Robert Ash Email & Phone Number

Awe, Aldermaston

LEADING MAJOR IT INCIDENT (P1/P2) INVESTIGATIONSOne of the UK’s Nuclear Weapons Facilities, owned by the Ministry of Defence and operated on its behalf by the UK’s Atomic Weapons Authority, a consortium of organisations: including Jacobs Engineering, Lockhead Martin and the Serco Group. A Contractor role, with HP FDS, reporting direct to the IT Ops Bridge Supervisor and responsible for the identification, diagnosis, management & reporting of all Major IT Incidents. 8000 users on… Show more LEADING MAJOR IT INCIDENT (P1/P2) INVESTIGATIONSOne of the UK’s Nuclear Weapons Facilities, owned by the Ministry of Defence and operated on its behalf by the UK’s Atomic Weapons Authority, a consortium of organisations: including Jacobs Engineering, Lockhead Martin and the Serco Group. A Contractor role, with HP FDS, reporting direct to the IT Ops Bridge Supervisor and responsible for the identification, diagnosis, management & reporting of all Major IT Incidents. 8000 users on a very high security and sensitive site.• Chaired, reported and resolved over 100 major and high priority incidents of service failures. Immediately established potential impact, lost business time and reputation costs; and developed action/communication plans with technical and service teams. • Restored a business intelligence dashboard to full operational service, following a failure costing £28k per hour that breached the service level agreement after 4 hours. Chaired the incident meeting that called in specialist external technical support.• Returned the essential IT services, of a nuclear licensed site, to full operational status within 45 minutes of power being restored, following an unscheduled power outage. Prioritised the essential security, emergency services and critical IT service systems.• Prevented major server and/or system outages, caused by coolant overheating and fan failure, by introducing more effective processes and procedures for monitoring and reporting of 260 data centre rack temperatures, that enabled faster responses.• Improved technical reaction and system restoration time; and communication levels to business users, following major P1 and P2 incidents. Introduced a more efficient reporting process that ensured a more calm, structured and consistent approach. Show less

Fort Halstead, Kent

TEAM LEADER – Defence Scientific Technology Laboratory 2013 – 2015An executive agency sponsored by the MoD, but operated on a commercial basis, and one of the principal government organisations dedicated to science and technology in the UK’s defence and security. • A Contractor role, reporting direct to the Operations Supervisor and responsible for leading a team of 4 providing 24/7 exploitation support; and the first point of contact for customer enquiries.• Eliminated… Show more TEAM LEADER – Defence Scientific Technology Laboratory 2013 – 2015An executive agency sponsored by the MoD, but operated on a commercial basis, and one of the principal government organisations dedicated to science and technology in the UK’s defence and security. • A Contractor role, reporting direct to the Operations Supervisor and responsible for leading a team of 4 providing 24/7 exploitation support; and the first point of contact for customer enquiries.• Eliminated forensic report and SITREP distribution/content errors within just 4 weeks. Turned round an historic situation where 95% of over 300 reports per month carried errors. Redefined report content and format; and introduced a detail-check process.• Ensured the consistency of ITIL procedures, relating to maintenance and operations of communications equipment and systems; and communications to international partners and facilities.• Operated the communications room and monitored small accounts and bespoke web sites, including those on sensitive IT systems Show less

Fort Halstead, Kent

• Assistant Team Leader - Expoitation Coordination Liason Team (ECLT) Defence Scientific Technology Laboratory 2013 – 2015.An executive agency sponsored by the MoD, but operated on a commercial basis, and one of the principal government organisations dedicated to science and technology in the UK’s defence and security. A Contractor role, reporting direct to the Operations Team Leader and responsible for leading a team of 4 providing 24/7 exploitation support; and the first… Show more • Assistant Team Leader - Expoitation Coordination Liason Team (ECLT) Defence Scientific Technology Laboratory 2013 – 2015.An executive agency sponsored by the MoD, but operated on a commercial basis, and one of the principal government organisations dedicated to science and technology in the UK’s defence and security. A Contractor role, reporting direct to the Operations Team Leader and responsible for leading a team of 4 providing 24/7 exploitation support; and the first point of contact for customer enquiries.• Maintained communication with all external stakeholders, ensuring all communication equipment and systems (including those to international partners and facilities) was maintained and operational in line with ITIL procedures. • Operated the communications room and monitored small accounts and bespoke websites – including those on sensitive IT systems. Show less

Shape, Belgium

COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST – NATO Communications Centre 2010 – 2011• A Contractor role, with Siemens, reporting direct to NSA WO Communications and responsible for handling all activities relating to the processing of formal message traffic, within the Allied Information Flow System (AIFS), on a 24-hour shift basis.• Ensured maximum circuit connectivity and serviceability by coordinating with the CIS Control Centre and Tech Control Facility. Checked/verified procedural contents of… Show more COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST – NATO Communications Centre 2010 – 2011• A Contractor role, with Siemens, reporting direct to NSA WO Communications and responsible for handling all activities relating to the processing of formal message traffic, within the Allied Information Flow System (AIFS), on a 24-hour shift basis.• Ensured maximum circuit connectivity and serviceability by coordinating with the CIS Control Centre and Tech Control Facility. Checked/verified procedural contents of all formal messaging and data; and encrypted/decrypted functions and devices. Show less

PREVIOUS CAREER – RAF COMMUNICATIONS ROLES 1979 – 2010(In numerous UK and overseas locations including Iraq, Ascension Island, Falkland Islands, the NATO Communications Centre in Oslo, and NATO SHAPE, in Belgium.)Including:• Cryptographics, Cyphers and Systems• Communication Information Systems• Network Management and Databases• Tracking Asset Movements• Telecommunications Facilities Surveys• Radio Procedures and Telecommunications• Created a secure… Show more PREVIOUS CAREER – RAF COMMUNICATIONS ROLES 1979 – 2010(In numerous UK and overseas locations including Iraq, Ascension Island, Falkland Islands, the NATO Communications Centre in Oslo, and NATO SHAPE, in Belgium.)Including:• Cryptographics, Cyphers and Systems• Communication Information Systems• Network Management and Databases• Tracking Asset Movements• Telecommunications Facilities Surveys• Radio Procedures and Telecommunications• Created a secure communications link to a NATO summit against tight deadlines and provided the custodial care of Cryptographic materials. Overcame key challenges of land lines not being installed correctly and the late arrival of equipment.• Improved the safety and security of communications between patrols, guards and the forward base in an inhospitable operational environment. Joined a convoy to a secure location to exchange unserviceable equipment and issue additional spare equipment.• Managed the RAF’s largest and most diverse Crypto facility during a full site audit. Fully investigated a suspected security breach, found a sub-account holder had failed to follow procedures and reminded all holders of their responsibilities and duties. • Enabled an aircraft in Theatre to complete its mission successfully, by ensuring that replacement Crypto material was delivered quickly. Completed packaging/ security/ documentation checks, planned the route, arranged escort and notified authorities.• Eliminated potential security breaches of cryptographic materials, within a critical high security communications vault. Created an automated process to monitor material through its 6-stage life cycle and ensured ultimate destruction at the right time.• Reduced telecoms private wire costs by 33% (£150k to £100k) and secured a £30k rebate for services that had ceased but were still being charged. Created the process to cross-relate costs that highlighted irregularities and overcharges. Show less

Education record

Education record

Activities and Societies: Football, Chess,