Rick Calhoun Email & Phone Number

California, United States

San Diego, California, Us

Responsible for developing and driving this growing technology company’s overall IT and support visions and ensuring that the solutions and security needs of both internal and external customers are continually met. Through coordination, management and mentorship of a small, cross-functional team, technology support and solutions are provided for the Corporate, Administrative, Product Development and Manufacturing Operations functions:* Continually adapts systems, networks, and support processes to maximize alignment with company needs.* Defines standards, network topologies, and processes to comply with best-practices.* Overhauled the corporate server room infrastructure to support greater flexibility and reliability.* Supports R&D functions, interacting with scientific teams and developing tools and test environments.* Redesigned and optimized manufacturing operations, their production databases, apps, and infrastructure.* Implemented extensive governance and security protections to meet NIST and FISMA government compliance.* Responsible for providing both national and international customer product support.* Redesigning the next generation of infrastructure for the company’s commercial product.* Additional specific accomplishments and ongoing initiatives include:- Remote access and security enhancement resulted in a near-seamless work transition during COVID.- Cisco Nexus, PAN firewalls and Okta MFA support Zero-Trust networking architecture and processes.- HPE blade and storage systems, with extensive VMware virtualization.- Centralized SSO and Role-Based Access Control using Active Directory-Linux integration.- Cloud-based solutions using both AWS and Azure.- Extensive monitoring, logging and secure file transfer capabilities.- Revamped data storage, backup and DR protections.- Learned JavaScript, ES6 and Node.js to support manufacturing tools.- Using Python 3 scripting to integrate app code and automate the management of network devices.

Completed a comprehensive project to implement all of the business-supporting technology infrastructure, systems and operational capabilities required by a small, multi-site engineering firm separating from its parent company.Accomplishments included:* Identification and documentation of specific business needs.* Design and implementation of multiple “greenfield” environments and technical solutions that met or exceeded all required capabilities.* High-Speed Internet circuits.* Networking with Cisco Catalyst access switches.* Security and inter-VLAN routing with Palo Alto Networks L7 firewalls.* HPE Proliant Servers with Windows Server 2016 Standard.* Active Directory schema, OUs, groups, accounts and GPOs.* Public Key Infrastructure (PKI).* GlobalProtect On-Demand User VPNs.* IPSEC Site-to-Site VPNs.* Azure AD and AD Connect integration.* Office365 applications and administration.* Mail and Contact data migrations between new and former Office365 tenants.* Reconfiguration of RingCentral VOIP telephony.* Desktop hardware and Operating System upgrades to Windows 10 Pro.* Configuration and optimization of multiple engineering application suites (e.g. AutoCAD).* Data migrations.* Backup and recovery.* Administrator and end-user training.

Responsible for driving the IT Operations and Infrastructure visions, and continually expanding and maturing the company's operational capabilities, processes, and efficiencies.Accomplishments:* Recognized and consistently met the technology needs of all customers, both internal and external.* Maintained 99.999% system up-times and 97%+ support ticket SLA rates.- Success of efforts enabled a 300%+ increase in website traffic and associated revenue since 2011.* Led and mentored the IT Systems Engineering Team in support of all security, and core systems infrastructure:- Active Directory, networks, firewalls, servers, web services, virtualization, blade systems, storage, load balancers, telephony, desktops, and all related applications and processes.* Supported 500+ servers (95%+ virtual) across multiple on-premise and cloud environments.* Managed multiple sites, the technology solutions for a call center, and a 300+ user-base with minimal staffing.* Maintained strong collaborative relationships with cross-functional partners; translating broad business goals into specific strategic and tactical technical plans.* Upgraded company desktops to a new Windows 10 Enterprise standard using SCCM.* Implemented the Google G-Suite company-wide in less than four weeks (40% of typical).* Designed and built multiple mobile workforce solutions to provide users with seamless, yet highly-secure, Work-Anywhere laptop and BYOD access.* Led the company-wide refresh of all networking and storage systems with HPE enterprise-class components.* Integrated with AppDev teams to define architectural designs and security requirements, while supporting SDLC, Scrum and Agile processes.* Led the enterprise-wide initiative to define the roadmap for all AutoZone telephony and Contact Center needs.* Implemented change management processes to eliminate unplanned outcomes in the deployment of configurations and code throughout the infrastructure and software lifecycles.

Tasked to overhaul, modernize, and transform this mid-sized e-commerce business's infrastructure and processes into a true enterprise-class operation; the success of this effort directly contributed to its recognition and acquisition by AutoZone Inc. in 2012. Accomplishments:* Led, grew, and mentored the IT Systems Engineering Team in support of all core infrastructure and related applications and processes.* Designed the IT and Security infrastructure for two new corporate offices and then orchestrated the seamless migration of all business systems and employees.* Applied DevOps, TPM and Six Sigma Lean practices to the IT infrastructure and Operations workflow processes.* Developed proficiency with the .NET framework, PowerShell and CLI scripting.* Revamped all PCI-supporting security systems and processes, and migrated their support from outside contractors to internal resources. This greatly increased the visibility and control in the environments, while simultaneously reducing costs.* Implemented extensive monitoring and alerting capabilities. Through baselines and trend analysis, potential problems were predicted early, and averted. These also supported identifying when future infrastructure investments were required (aiding accurate budgeting).* Implemented a company-wide zero-trust network topology with extensive use of network segmentation and policy-based routing via Palo Alto Networks layer-7 firewalls.* Implemented HPE stacked BladeSystems for increased performance and manageability.* Greatly expanded and revamped the VMware footprint. Half of the 100 servers were virtualized.* Designed and configured secure systems and processes for safeguarding data and feeds with the company’s 400+ business partners.* Saved over $250K annually through the extensive use of scripting and automation to minimize staff workload and maximize process standardization.

San Diego, Ca, Us

Roles and responsibilities grew with this organization’s needs, until ultimately they entailed centrally supporting all IT functions for nine independently-operated business companies, including 16 sites and a global support staff of more than 60.Accomplishments:* Responsibility for a local 40 member staff including Network, Security, Servers, Help Desk, Desktop Support, Web Services, Data Center Operations, Mainframe Operations, Telecom, Purchasing, Facilities, and Systems Engineering.* Managed a combined $10M annual IT budget.* Coordinated the operations of multiple remote support and work teams in India, the Philippines, and China.* Supported 300+ physical and VM guest servers, AS/400, HP and NetApp SANs, Telephony, and Cisco enterprise-class network components.* Passed numerous PCI, HIPAA, finance, and state Department of Insurance audits.* Achieved the company’s first SAS70 (later SSAE16), and PCI Compliance certifications.* Implemented new document management and scanning technologies that reduced paper storage requirements by 80%.* Achieved a 50% reduction in both time and cost to complete policy applications through process improvements and off-shored resources.* Oversaw the implementation of Sage ERP (MAS200/300) and leading multiple functional-area project teams to develop efficient process workflows. Using Lean, many timelines were reduced from days to mere hours.* Introduced IT Service Desk Management, support process automation, and metrics via Numara Footprints.* Saved over $150K annually by migrating IBM AIX and Oracle systems to commodity HP hardware platforms running RHEL Linux.* Designed and built two Data Centers and migrating all company servers and 500+ employees, twice.

San Diego, Ca, Us

Inherited a failing strategic partner's processing/data center (one essential to Arrowhead's business), quickly addressed the numerous technological and operational challenges, then leveraged the newly revamped and modernized infrastructure to continue expanding the company's business into new insurance segments.Accomplishments:* Built-up, led and mentored a support staff of 20, with responsibility for Network, Security, Server, Help Desk, Desktop Support, Data Center Operations, Mainframe Operations, Telecom, Purchasing, Facilities, and Systems Engineering.* Implemented multi-function printing devices to replace 60+ stand-alone printers; saving $ thousands per year.* Replaced 20+ physical Fax machines with a centralized Genifax electronic fax solution. Together with automated processes and integration with Exchange/Outlook, these radically reduced both operating and man-hour costs.* Consolidated all data processing and server operations into a single Mega-Processing center.* Optimized and expanded the use of Citrix Metaframe XP/Presentation Server for both internal and remote users.* Addressed growing performance and capacity issues by upgrading legacy AS/400 and AIX systems.* Introduced VMware GSX and, eventually, ESX virtualization.* Consolidated two existing local corporate offices into the new building, growing the overall supported user-base from 250 to more than 650.* Upgraded and optimized messaging systems from Exchange 5.5 to Exchange 2003. * Designed and upgraded Active Directory from NT 4.0 to Window Server 2003 with a new, optimized, business-supporting schema and supporting processes.* Implemented HP 3000 and MSA Storage Area Networks in place of numerous direct-attached storage arrays.* Replaced unreliable network components with Cisco 6500 in a distributed core configuration. Near-daily network incidents were virtually eliminated.

San Diego, Ca, Us

Responsible for all corporate infrastructure, applications and support functions for five separate insurance lines of business.Accomplishments:* Supported five sites and 250 employees, with a support staff of only five.* While initially being singularly responsible for all Systems Engineering functions, built and trained a strong local support team.* Personally provided infrastructure support for a fledgling online insurance startup initiative called YouZoom. This was eventually integrated into the company's core operations.* Designed, coordinated and led the implementation of all connectivity, infrastructure and systems for three new remote business offices.* Introduced SQL Server 2000 and migrating multiple applications from reliance on file-based databases.* Implemented Exchange Server 5.5 in place of legacy Pegasus Mail.* Modernized the Corporate network infrastructure; replacing a mix of hubs and Layer-2 switches with enterprise-class Cisco Layer-3 components. * Implemented Cisco PIX firewalls and Microsoft ISA proxies.* Replaced numerous legacy and PC-based servers with standardized Compaq server hardware with redundant features.* Organized, led and trained in-house staff to conduct all local telephony support. This saved more than $15K per year.* Bought commodity PC components and led a project to upgrade all company computers to a standard build. Even with man-hours considered, the cost was 40% of purchasing new PCs.* Created a dedicated Purchasing function within IT; re-organizing and centralizing all contracts and purchasing activities. This ensured standardization and accountability, while eliminating waste. More than $20K per year was saved on phone and data contracts alone.* Reorganized and energized a stalled Year 2000 project and completing a company-wide remediation in only 2 months.

Hanover, Md, Us

1) Y2K Project Manager/Systems Analyst for Advanta Mortgage: Scope and responsibilities included: * Successfully completed four stringent Federal / OCC compliance evaluation reviews with satisfactory results.* Operated two Year 2000 testing labs mirroring the Enterprise production environments. - Designed, built, and managed the daily operation of East and West Coast Y2K labs (50+ stations) including configuring connectivity with Windows 95, Windows NT 3.51 / 4.0, Novell NetWare 4.x, UNIX (HP-UX), WinFrame and AS/400 clients and servers. - Installed and configured multiple routers and servers including: SQL Server, Exchange Server, Proxy Server, SMS, RAS, and Citrix WinFrame.* Identified and revised procurement practices, saving more than $50,000 over previous processes.2) Business Analyst - CommerceWAVE, Inc.: Developed an Internet-based Sales Order Process for a technology startup. Managed a technology project to develop and integrate a new Point of Sale portal with the customer’s existing business processes. Identified and analyzed complex system-wide requirements in order to develop necessary integration between several newly acquired Oracle-based applications and a legacy financial system.* Saved $400,000 through the development of a flexible sales order process.* Developed and documented specific business rules and procedures for the company.* Designed an inventory control system to facilitate order fulfillment.

Washington, Dc, Us

* Pilot and instructor of SH-60B SeaHawk.* Automated Data Processing Security Officer (ADPSO)* Master Training Specialist

Master Of Business Administration - Mba, Business Administration And Management, General

Bs, Aeronautics