Information Technology Systems

BENJAMIN J. TEWS

***** ***** ***** **** ****,Peculiar, MO 64078

816-***-****—********@*****.***

SUMMARY

Solution-oriented IT professional with over 30 years of experience in information technology, specializing in telecommunications,network infrastructure,audio-visual integration,and cybersecurity.Holdsanactivetopsecretsecurityclearancewithastrongtrackrecordofleading teams,managing complex federal projects,and supporting secure,mission-critical operations. Proven expertise in vendor management,asset lifecycle oversight,and strategic resource allocation.Recognized for delivering scalable,secure,and efficient technology solutions that align with agency objectives and enhance operational performance. EXPERIENCE

Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency Kansas City, MO March 2019—Present

Information Technology Branch Chief

● Leads cross-functional teams and collaborates across program areas to execute regional initiatives, applying in-depth expertise to ensure seamless operational continuity across IT, HR, Logistics, Contracting, Facilities, Finance, Safety, and Security, while aligning efforts with organizational goals and maximizing efficiency.

● Directed COMSEC operations as Account Manager with an active Top Secret clearance, overseeing keying material control, accountability, and secure handling procedures; ensured the integrity and authenticity of telecommunications in alignment with Information Assurance policies.

● Design, deploy, and maintain IT and network infrastructure—servers, switches, telephony, wireless, and AV systems—for both fixed facilities and disaster sites, with a focus on secure, resilient architectures.

● Manage the full IT asset lifecycle, from procurement and vendor contracts through decommissioning, leveraging strong negotiation skills to enforce compliance, optimize performance, and minimize costs.

● Oversee daily operations of IT Specialists—providing technical guidance, requirements analysis, and end-user support for 400+ regional and disaster personnel.

● Direct rapid-response operations for concurrent federal disasters in IA, KS, MO, and NE

(FEMA Region VII), managing personnel deployment, IT infrastructure, and mission-critical continuity under high-pressure conditions.

● Develop and execute annual budgets for Region VII and the IT department, overseeing procurements and multiple contracts to ensure efficient resource allocation.

● Coordinate with FEMA HQ and senior leadership to enforce Department and Agency policies, ensuring all operations meet regulatory and security standards (Cyber Security, COMSEC, Top Secret networks).

● Conduct annual performance reviews, recruit top talent, and facilitate professional development through FQS, cohort, and industry-standard training to maintain a high-retention, mission-ready team.

Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency Kansas City, MO August 2010—March 2019

Information Technology Specialist / Lead Specialist

● Led and mentored a regional IT team, balancing workloads and driving complex technical objectives across networking, systems, and telecommunications domains.

● Maintained COMSEC compliance and communications readiness within a SCIF environment, ensuring secure, reliable handling of sensitive information.

● Delivered end-user support and architected IT/telecom solutions—including network administration, hardware, and software—aligned with FEMA and industry standards

● Conducted capacity planning, architecture design, and lifecycle management for resilient network infrastructures (routing, switching, fiber, MPLS, DSL).

● Oversaw regional telecommunications and wireless systems—planning, analysis, and deployment—to meet both current operational needs and future growth.

● Served as COTR, managing vendor contracts and coordinating installations for data, voice, and video connectivity to optimize procurement and service delivery.

● Architected and deployed disaster recovery communications at regional sites, integrating data/voice networks and audio-visual videoconferencing systems for uninterrupted operations.

● Project-managed a regional LAN upgrade—enhancing throughput, deploying VoIP, improving redundancy, and implementing structured wiring for LAN/WAN and EOC/DR center infrastructures.

InterBank 1

Stilwell, KS August 2001—August 2010

Senior Network Administrator / Network Engineer

● Architected and executed the migration from legacy telephony to VoIP and modernized network authentication by transitioning Novell to Windows Active Directory across a multi-site WAN.

● Engineered and optimized core network infrastructure—routers, switches, firewalls, and servers—designing resilient WAN topologies and protocols for peak performance

● Proactively administered and monitored LAN, WAN, and internet services for data, voice, and video, identifying and implementing bandwidth upgrades to sustain high availability.

● Developed and tested disaster recovery and contingency plans to ensure seamless business continuity and rapid operational restoration.

● Delivered expert-level troubleshooting and technical support, resolving complex network issues swiftly to maintain uninterrupted enterprise operations. Information Products, Inc.

Independence, MO December 1997—August 2001

Wide Area Network Engineer

● Designed, implemented, and maintained robust LAN and WAN infrastructures for voice and data, ensuring reliable connectivity and optimal performance across multiple sites.

● Secured network environments by configuring firewalls, deploying intrusion detection systems, conducting network discovery, and remediating vulnerabilities to protect critical assets.

United States Air Force

Omaha, NE August 1993—August 1997

Satellite Communications Systems Technician / Senior Airman

● Troubleshot, maintained, repaired, installed and performed preventive maintenance on various telecommunications equipment.

● Worked primarily with ancillary equipment to include encryption, modems, multiplexers, receiver/transmitters, and data processing.

SKILLS

● Routing, switching, MPLS, fiber optics, VLANs, QoS, WAN/LAN, structured cabling

● VoIP, PBX, T1, DSL, Frame Relay, wireless systems, satellite & deployable comms

● Conference room integration, video teleconferencing, AV systems

● Windows/Linux, firewalls, network administration

● COMSEC, SCIF, cybersecurity, federal IT standards, Top Secret clearance

● Regional support, continuity planning, rapid deployment communications

● Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Workspace, Adobe Connect

● Lifecycle planning, COTR, procurement, contract oversight

● Infrastructure upgrades, cross-functional coordination, federal program delivery EDUCATION & TRAINING

● FEMA Executive Leadership Development Program

● Department of Homeland Security Advanced Leadership Series

● Federal Contractor Officer’s Representative (Federal Procurement)

● Certified Information Systems Security Officer (CISSO)

● Information Technology Infrastructure Library Foundation (ITIL)

● Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)

● CompTIA Network+

● Avaya IP Telephony Administration

● Nortel Networks Router Configuration (Micom Marathon, V/IP)

● Category 5e/6 Cabling Standards

● Network Security Appliance Design & Implementation

● United States Air Force Technical Training — Electronic Engineering & Telecommunications

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