Aaron Blakey
Georgetown,TX
Summary
Dynamic and accomplished Systems Administrator with over 15 years of expertise in cybersecurity and IT operations. Highly skilled in configuring and maintaining critical IT infrastructure, including operating systems, security tools, applications, servers, email systems, and software. Deep knowledge in enterprise backup and recovery procedures, system security, and Agile development programs. US Citizen with extensive experience in CI/CD, infrastructure as code, and managing large-scale distributed systems. Renowned for developing and implementing robust policies, standards, and process documents that enhance cloud security and vulnerability scanning. Quick learner and self-motivated professional, constantly seeking opportunities to improve, innovate, and advance within the field.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Vulnerability Assessment Senior Advisor
Dell
08.2018 - Current
- Spearheaded the use of Tenable and Nexpose Vulnerability Scanning solutions, engineering Python scripts to automate functions and interact with Nessus and Nexpose APIs.
- Revolutionized infrastructure network scanning, significantly enhancing credentialed scan coverage and performance, and improving scanning platform efficiency by 50%, optimizing scan operations for over 1 million assets globally.
- Leveraged JIRA for Agile story tracking and Service Now for KPI dashboards, while authoring and refining numerous policy, standard, and process documents for cloud security scanning, authentication requirements, exception processes, and user guides.
- Innovated Python scripts to fetch, transform, and store data into databases, supplemented with details from alternative sources, and utilized Power BI to showcase KPIs, establish thresholds, and automate workflows for reviewing CVEs, asset and vulnerability counts, scan durations, and failures.
- Directed team through 5+ major incidents, achieving 100% resolution and minimizing business disruption.
Enterprise Technical Support Senior Analyst
Dell
02.2016 - 08.2018
- Delivered expert support to global customers with Dell’s EqualLogic series storage devices.
- Orchestrated VMware and HyperV integrations, and implemented VLANs for network traffic segregation.
- Achieved 98% customer satisfaction rating, resulting in increased customer retention and loyalty.
- Increased system availability by effectively utilizing replication, snapshot, and thin provisioning technologies.
Security Analyst
U.S. Army Cyber Command
05.2014 - 05.2017
- Executed penetration testing and vulnerability scans using Nessus.
- Mentored peers on wireless packet capturing and penetration testing.
- Supervised network security using Security Onion.
- Regularly updated skills in different technologies and platforms for penetration testing, enhancing defense against cyber threats.
Systems Administrator
The University of Texas at Austin Applied Research Labs
06.2014 - 02.2016
- Leveraged a comprehensive suite of security tools daily, including McAfee HBSS, VMS, and Splunk, to ensure robust network security.
- Expertly conducted vulnerability scans using both Retina and Nessus vulnerability scanners, identifying and mitigating potential threats.
- Executed vulnerability scanning for newly deployed servers and workstations, as well as weekly and monthly in-depth scans of switches, Windows servers, RHEL Linux servers, and all workstations on the domain, ensuring continuous security compliance.
- Delivered routine briefings on newly identified vulnerabilities and patching procedures using output generated by Nessus reporting tools, keeping stakeholders informed and systems secure.
- Spearheaded the mitigation of identified vulnerabilities across the domain, meticulously documenting any accepted risks to maintain a secure environment.
- Adhered to DoD standards for documentation, ensuring compliance with prescribed timespans, physical storage requirements, and verbiage.
- Utilized Puppet and Ruby to perform software deployment and configuration management throughout a secure and isolated network, enhancing operational efficiency.
- Provided ongoing management, performance-tuning, and support for the entire network, ensuring optimal performance and reliability.
Information Systems Chief
U.S. Army
07.2011 - 05.2014
- Established and implemented a training program for junior Soldiers to become more familiar with the roles and responsibilities of their jobs
- Constructed and maintained a Local Area Network that provided network capabilities for over 100 customers
- Coordinated with the Network Enterprise Center to provide network services for over 50,000 customers on Fort Hood
- Served as the supervisor of the Network Operations Center, the Helpdesk, and the Automated Data Processing Equipment shops on ISAF in Kabul, Afghanistan
- Responsible for maintaining the exchange server for over 1,000 users of a culturally diverse population, from over 70 countries
- Conducted software and hardware troubleshooting on machines across multiple platforms
- Examined routing protocols and port security spanning multiple platforms.
Comsec Clerk
U.S. Army
07.2010 - 07.2011
- Senior System Administrator for the Automated Data Processing Equipment shop supervising 4 specialists
- Oversaw the imaging of more than 600 machines throughout multiple units, encompassing the whole geographical location of Camp Buehring
- Trained over 70 Information Management Officers on basic troubleshooting techniques, IAVA installation, and proper equipment turn in procedure
- Prepared VLANs and port security
- Conducted daily vulnerability scans of machines spanning multiple networks using Retina, mitigated all vulnerabilities found
- Increased the efficiency of the Automated Data Processing Equipment shop.
Senior Information Systems Operator-Maintainer
U.S. Army
07.2009 - 06.2010
- Utilized the PXE imaging process daily
- Conducted the imaging of more than 500 machines during the Army's migration from Windows XP to Windows Vista
- Established the Standard Operating Procedures for the Automated Data Processing Equipment shop
- Demonstrated great proficiency in deploying and troubleshooting machines working on the same network as the Pentagon
- Responsible for maintaining the presidential telecommunications line for Fort Detrick.
System Administrator
TMS
04.2007 - 07.2009
- Maintained system and network functionality and integrity for over 5,000 customers across multiple platforms
- Developed over 20 Information Management Officers on proper troubleshooting techniques, and equipment turn in procedures
- Imaged over 700 machines across multiple platforms
- Utilized DHCP and Active Directory on a daily basis
- Established tactical server stacks from the ground up in support of over 300 users across multiple platforms in a high stress environment
- Established a ghost server to streamline the imaging process for more than 500 machines.
Education
Associate in Information Technology -
Florida Institute of Technology-Online
Melbourne, FL01.2016
Skills
- Operating Systems: RHEL, CentOS, MS Windows Server (2012 R2, 2016, Nano)
- Programming Languages: Java, Python, C
- Tools: Tenable, Nexpose, Nessus, JIRA, Service Now, Puppet, Splunk
- Security: Intrusion detection systems, vulnerability scanning, penetration testing
- CI/CD & Automation: Infrastructure as code, remote replication, system updates and patches
- Authentication Standards: OAuth, SAML, TLS
- Networking
Certification
- CompTIA A+
- Security +
- Network +
- CCENT
- CCNA
- SNIA Storage Networking Foundations
- SNIA Certified Storage Networking Expert
- GPYC
Military Service
- United States, Army, SSG, 07/2006, 03/2014
- United States, Army Reserve, SSG, 05/2014, 05/2017
Timeline
Vulnerability Assessment Senior Advisor
Dell
08.2018 - Current
Enterprise Technical Support Senior Analyst
Dell
02.2016 - 08.2018
Systems Administrator
The University of Texas at Austin Applied Research Labs
06.2014 - 02.2016
Security Analyst
U.S. Army Cyber Command
05.2014 - 05.2017
Information Systems Chief
U.S. Army
07.2011 - 05.2014
Comsec Clerk
U.S. Army
07.2010 - 07.2011
Senior Information Systems Operator-Maintainer
U.S. Army
07.2009 - 06.2010
System Administrator
TMS
04.2007 - 07.2009
Associate in Information Technology -
Florida Institute of Technology-Online