Alix Simon
Summary
Experienced Unix/Linux Administrator & ISSO professional with a proven track record of leading operational teams to optimize processes and increase efficiency. Skilled in implementing successful initiatives that enhance workflow and resource management. Demonstrates strong leadership skills and strategic thinking to drive team performance and achieve operational excellence.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
IT Operations Lead / ISSO
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Alexandria, VA
08.2014 - Current
- Lead a team of 50+ Red Hat Linux and Windows administrators to provide 24/7 IT operational support for over 12,000 on-premise and cloud-based systems.
- Enhance team productivity by providing ongoing training and development opportunities.
- Manage and allocate staff and material resources to meet production goals.
- Develop/review system security policies, procedures, mission objectives, and organizational design to identify and eliminate barriers to mission accomplishment.
- Utilize data-driven insights to inform decision-making processes regarding resource allocation or process improvements within the operations department.
- Create/review all assigned Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) for logic, consistency, and actionable content, and provides technical solutions that lead to POA&Ms timely resolution and closure
- Foster a positive work environment by promoting open communication, teamwork, and employee engagement.
- Manage daily operations, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality products and services to clients.
- Conduct regular performance assessments, providing constructive feedback and identifying areas for growth and development among team members.
AWS Cloud Engineer
Amazon Web Services Inc.
Herndon, VA
08.2013 - 08.2014
- Primarily responsible for the provisioning, installation, setup, test and maintenance of Amazon Web Services (AWS) Cloud Computing platforms.
- Managed AWS application-specific production support processes, coordinating the involvement of business and/or IT development resources in problem resolution as necessary
- Automated daily backups of critical data using AWS S3, reducing the risk of data loss in case of system failures.
- Implemented security best practices within the AWS environment, safeguarding sensitive data and ensuring compliance with industry regulations.
- Evaluated new AWS services as they were released, making recommendations for adoption where appropriate to maintain a cutting-edge technology stack.
- Assisted Security Team with monthly security scans on RedHat Linux instances, and worked with them to resolve security incidents
- Trained junior engineers on best practices for working within an AWS environment, promoting skill development across the team.
- Maintained documentation of all cloud infrastructure changes, ensuring transparency and consistency throughout the organization''s IT landscape.
- Monitored costs and optimized cloud deployment expenses against business needs.
Sr. Linux System Administrator
Information Innovators Inc.
Alexandria, VA
04.2012 - 08.2013
- Managed the deployment, configuration, and maintenance of over 10,000 RedHat Linux-based systems and services.
- Analyzed systems logs and identified potential issues
- Led server infrastructure development, quality assurance, staging and production systems.
- Increased infrastructure scalability with the implementation of virtualization technologies such as VMware and KVM.
- Conducted comprehensive capacity planning to support business growth, ensuring adequate resources were available when needed.
- Enhanced server performance by optimizing Linux system configurations and conducting regular maintenance.
- Improved overall system stability with thorough testing of software patches before deployment on production environments.
- Provided continued maintenance and deployment of RedHat Linux OS security patches
- Facilitated successful migrations from legacy systems to modern Linux-based platforms, minimizing disruption to business operations.
- Ensured data integrity by implementing robust backup strategies, including offsite storage solutions.
- Performed research, analysis, and troubleshooting to identify, resolve, and explained complex RedHat Linux system issues
Education
Master's Degree - Information Assurance and Security
Capella University
Minneapolis, MN12-2011
Bachelor's Degree - Computer Science
University of Maryland
College Park, MD01.1994
Skills
- Red Hat Linux Administration
- Cloud Computing with AWS
- VMware Administration
- Experience with Oracle VirtualBox Management
- NIST Risk Management Framework
- Proficient in NIST CSF Implementation
- FISMA Compliance Knowledge
- FedRAMP Compliance Knowledge
- Cybersecurity Risk Assessment
- Nessus Vulnerability Assessment
- Shell Scripting
Certification
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
- Certified CompTIA Security+
- Certified Unix System/Network Administrator
Technical Skills
Red Hat Linux, AWS Cloud, VMware, Oracle VirtualBox, NIST RMF, NIST CSF, FISMA, FedRAMP, CSAM, Nessus, Bash Scripting
Timeline
IT Operations Lead / ISSO
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
08.2014 - Current
AWS Cloud Engineer
Amazon Web Services Inc.
08.2013 - 08.2014
Sr. Linux System Administrator
Information Innovators Inc.
04.2012 - 08.2013
Bachelor's Degree - Computer Science
University of Maryland
Master's Degree - Information Assurance and Security
Capella University
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