Education and Certifications

Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Communications (added Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity), Thomas Edison State University, New Jersey 06/2018

Certifications

License

Initial Certified (Date)

Expire Date

(ISC)2 CISSP

842501 (Re-Exam 7/2023)

September 2020

September 2027

EC-Council CEH

ECC9653820174

February 2020

Google Associate Cloud Engineer

211147435

July 2020

July 2022

Comp TIA Linux+

July 9, 2022

Splunk Core User

N/A

Courses

Deep Learning with TensorFlow and PyTorch, 08/2020

Open Data Science Conference

Cloud Engineering with Google Cloud Specialization, 06/2020

Credential ID: ETB9APEKPV86 Coursera

2020 AWS Sagemaker, AI, Machine Learning Specialty, 05/20/2020 Udemy

Network Security Expert Levels 1 & 4, 02/2020

FortiNet

Autopsy Basics and Hands On (8 hours), 02/2020

Autopsy Digital Forensics

Deep Learning and NLP – A-Z, 10/2019

Udemy

Machine Learning A-Z: Hands on Python & R in Data Science, 09/2019 Udemy

Amazon Web Services Certified – 4 in 1, 3/3/2019 Udemy

In-Work Certifications

EC-Council Certified Penetration Tester (C PENT) v 10

Offensive Security OCSP (25% complete)

Work Experience

Infrastructure Developer Programmer 3, 8/2022 – Present

The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University – Contracted to San Diego, California

Supporting Modeling and Simulation programs between San Diego, Hawaii, and other US sites, specializing in air gapped environments and 'Dark Cloud'. Skilled in bringing modern applications / application development processes to air gapped environments with automation, datacenter clusters, and server/rack design.

Specialization in automated hardware and operating systems installation

Network Design and Deployment, including MLAG/LACP

Network test development

Mixed classification environments, multiple operating systems and controls

Cybersecurity Engineer / RMF, 6/2021 - 8/2022

Forward Slope On Contract to Naval Information Warfare Command - Pacific

Cybersecurity analyst providing Risk Management Framework (RMF) assessment and authorization (A&A) support for the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC)

Developed and managed policies within the NIST 800-53 series and supporting libraries, including documentation DISA STIG management against more than 600 controls for application security and development across five different software applications, at the same time.

Collected various artifact related to cybersecurity and information assurance (IA) compliance programs to ensure rapid application authorization, including STIGs, ACAS, CWE, CVE, and HBSS outcomes.

Work against a distributed team spanning multiple level of developers, government counterparts and subcontractors to communicate risk management and lessons learned to reduce manhours as possible.

Created new RMF toolkit into a virtual machine environment that improved Rapid Assess and Incorporate Software Engineering process to include building out 449 controls into a "STIG-like" checklist.

Helped develop Model-Based System Engineering documentation and diagrams, contributing two weeks to create software architecture complexity.

Worked with systems owners, government managers, and other stakeholders to manage cybersecurity requirements.

Created network information flow and authorization boundary diagrams to document system interactions from application source to host wide-area networks and enclaves.

Chief Mass Communication Specialist (Main Role), June 1994 – July 2021 (Highlights from 8 years)

With Defense Media Activity (Maryland).

Assisted in organization-wide security training development and configuration management using Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program at Defense Media Activity (Maryland).

Experience in building code for 13 HR projects, including $2.1M inventory control system for shipboard supplies, multimedia department, and information technology systems.

Professional graphic designer, photographer and journalist, who also led teams into and deployed to high-sensitivity areas / missions, including combat tours.

Experience in a broad collection of information security

Global Operations and Policy Chief. Wrote two Department of Defense-level instructions for American Forces Radio and Television Services operations

Risk Management Framework (RMF) Documentation. Part of a group of systems security team to successful award of an Authority to Operate (ATO) for new archival and broadcast system for the DoD. Authored updates for numerous RMF artifacts to include AAR, POAM, RAR, and SCTM. Reviewed STIGs for compliance and modification for global broadcast media and information systems, network appliances and multiple clearance segmented LANs.

Leadership and Security Compliance. Lead numerous systems security teams specific efforts to ensure security compliance with International Security Assistance Force – Afghanistan while deployed into combat with Naval Special Warfare, providing execution of information security and development of information warfare / non-kinetic operations

With United States 3rd Fleet (San Diego)

Database Development. Developed real-time Access database solution for the world's largest, 26-country maritime exercise, supporting a true-to- life wartime training environment. Led a three-person team to create front-end UX and database architecture.

Implemented data controls and smart coding in compliance with Federal information regulations

Developed qualifications tracker in spreadsheet ingestion for a 256-person duty shift, across 14 watch stations, improving training completion rates. Hailed as a shipboard standard and adopted across seven sections, reducing training times by 33%

With Naval Special Warfare Group One (San Diego) – Information Operations

Performed mobile and network penetration tests against adversarial cell phones and networks in U.S. Central Command combat region.

Developed processes and techniques to perform ongoing security assessments to draws operational intelligence and conclusions for targeted missions. Communicated technical vulnerabilities and remediation steps to operational teams to better defend tactical centers.

Perform mobile and network penetration tests against adversarial cell phone and networks

Develop process and implement tools and techniques to perform ongoing security assessments

Analyze security tests results, draw conclusions, and developed targeted testing as deemed necessary

Communicate technical vulnerabilities and remediation steps to operational teams

Implemented 36 radio station network for information dissemination and anti-propaganda efforts

Instructor Experience

Cybersecurity Teaching Assistant, 07/2019 to 10/2022

University of California – San Diego / Trilogy Education Services

Teaching Assistant 134 students through four (4) six-month boot camps in cybersecurity certification prep.

Influenced and developed technical solutions and course curriculum, e.g., Kali Linux, Python and scripting, server hardening, cloud security, penetration testing, and digital forensics.

Administered virtual labs and projects packet analysis, vulnerability assessments and information security operations, cloud architecture, and threat modeling.

Performed grading, class admin, and remediation tutoring.

Created nine custom virtual machines to challenge students in the penetration training module.

The curriculum provides a breadth as well as depth of knowledge into the key areas of cybersecurity

Networking, Packet Analysis / Wireshark

Systems:

Windows and Linux Administration / Windows and Linux Security Hardening

Cybersecurity

Secure Network Design and Architecture

Risk Management

Cryptography

Vulnerability Assessment, Identity and Access Management

Cloud Security

Nessus / Splunk / ELK installation and operations

Ethical Hacking and Penetration

Metasploit, Hashcat, Burp Suite, Web Vulnerabilities and Security

Programming and Scripting

- Bash

- PowerShell

- Python

Chief Petty Officer, 09/2007 to 7/2021

United States Navy

Led many multi-disciplinary teams to accomplish missions throughout the world. Notably, I have led four teams of four into live combat. Additionally, I have trained more than 520 Sailors in firefighting, anti-terrorism warfare, cybersecurity, and mass communications.

Built a solid understanding of cybersecurity practices, operations risk and strategies while working for American Forces Radio and Television Services, deploying technology from Alaska to Antarctica.

Helped ensure commands understood and followed NIST 800 series, as well as international laws and agreements for deployed bases.

Strategic communicator with demonstrated success in helping an Afghan governor rebuild his cabinet.

Comfortable with fast-paced, results obtained attitude. Can function independently without supervision.

Project Experience

Lead Data Engineer – Omdena, 08/2020 to 11/2020

Lead an international team to create a natural language processing data pipeline from more than 800,000 messages. I led this data team to code, structure and successfully create a chatbot with the ability to detect sentiment. This project has been published.

Lead Data Engineer/Advisor – SavetheChildren.org, 11/2020 to 2/2021

Creation of a grooming-safe chatbot using Natural Language Processing techniques to protect children online. Published two research papers in developing new and improved machine learning.

My involvement in developing a chatbot aimed at protecting children online from predators. This project focused on leveraging machine learning and data science to create virtual assistant capable of providing sentimental support of conversations to guide children while they communicated online.

I worked closely with worldwide team of data engineers, data scientists and specialists, including child psychologists and online safety specialists. We aimed to build a chatbot that would be both informative and provide consideration, allowing children to feel comfortable seeking advice when facing potential online risks. I was lead data engineer and machine learning developer.

To ensure effectiveness, we built a new curated corpus for it. The chatbot was programmed to recognize and respond to common online safety concerns, such as inappropriate content and online predators. It provided age-appropriate warnings to children. I focused on was making the chatbot's responses support sentiment or conversational meaning. I worked on training it to understand and respond appropriately through machine learning text analysis to help provide feedback to the child. I was primarily focused on machine learning system for data processing and study, resulting in published two papers on the system’s creation.

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