Linux Administrator

Cole Leavitt

Tucson, AZ

Phone Number Upon Request ***********@**********.*** linkedin.com/in/coleleavitt PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

I am a customer-centric IT professional with CompTIA Linux+ and Security+, currently pursuing RHCSA, and have proven experience in resolving complex technical issues. Leveraging my strong troubleshooting skills, I’ve successfully managed 150-200 daily customer interactions and reduced point-of-sale system downtime by 30% at Ace Hardware. My hands-on experience includes maintaining enterprise-grade HP servers, implementing VMware solutions, and developing solutions for consumer-based clients. Seeking an entry-level Help Desk position to apply my technical acumen and customer service excellence in supporting end-users and IT infrastructure. Committed to continuous learning in open-source technologies, virtualization, cloud networking, and helping others to drive organizational growth and efficiency. WORK EXPERIENCE

Ace Hardware May 2024 - June 2024

Customer Service Associate / IT Support, Tucson, AZ

• Managed 150-200 daily customer interactions, resolving 95% of inquiries without escalation, demonstrating strong communication and prob- lem-solving skills

• Troubleshot and maintained point-of-sale (PoS) systems, reducing downtime by 30% through proactive maintenance and quick issue resolution

• Identified and reported four critical security vulnerabilities in PoS systems running Eagle Point of Sale, showcasing attention to detail and system security awareness

• Implemented IT solutions, including Task Manager debugging to force close the unresponsive PoS process and system reboots if a PoS kernel panicked, resolving 98% of technical issues on the first attempt

• Trained 5 team members on PoS application usage (returns, activations, checkout, cash/credit) and basic IT troubleshooting, improving overall team efficiency by 25%

• Assisted in loss prevention efforts, helping reduce shrinkage by 15% through vigilant monitoring and reporting through cryptic radio commu- nication.

• Supported inventory management processes, enhancing stock accuracy and availability for customers by 30% Mount Lemmon Cookie Cabin March 2024 - April 2024

Team Member / Operations Support, Mount Lemmon, AZ

• Supported daily operations serving 300+ customers, contributing to approximately $4,000 in daily sales among 3-5 staff.

• Managed multiple tasks simultaneously, increasing personal productivity by 35% within the first month

• Handled physically demanding tasks, including lifting 80+ pound loads of baking supplies numerous times, while maintaining a 100% safety record

• Implemented and enforced cleanliness protocols, resulting in perfect health inspection scores

• Optimized food preparation and service processes, reducing average order fulfillment time by 20%

• Collaborated effectively in a team of 3-5 members, adapting to varying workloads and peak hours

• Assisted in training one new team member, accelerating their onboarding process by 2 weeks

• Proposed implementations of Apple Pay/Near Field Communication (NFC) support compared to the semi-digital PoS, providing a 30-second improvement in transaction speed per customer.

PROJECTS

Enterprise-Grade Home Lab 2023 - Present

• Designed and implemented a home lab environment using 3 HP DL380P G8 servers, showcasing proficiency in enterprise hardware and con- verged infrastructure

• Deployed VMware ESXi and vSphere for centralized management, demonstrating skills in enterprise virtualization solutions

• Implemented PXE boot, Cloud-init, and an HTTP server for automated OS deployment, enhancing efficiency in system provisioning

• Configured VLANs and implemented network segmentation (VMKernel NICs) to optimize traffic flow and security

• Set up centralized logging using ELK stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana) for efficient log management and analysis

• Implemented automated backups using Veeam, ensuring data integrity and disaster recovery readiness

• Deployed and managed RHEL, CentOS, and Ubuntu servers, showcasing proficiency in various Linux distributions

• Developed PowerShell and Bash scripts for automated system administration tasks and reporting

• Implemented and managed a GitLab Enterprise instance using Docker, demonstrating skills in containerization and CI/CD pipelines VM Evasion Techniques Project github.com/coleleavitt/Virt-Manager_XMLs 2021 - Present

• Developed custom libvirt XML configurations for QEMU/KVM, focusing on VM evasion techniques

• Implemented IOMMU for direct device assignment, improving VM performance and isolation of NVIDIA GPUs at kernel load (RTX 2070, RTX A4500)

• Utilized Looking Glass for low-latency remote desktop access to VMs, alongside NGINX as a reverse proxy

• Experimented with various CPU and memory configurations to optimize VM performance while maintaining evasion capabilities

• Documented findings and best practices for VM evasion in a comprehensive project report in MD

• Integrated MacOS virtual machines (Hackintosh) to test cross-platform compatibility and develop with Swift

• Applied Linux and Microsoft Windows server administration skills in a virtualized environment EDUCATION

Associate of Applied Science in Networking/Cyber Defense May 2023 Pima Community College, Tucson, AZ GPA: 4.0/4.00

• Relevant Coursework: Network Security, Ethical Hacking, Cryptography, Digital Forensics, Incident Response, Network Infrastructure, Cloud Networking

• Academic Achievement: Dean’s List for all semesters, Cybersecurity Student of the Year 2023 CERTIFICATIONS

CompTIA Security+ October 2024 Credential ID: COMP001022635113 Linux+ October 2024 Credential ID: COMP001022635113 Salesforce Platform Developer I September 2024 Credential ID: 4847792 AZCyber Initiative Cyber Bootcamp 2021 June 2021 Credential ID: CYBER2021 TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Operating Systems: Linux (RHEL, CentOS, Ubuntu, Arch, Gentoo), Windows Server, macOS

• Virtualization: VMware ESXi, vSphere, QEMU/KVM, Libvirt

• Cloud Platforms: AWS, Azure

• Networking: LAN/WAN, TCP/IP, Firewalls, VPNs

• Security: Network Security, Penetration Testing, Vulnerability Scan- ning, Incident Analysis

• Scripting Languages: Bash, PowerShell, Python

• Automation: Ansible, Shell Scripting, Python

• Typesetting: LaTex, Typst, Markdown

• Containerization: Docker, Kubernetes

• Version Control: Git, GitHub, GitLab

• Help Desk Tools: Remote Desktop, Ticketing Systems

• Troubleshooting: Hardware, Software, Network Issues, Technical Support

• Customer Service: Problem Resolution, Clear Communication

• IT Service Management: ITIL Fundamentals

• Documentation: Technical Writing, Process Documentation, Microsoft Office

• Automation: Ansible, Shell Scripting, Python

• IT Service Management: Ticketing Systems, Patch Management VOLUNTEERING

Community IT Support Volunteer 2022 - Present

Tucson, AZ

• Provided regular computer literacy training and cybersecurity education to 4+ elderly neighbors (ages 50-70), enhancing their digital safety and competence

• Performed malware identification, sampling, removal, and system recovery on multiple devices, including using a Kaspersky virus scanner, Hybrid Analysis/CrowdStrike with YARA rules, and resetting network configurations

• Setup WiFI printers with WPA2 rather than WEP, preventing bruteforce/wordlist attacks

• Assisted neighbors in identifying and avoiding phishing attempts, reducing their vulnerability to cyber attacks by 90%

• Conducted secure data transfers between old and new devices for 3 individuals, ensuring data integrity and privacy

• Configured email clients (including Outlook) with IMAP settings, improving email security and accessibility for 5 users

• Implemented best practices for password security, educating users on creating strong, unique passwords for critical accounts as well as how to store them (primarily multifactor and not in plain text in iOS Notes)

• Performed secure device disposal for the community, using DoD standard wipe procedures on 15+ devices, ensuring data privacy and envi- ronmental responsibility

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Languages: Fluent in English, Elementary in Russian, Basic in Spanish and French

• Soft Skills: Troubleshooting, Written and Verbal Communication, Teamwork, Innovation, Time Management Skills, Planning, Collaboration, Dedication, Problem Identification, Analytical Thinking, Adaptability, Continuous Learning

• Interests: GPT, LLMs, OSINT, Cybersecurity research, ethical hacking, AI in security, blockchain technology, participating in CTF compe- titions

• Areas of Expertise: Linux System Administration, Network Infrastructure, Cloud Networking, Virtualization, Automation, Scripting, Server Operating Systems, API Hacking, Cybersecurity

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