Cloud Infrastructure & Azure Virtual Desktop Specialist

Zachary T. Pierce

Jacksonville, FL 612-***-**** ******.*******.*@*****.***

Professional Experience

Netgain Technology Minneapolis, MN (Remote) Cloud Engineer September 2020 – Present

• Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) & Nerdio Architecture: Architected and managed the lifecycle of over 20 Azure Virtual Desktop environments and 50+ host pools. Leveraged Nerdio Manager to orchestrate automated provisioning, image versioning, and scaling plans, ensuring high availability for diverse client workloads.

• Infrastructure Migration Project: Led a complex infrastructure modernization project to decommission legacy Entra Domain Services environments, successfully migrating services to self-managed Active Directory on Azure VMs to improve directory control and security posture.

• Cost Optimization & Auto-Scaling: Designed and implemented aggressive auto-scaling strategies within Nerdio, aligning compute resources with actual user demand to significantly reduce Azure consumption costs while maintaining performance standards.

• Golden Image Automation: Engineered an automated Golden Image maintenance workflow using PowerShell, Chocolatey, and Winget. This initiative streamlined software patching and deployment, reducing manual configuration time and ensuring consistent baseline security across session hosts.

• Profile Management Strategy: Developed and executed modern profile management solutions using FSLogix profile containers, resolving session portability issues and optimizing login times for end-users.

• Identity & Access Management: Served as the Subject Matter Expert for enterprise identity services, managing DNS, DHCP, and Group Policy (GPO) configurations to enforce security baselines and support Zero-Trust principles.

Tactical Biometrics Cell Afghanistan Multi-Functional Field Service Engineer September 2019 – September 2020

• Field Deployment & Reliability: Deployed and maintained critical biometric collection systems in austere environments, ensuring 24/7 operational readiness for multinational forces.

• Database Optimization Project: Managed and optimized SQL Server databases to support global data synchronization, ensuring data integrity for mission-critical intelligence operations.

• Security Automation: Developed custom PowerShell scripts to automate system security hardening tasks, reducing vulnerability exposure on field-deployed assets. Deloitte Consulting LLC Quantico, VA System Operations – Cloud Engineer August 2017 – September 2019

• Large-Scale Network Security: Managed security compliance and performance for a large- scale enterprise network comprising over 3,000 assets. Enforced strict configuration standards compliant with federal regulations.

• Automation Framework: Built automation frameworks using PowerShell to replace manual routine administrative tasks, increasing team efficiency and reducing human error in software deployment and system patching.

• Storage & Data Integrity: Administered NetApp storage solutions and Active Directory environments to ensure secure file sharing and robust user access controls across the enterprise.

United States Marine Corps Quantico, VA Enterprise System Operations – Tier II Systems Supervisor June 2013 – September 2017

• Enterprise Network Operations: Directed 24/7 support operations for the Marine Corps Enterprise Network, overseeing global domains and ensuring system uptime for mission- essential communications.

• Incident Response Leadership: Established and managed incident response protocols for critical system outages, leading a team of Tier II administrators in rapid troubleshooting and resolution.

Certifications

• Microsoft Certified: Azure Virtual Desktop Specialty

• Nerdio Azure Fundamentals (NAF-100)

• MCSE: Core Infrastructure

• MCSA: Server 2016 Core Infrastructure

Technical Skills

• Cloud & Virtualization: Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD), Nerdio Manager (MSP/Enterprise), Azure/Entra ID, FSLogix, VM Scale Sets.

• Automation & Scripting: PowerShell, Chocolatey, Winget, CWAutomate, Bicep/ARM concepts.

• Infrastructure & Networking: Active Directory (AD DS), DNS, DHCP, GPO, Azure Networking

(VNet, NSG).

• Operating Systems: Windows Server, Windows 10/11 Multi-session, RHEL 6/7. Summary

Experienced Cloud Engineer with over a decade of expertise in architecting and automating cloud infrastructure. specialized in Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) and Nerdio Manager. Proven track record of delivering secure, scalable desktop solutions and leading migration projects in regulated enterprise environments.

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