Engineer

• Aug 2019 - Present

Contractor/Deployment Specialist

• Apr 2019 - Aug 2019

- Client is Liberty University- Working with RedHat OpenShift for deployment of code for the University. - Client is Liberty University- Working with RedHat OpenShift for deployment of code for the University.

Contractor/System Engineer-Linux Admin

• Jan 2019 - Apr 2019

• End-client is Velociti, Inc.• Managing an existing Docker containerized Logging and metrics solution for one of Velociti’s clients.• Managing existing ELK (Elasticsearch, Logstash & Kibana) stack for a RFID scanner/inventory project. Stack is capturing log data from computer systems and network gear.• Managing the TICK (Telegraf, InfluxDB, Chronograf & Kapacitor) Stack for the same project capturing live metric data from the same sources.• Utilizing Docker and Docker Compose to Implementing a newer and more flexible ELK stack.• Architecting the ability to scale-out the stack to an enterprise grade scale using Kafka’s producer/consumer model to allow many remote systems to send in data to Kafka so that the logging and metrics data is resilient in case a data interruption happens between the Kafka layer and the ELK and TICK stacks.• Researching way to feed data into Kafka and read data out of Kafka using minimal tools available in embedded systems and Docker containers.• Setup snapshotting of old indices in Elasticsearch to make room for newer log data in legacy ELK stack, and designing the same functionality into the new stack from the beginning.• Wrote Design and Architecture Proposal for the project detailing the hardware requirement of the apps in the stack and allowing for growth

Linux System Administrator

• Jul 2018 - Dec 2018

• Performing duties of project coordination for the internal McKesson project of bringing the corporate computing infrastructure up to date with OS and application patches.• Work with McKesson application owners and an external 3rd party company who does the actual patching of the servers during maintenance windows.• Integrate Nexpose Rapid7 system scanning data showing server vulnerabilities, into group spread sheets detailing which systems pose the greatest threats and scheduling those systems for patching.• Use of Linux jump server to check on the up-time of target servers, the Linux kernel patches applied and the dates of those kernels being updated.

Linux Systems Administrator

• Jul 2017 - Jun 2018

• Desktop hardware and cloud server deployment for the small company.• Researching different uses of low costs hardware systems, like Raspberry Pi, for managing a mixed Windows and Mac desktop/laptop infrastructure.• Examined options for cloud backup solutions to protect our Google Suite data.• Intense study of the company’s use of PostgreSQL 9.3 and 9.5 platforms, looking into ways to better administer the use of the database and at potential architectural changes to implement in future versions of the company’s database platform• Built a metrics collection system using the InfluxDB stack of applications. Stack pulls in system information for graphing, analysis and alerting. Switched to Grafana for better visual capabilities.• Built a more robust version of the InfluxDB stack, this time adding Elasticsearch and FluentD to solve the centralized logging deficiency we had. Current Logging, Metrics & Monitoring (LMM) stack working on our Google Compute Engine environment. • Researching the use of Apache’s Kafka to solve several problems with scaling out our in-house applications. Current applications use PostgreSQL to hold onto the data, but we have run into performance and scaling barriers with the database server. • Built-out the development teams’ tool sets, Jenkins, Nexus Repository Management ns SonarQube• Setup a NAS for the company to locate files locally to the office as opposed to cloud storage. Setup user accounts to access the NAS and departmental folders for organizing the data files. Setup the Google Cloud Storage bucket so the NAS can perform nightly backups.• Installed a new ITAM (IT Asset Management) system to better keep track of our hardware and software assets and relabeling the physical assets to allow for scanning of the hardware in future asset inventory sweeps.

Linux/Security Engineer

• Oct 2014 - Jun 2017

• Assisting project teams within the Agriculture Security Operations Center (ASOC) with system design, racking computing and network equipment, and general systems administration duties.• Acted as a liaison for the ASOC team and USDA-OCIO-NITC on data center issues given my familiarity with NITC and its staff.• Took on day-to-day management of the physical ASOC systems in the NITC data center.• Initial project lead on using Nagios to monitor the USDA-OCIO-ASOC environment. • Performed hardware design, system selection criteria, vendor selection, physical installation of hardware and operating system installations on several projects, including our first Elasticsearch, Logstash & Kibana (ELK) development and proof of concept environments. • As part of the Hadoop team, responsible for investigating the possibility of using bare metal switches in place of our normal Cisco branded gear.• Championed bare metal switch for use in our environment.• Assisted the network team with rough install and configuration of the bare-metal switch.• Assisted in updating our install procedures to simplify Linux system builds. Worked as part of the Linux Engineering team to improve the stability and the reliability of our Linux infrastructure.• Have worked with RedHat Satellite Server, SaltStack and Ansible as our Configuration Management systems• Championed the upgrade of our old virtualization environment using VMware vSphere 5.5 to multiple identically servers connected to high-speed switches and a large EMC SAN for virtual machine guest storage, using VMware vSphere 6, managed with vCenter server 6.• Looked at various products that could be used to improve the functionality of our new VMware stack beyond the initial VMware vSphere 6 roll out.• Took on day-to-day management of the EMC SAN systems in Kansas City & Washington DC.• Technical lead on a multi-phase project to move our equipment from one part of a data center to another.

Network Administrator

• Jan 2013 - Feb 2014

• Administered network equipment and servers in our Lenexa KS headquarters.• Administered the internal Small Business Server 2008 platform with its Exchange 2007 part as well.• Work with our customer to setup and facilitate off-site backups of their business critical data to our storage server, providing them Disaster Recovery capabilities.• Researched the replacement internal and external backup solution for the company. The final choice was to go with CommVault’s Simpana 10 product.• Assisted in setting up the CommVault Simpana system. Primarily worked on the servers used as the CommCell/Media Agents and Proxy Servers.• Built and implemented a server running Windows 2008 R2, working as an IIS 7.5 server as well as a PostgreSQL server for a new product offerings from the company.• Worked with SUSE Linux 10 and 11 servers that were the basis of the company's Speed Script product.• Researched a replacement email system for internal and external use. This included not only capabilities but also the cost basis for the equipment and software licensing.• Built a new Linux email server running CentOS 6.4 utilizing the Linux applications Postfix, Dovecot, Apache, RoundCube, MySQL, Policyd, Amavisd, ClamAV and SpamAssassin. • New email server was implemented from testing to production use and users migrated from the old Linux mail server to the new one in the space of 3 months.• Assisted employees and customers in their use of IPsec VPNs for accessing central company resources and allowing for services such as off-site backups store-to-store communications and remote access of store data using hardware and software VPNs.• Worked extensively with Nagios for network monitoring of our mixed Windows and Linux environment, and our customer VPN connections and on-site Linux servers.

LAN Support Tech 3

• Nov 2012 - Dec 2012

• 30-day contract to assist with the transition from the support organization that NITC used to a different support organization within the USDA.• Managed changes to the AD environment as part of the support organization shift.• Performed data migrations from servers on one AD environment to a different AD environment as part of the support organization shift.• Created Microsoft Exchange contacts and updated distribution lists with the contacts using built-in scripting tools that are a part of the Windows operating system• Changed hidden attributes on distribution lists through scripting tools that are part of the Windows operating systems

Systems Engineer

• Dec 2009 - Sep 2012

• Performed server hardware/software installs, maintenance on new & existing hardware including monthly patching of operating systems and applications on several HP server models.• Worked with USDA security to ensure that systems met required security/patch versions to maintain a safe computing environment.• Managed access to systems using Windows AD domain structure using security groups and access rights.• Created/modified/disabled user accounts on the AD domain.• Worked with Group Policy Objects on the AD domain.• Supported use of government smart cards, LincPass, which are dependent on a CA/PKI structure to grant access to network resources.• Managed DHCP network space to ensure that computers & printers had available space for system growth through time.• Managed DNS, File/Print services for our AD domain in Kansas City.• Worked with USDA finance group to assist in procuring workstations & servers.• Exposure to VMWare products. Used Hyper-V system on several servers.• Used database to create/modify/resolve tickets for client/server requests.• Worked with the peers in Fort Collins and DC locations on Symantec AV platform.• Performed management of Blackberry phones through a cluster of Blackberry Enterprise Servers (BES).• Managed RSA Keys accounts and Citrix remote access for users.• Created a universal image and a multi-device boot system to make imaging PCs easier and faster.• Worked with peers in Washington DC on projects that affected Kansas City and DC users.• Worked in an On-Call rotation to cover operations nationally 24/7.• Assisted in managing access for user in Kansas City to a Citrix 4.5 Farm located in DC. Some Citrix 5 exposure, but production site stayed as version 4.5. • Data storage for the Citrix farm was located on a NetApp server.• Performed some scripting duties for the KC location to push out newer version of applications.• Converted clients from old instant messaging app to Microsoft Office Communicator platform.

Administrator

• Jun 2006 - Sep 2009

• Managed user accounts including creation of accounts, modification of access rights and deletions of accounts in a multi-domain Microsoft AD Environment. • Managed accounts such as AD network account, MS Exchange 2003 email account, Clarify CRM accounts, PeopleSoft systems accounts, AS/400 accounts and other internally built applications. • Maintained accurate records of activities and verified user identities for auditing compliance needs.• Managed security and access rights with built-in OS tools, internal and third-party applications. • Worked with project teams to change, create or delete large numbers of accounts quickly. • Created new documentation, maintained and updated existing documentation for the team. • Managed trouble tickets, issues queues and acted as gate keeper for work entering the department.• Managed the physical storage of records used by the team. • Preparation of training materials and training new associates and consultants on job duties.• Administered over 30 servers in 5 different AD domains.• Managed data migrations from server to sever on both data center server and remote field servers.• Worked in an on-call 24/7 rotation coverage system.

Network Adiministrator/Contractor

• Jul 2004 - Sep 2004

• Performed the duties of a Network Administrator at Procter & Gamble’s Kansas City, KS plant. • Work closely with the plant personnel to solve computer, networking, and phone issues. • Administered Novell accounts and resolved account and access rights issues. • Worked on the plant’s phone system, managing the setup and maintenance of the plant's PBX and voice mail system.• Worked with outside vendors to manage care and upgrade of phone systems. • Performed basic project management tasks.

Independent Contractor

• Feb 2004 - Jun 2004

• Worked at the Bayer - Animal Health Facility in Shawnee KS.• Supported clients in a mixed Windows OS environment on a WinNT domain. • Supporting software packages used like Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat, Lotus Notes, SAP clients & Siebel web clients.• Provided basic installation and troubleshooting of the software and hardware. • Duties included managing the life cycle of the desktop/laptop/printer hardware on site. • Worked at the Bayer - Animal Health Facility in Shawnee KS.• Supported clients in a mixed Windows OS environment on a WinNT domain. • Supporting software packages used like Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat, Lotus Notes, SAP clients & Siebel web clients.• Provided basic installation and troubleshooting of the software and hardware. • Duties included managing the life cycle of the desktop/laptop/printer hardware on site.

Client Support Analyst

• Mar 1998 - Nov 2003

• Supported a large and diverse collection of desktop and laptop hardware.• Supported different versions of Microsoft Windows, from Windows 95 to Windows XP Pro, in both an NT and AD domain structure.• Worked on a variety of handheld Palm Pilots/Pocket PC devices.• Supported different types of printers (inkjet to color laser printers, and even large ink and laser plotters.)• Spent over four years working on the Sprint World Headquarters Campus Project, supporting sprint personnel, architects, and construction engineers from external companies.• Was required to have large amounts of hardware and software troubleshooting of the various systems used on the Campus Project.• Microsoft and A+ Certifications, along with continued training, were required.• Management of on-site server and networking hardware was performed daily.• Managed domain accounts, server backups and network resources.• Thorough knowledge of the LAN system used on the project and the connections to the Sprint Enterprise network we also required.• Had to have a thorough understanding of TCP/IP settings, Novell NetWare client configurations, LAN and firewall configurations.• A detailed understanding of the LAN connectivity connects setups of the vendors was needed so as to help in troubleshooting of connectivity issues.• Clear understanding of Windows registry editing, driver installation and testing, software installation/de-installation, and general configurations was required.• Managed the physical assets, distribution to clients, and the disposal of obsolete assets.• Most contact with the clients was face to face, so good and effective communication skills were a must.• Training was attended on several occasions to help improve customer service skills.

Consultant at Sprint

• Apr 1997 - Mar 1998

• Desktop technician for Mac and Windows PCs in Sprint's Overland Park, KS locations. • Also worked on move and system conversion projects as well. • Desktop technician for Mac and Windows PCs in Sprint's Overland Park, KS locations. • Also worked on move and system conversion projects as well.

R&D Technician

• Nov 1995 - Apr 1997

• Worked with the hard drive, optical drive & tape drive manufacturers performing compatibility testing on their products for the Macintosh and Windows environments.• Assured that new firmware revisions did not introduce new issues with the two computer environments.• Worked with Apple and Motorola on computer systems testing results.• Instrumental in the evaluation of the Motorola Mac Clone platform that APS Tech was licensed to bring to market in late 1996.• Wrote the initial technical documentation used by sales team and support teams for the new product.

Phone Technician

• Nov 1994 - Nov 1995

• Supported the two main products of the company, an iSDN file transfer platform and a fax client/server platform for the Macintosh operating systems. • Worked with technical writing staff to proof all the manuals for errors due to localization and overall accuracy.• iSDN Product - Worked with the various local and long-distance telephone companies all over the US making sure that the iSDN lines were properly provisioned.• At times worked with the telephone company switch engineers at the main headquarters and even out in the central offices to make sure that the provisioning was correct.• Walked clients through the hardware and software install and configuration processes.• Used a small testing phone switch to test new iSDN hardware and platform software to verify that the new equipment and software was functioning correctly.• Looked for bugs and performed diagnostic work on the platform.• Communicated with both the hardware vendors and our development team to fix issues that were found. • Fax Product - Worked with the clients and their local system administrators to configure the platform for their environment.• Performed technical consulting for sales team so as to assure that the clients were purchasing the correct number of licenses, were ordering the correct number of phone lines for the server and were getting the appropriate computer hardware to run the fax server part of the platform on.