Brandon Blum
Rome,NY
Summary
As a dedicated engineer supporting a DAF Cloudworks Mission Partner, I deliver and sustain secure, scalable AWS environments aligned with mission requirements and established architectural standards. I implement and manage cloud infrastructure using Infrastructure as Code (IaC), enabling consistent, automated deployment across accounts and VPCs.
I serve as a key technical partner to the Mission Partner, providing guidance on cloud capabilities, helping navigate technical blockers, and supporting informed decision-making. My work includes deploying multiple AWS services as solutions and contributing to ongoing cloud assessments to improve performance, security, and reliability.
Through close collaboration and a strong understanding of mission needs, I help ensure cloud services are effectively utilized to support operational objectives and continuous improvement.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Engineer Systems
Northrop Grumman – Defense Systems
Rome, NY
04.2024 - Current
- DAF Cloudworks/Engagement Dedicated Engineer April 2024 – Present
- - Designed and implemented a Dedicated Engineer role, aligning technical expertise with customer needs to enhance support efficiency and service delivery. Developed role-specific processes and best practices to improve response times, customer satisfaction, and issue resolution effectiveness.
- - Pioneered new AWS service offerings by identifying customer needs and gaps in existing solutions, leading to the development of additional provisioning and configuration support services. Worked closely with Mission Partner leadership & Cyber team to define scope, implementation strategy, and rollout plans.
- - Acted as a customer-facing AWS specialist, assisting clients with environment provisioning, configuration, and ongoing optimization. Provided expert guidance on architecture decisions, cost efficiency, and security best practices, ensuring customer success.
- - Provisioned and configured AWS environments, leveraging services such as EC2, Diode, RDS, IAM, and Lambda to support scalable and secure cloud solutions. Optimized deployments to enhance performance, reduce costs, and align with business objectives.
- - Ensured adherence to AWS best practices, maintaining security, compliance, and performance standards across customer deployments. Conducted regular audits and assessments to proactively identify and mitigate risks before they could impact operations.
- - Provided technical guidance and troubleshooting for AWS infrastructure, addressing customer concerns and optimizing cloud resource utilization. Collaborated with internal engineering teams to escalate and resolve complex technical challenges efficiently.
Senior Systems Administrator
BAE Systems Inc.
Colorado Springs, CO
11.2022 - 04.2024
- - Engaged in a contracted role for the Deep-Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) project, where I played a pivotal role in the development of cutting-edge virtualization technologies.
- - Implemented, configured, and oversaw the deployment of Kubernetes clusters, leveraging expertise in integrating them seamlessly with NSX-T. Employed Container Network Interface (CNI) to facilitate secure and efficient container-to-container communication within the infrastructure.
- - Enhanced the security posture of Kubernetes (K8s) clusters by delivering robust load balancing capabilities. Implemented network segmentation and micro-segmentation strategies to fortify traffic security, leveraging NSX-T Distributed Firewall and Network Policies for effective control and protection measures. Configured, managed, and maintained data vSAN storage solutions to ensure optimal functionality and performance. Applied expertise in overseeing storage systems, ensuring data integrity, accessibility, and seamless operations. Documented processes, procedures, and system configurations essential for the deployment and maintenance of components within the underlying hardware and software infrastructure.
- - Managed Active Directory-type services, including the administration of group policy objects, DNS (Domain Name System), and DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol).
Cyber Defense Operator
United States Air Force, USAF
Colorado Springs, CO
11.2017 - 11.2022
- - Led a team managing and securing the Air Force's core network service infrastructure, including storage, server virtualization, and system backups across multiple domestic and international locations, ensuring compliance with DoD security standards.
- - Developed and implemented Continuity of Operations (COOP) strategies, executing seamless data migrations of critical infrastructure to ensure uninterrupted network and data availability for both stateside and deployed personnel.
- - Directed planned and emergency server infrastructure modifications in response to directives from the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Cyber Command, and Air Force CYBER, ensuring full compliance with security protocols.
- - Provided strategic counsel to leadership on squadron technological capabilities, spearheaded training initiatives, and established standardized education criteria to enhance cybersecurity awareness and operational proficiency.
- - Collaborated with solution architects to define and implement database and virtualization strategies for seamless operational migrations across multiple domains.
Education
M.D. - Cybersecurity & IA
Western Governor’s University
Salt Lake City, UT05-2025
Bachelor of Science - Cybersecurity & IA
Western Governor’s University
Salt Lake City, UT05-2023
Skills
- AWS Services, Diode, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), Security & compliance, Networking, Cloud Storage, Database Management, Monitoring and Logging, IAM Policies, Cloud Security Best Practices, High Availability and Load Balancing
- Critical thinking
- Technical reporting
- Engineering documentation
- System troubleshooting
- System design
- Cost analysis
- Identity management
- Security auditing
- Compliance management
Certification
(ISC2) Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP), (ISC2) Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP), CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+), (ISC2) Certified in Cybersecurity (CC), CompTIA Security+, CompTIA Cloud+, CompTIA Network+
SECURITY CLEARANCE:
TS/SCI
Timeline
Engineer Systems
Northrop Grumman – Defense Systems
04.2024 - Current
Senior Systems Administrator
BAE Systems Inc.
11.2022 - 04.2024
Cyber Defense Operator
United States Air Force, USAF
11.2017 - 11.2022
M.D. - Cybersecurity & IA
Western Governor’s University
Bachelor of Science - Cybersecurity & IA
Western Governor’s University