I make computers talk to each other.

I am a combination network admin and systems admin. I operate a network that includes Cisco 4431 and 4451 routers, Nexus 3K switches, ASA Firewalls, and Brocade switches. I also operate and maintain a few Cisco Unified Communications Manager clusters. I manage the LAN and provide support and guidance to operators at WAN sites. I also work closely with a few other teams who manage various transmission media to connect the LAN to the WAN. As a sysadmin, I operate a pair of VMware 6.0 environments running on Dell servers. I run a pair of vCenters, vSphere Distributed Switches, and a dozen VMs including CUCM, Cisco IM & P, Riverbed Virtual Steelhead, Nessus scanners, and some McAffee web and email security appliances. I keep our equipment up to date and fix things when they break. At various times throughout my career, I have re-imaged the ESXi hypervisors, rebuilt vCenter, built countless VMs, and rebuilt a few storage arrays. In short, I do network, compute, and storage. In this role, I also assist other units with their equipment. As such, I have helped build an entire Microsoft enterprise environment to include, domain controllers, SharePoint, Exchange, SCCM, SCOM, and Active Directory. I have also worked on various supply/inventory systems, military radios, analog phone systems,

As the telecommunications manager, I operated and maintained all voice and video communications statewide for the South Dakota National Guard. I managed over 1,100 devices including a variety of Cisco IP phones, VTC endpoints, Cisco VG-224 analog voice gateways, Cisco VCS Control and Expressway, a Cisco TelePresence MSE 8000 chassis, and a virtualized Cisco Unified Communications Cluster with supporting Unity, Presence, and Emergency Responder servers. On a day-to-day basis, I ensured that all software and firmware are up to date, set up external VTCs for customers, and troubleshot problems as they arise.

I ensured that the SDARNG’s 1,400 workstations complied with the National Guard Bureau’s Information Assurance and Vulnerability Alert (IAVA) policies. I utilized Forescout and a Nessus to identify outdated software and other security threats. Then I researched solutions and implemented remediation measures. As much as possible, I automated remediation in order to be more efficient. Additionally, I used Microsoft SCCM to implement patch management solutions. Within SCCM, I built software packages for program updates, which I then distributed to every workstation. I also used SCCM to distribute Windows Updates. This was a temp job, and I had to leave when the funding for my position dried up.

I performed end-user troubleshooting to diagnose and solve problems. I used Active Directory, Microsoft SCCM, and Track-It to provide customer support over the phone and in person. I assisted with inventory management by tracking all of our new computers, monitors, and printers and by helping inventory all of our existing equipment already in the field. I also assisted with configuration management by helping build images and by helping image hundreds of computers. Finally, I travelled to many armories in the state and replaced all the old computers with the ones we had imaged.This was a temp position that was created because a solider who usually performed these tasks had deployed. Once he came back from deployment, the funding for my job dried up and the position was eliminated.

I handle network Operations and Management

My primary responsibilities include Data Center Switching, Core and Distribution layer routing and switching, Internet and WAN routing, network design, optimization, inventory management, and project management. Most of my experience is with Cisco equipment. I manage a pair of Nexus 7010s carved up into 4 VDCs as our network Core/Distribution. I have transitioned many of our 2800 and 3800 series routers to ISR 4331 and 4451s throughout our WAN. I have transitioned us from 3750-X switches to 3850s and 4510s throughout our access layer. Additionally, I have migrated us from older ASR 1000 routers to ASR 1002-HX routers on our WAN edge and Internet Edge. I moved our data center from Nexus 5Ks to Nexus 9Ks, and I am currently working on a project where I will move our Nexus 7010 core to a Nexus 7706. My other current project involves moving our Nexus 7010 Distribution VDC to a network-centric ACI fabric. I also recently helped deploy micro-segmentation via vMWare NSX throughout our data center.As the only Senior Network Engineer in my organization, I also design the network and create solutions to the problems our customers have. As the network designer, I am well-versed in all areas of networking -- wireless, security, data center switching, core routing/switching, LAN/WAN routing/switching, Internet Routing, and collaboration systems. Because of my experience and knowledge, I also serve as the highest level of network troubleshooting for my team.