Seasoned AD/Entra ID and Exchange Specialist with Leadership
Resume:
CHRISTOPHER E. ALLEN
York, SC 29745
Email: *******.**@*****.***
Objective:
To leverage my extensive experience in helping people grow both technically and personally, and technical leadership to drive team success and enhance customer satisfaction in a dynamic and innovative environment.
Career Overview:
With 37 years of experience managing complex IT environments and leading diverse teams, I have a proven track record of driving operational excellence and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. My expertise spans Microsoft Servers, Exchange, Active Directory, and Azure, with a strong focus on customer-centric solutions and team development. I am a veteran of the United States Air Force, having achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant before pursuing a career in the civilian and government sectors. Before coming to Microsoft in 2014, I was a customer of Microsoft’s for nearly 20 years. Due to this, I feel I have a good perspective on the mindset of customers as it relates to technical issues and support. To avoid inundating the reader with excessive details, I am sharing my career information from when I started at Microsoft 10 years ago. I have a more detailed resume that dates to 1988 available if needed.
Executive Management:
- Lead engineer for the ACE team, overseeing the implementation, training, and support of the CloudKnox acquisition.
- Managed building resources valued at over $10 million in the military, leading a team of over 300 personnel.
- Former President of Toastmasters in Microsoft Charlotte and lead ambassador for the CSS cultural ambassador program.
- Co-founder and chapter lead of the Charlotte Military & Veteran network, fostering camaraderie and supporting transitioning military members and veterans.
- Elected Chief Technology Officer for the Non-Profit group Vet Carolinas
- Hackathon leader for multiple Hackathon events
- Mentor to new employees with a focus on Culture.
Work Experience:
Senior Product Manager, Microsoft Corporation, Charlotte, NC (August 2023 – December 2025)
- Analyzed customer incidents and used Zebra AI experimentation to generate themes with resolutions. Used these themes to create customer facing, self-help content (SHS) to drive down incidents per day (IPD) and drive up SHS deflection.
- Lead root cause cleanup project, enhancing data accuracy and actionability.
- Managed the Azure Active Directory rebrand to Entra ID, ensuring timely completion ahead of Satya's Keynote speech at Microsoft Ignite.
- Owner of the IAM business unit, identifying and resolving customer and engineering issues.
- ERG chapter lead for the Carolinas Chapter of the Military At Microsoft ERG, revitalizing the chapter and driving community impact.
- Mentor to multiple employees, guiding them on Microsoft culture and career transitioning.
- Give Campaign advisor, leading initiatives to drive contributions and achieve successful campaigns.
Senior Customer Engineer, Microsoft Corporation, Charlotte, NC (April 2021 – July 2023)
- Developed and delivered training for ACE engineer trainers globally on the CloudKnox platform.
- Subject Matter Expert for CloudKnox Permissions Management, Microsoft Entra Permissions Management, improving customer experience and identifying blockers.
- VPAL during the Give Campaign for Joy Chik’s organization, raising record amounts for various 501c3 organizations.
- Member of the CXP Diversity & Inclusion v-Team, fostering an inclusive environment.
Support Escalation Engineer, Microsoft Corporation, Charlotte, NC (November 2014 – April 2021)
- Supported Azure Rapid Response and Azure CADM customers, ensuring positive and productive experiences.
- Subject Matter Expert for Azure Identity Sync and Sync Fabric.
- Supported Microsoft Exchange and Security and Compliance Center in O365 for Premier and Broad Commercial customers.
- Co-founder and leader of the Charlotte Military and Veteran Network which is now the Military At Microsoft ERG, Charlotte Chapter.
- Certified CSS World Wide Trainer, teaching technical and cultural foundations training.
Education:
Bachelor of Science, Cybersecurity and Information Assurance, Western Governors University (WGU) – November 2024
Associates of Applied Science degree in Information Technologies at Community College of the Air Force/ Troy State University. November 1997
Microsoft Certifications:
Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals, March 7, 2025
Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals, December 20, 2024
Microsoft Certified: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals, May 3, 2023
Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate, June 14, 2019
Microsoft® Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) -Productivity, September 25, 2017.
Microsoft® Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) – Office 365, September 25, 2017
Microsoft® Specialist: Implementing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions, February 09, 2017
Microsoft® Specialist: Designing and Deploying Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 – February 08, 2017
Microsoft® Certified Technology Specialist: Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, Configuration, January 22, 2013
CompTIA Certifications:
CompTIA Network Security Professional – CNSP Stackable Certification – October 26,2024
CompTIA Network Vulnerability Assessment Professional – CNVP Stackable Certification – October 26, 2024
CompTIA PenTest+ ce Certification – October 26,2024
CompTIA Security Analytics Professional – CSAP Stackable Certification – August 22, 2024
CompTIA CySA+ ce Certification – August 22, 2024
CompTIA Secure Infrastructure Specialist – CSIS Stackable Certification – October 9, 2023
CompTIA Security+ ce Certification- October 9, 2023
CompTIA IT Operations Specialist – CIOS Stackable Certification – July 31, 2023
CompTIA Network+ ce Certification – July 31, 2023
CompTIA A+ ce Certification – June 6, 2023
Other Industry Certifications:
ISC2 Systems Security Certified Practitioner – June 3, 2024
LPI – Linux Essentials Certification – January 24, 2024
Special Skills and Abilities:
- Microsoft Change Agent Nonprofit Champion, Copilot Champ, Azure Administration, Azure Identity, Exchange management, Network/Computer systems operation and applications.
- Cohort lead for helping peers inside and outside of my org with getting Microsoft certifications.
- Experienced in the life cycle of Microsoft Exchange, Active Directory administration, and scripting.
- Passionate about Veteran issues, having served as CTO for VetCharlotte, current chapter lead for the Military at Microsoft ERG, Charlotte chapter and leading various community initiatives.
Contact this candidate