DEDRICK L GATLING
Vernon Hill,Va
Summary
Dynamic Sr. Solutions Engineer at Airtower Networks with expertise in Wireless Design and Project Management. Proven track record in delivering innovative Wi-Fi solutions, utilizing Ekahau and iBwave for WLAN surveys. Passionate about optimizing network performance and enhancing customer satisfaction through strategic design and implementation.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Sr. Solutions Engineer
Airtower Networks
Washington, DC
02.2023 - Current
- Supported Executive Sales opportunities as a Subject Matter Expert in Sales Engineering.
- Designed, implemented, and managed Airtower Networks Managed Wi-Fi systems, enhancing connectivity and user experience across various environments.
- Design & Support network Wi-Fi turn-key installations for: Multi-Dwelling Unit (MDU), Hospitality, Healthcare, Sports, Entertainment, RV/Marina, & Government/Education
- Development of Site Surveys for Predictive Analysis and Post-Implementation including scope-of-work, site plans/drawings, & WLAN benchmarking utilizing both Ekahau & iBwave software
- Created Bill-of-Materials (BOM) & Rough-Order-of-Magnitude (ROM) to outline all costs for customer Wi-Fi network equipment, facilitating accurate budgeting and resource allocation.
- Network Security and Firewall configurations for RGNets or Nomadix (Subscriber gateway and AAA/RADIUS)
- Switch & Router protocol configuration and implementation
- Coordinated with Field Operations (Construction & Systems Engineering) for implementation and commissioning, ensuring financial reviews aligned with return-on-investment (ROI).
- Ensure proper documentation in all associated databases, (Granite, Quickbase, Hubspot…etc.)
Network Wi-Fi Designer
Charter Communications
Durham, NC
03.2020 - 02.2023
- Design & Support network Wi-Fi turn-key installations for: Multi-Dwelling Unit (MDU), Hospitality, Healthcare, Sports, Entertainment, RV/Marina, & Government/Education
- Designed and implemented Spectrum Managed Wi-Fi solutions for community solutions, enterprise, and small business, enhancing connectivity and user experience.
- Development of Site Surveys including scope-of-work, site plans, drawings, RF Heat Map signal levels, and spaces needed for stored network equipment
- Compose network topologies utilizing Microsoft Visio to illustrate placement of all network equipment elements needed for customer Wi-Fi network; mapping associated network elements for Main Distribution Frame/Hub (MDF/MDH), Intermediate Distribution Frames (IDF), Wireless Access Points, Structured Wiring Panel (SWP), Switches, routers, & line connections for each
- Created detailed Bill-of-Materials (BOM) reflecting all equipment costs for customer Wi-Fi networks based on design specifications, ensuring comprehensive resource allocation.
- Managed project coordination with field operations for implementation and validation, conducting financial reviews to ensure alignment with budget and ROI objectives.
- Created customer IP block and firewall, ensuring accurate documentation in network tools and databases.
Broadband Engineering Associate II
Comporium
Rock Hill, SC
07.2018 - 11.2019
- Responsible for the Design, Implementation, & Management of the Juniper and Brocade network core in supporting various broadband facilities and technology deployments. Design, deploy, and manage the Cisco Meraki Access Switch and Access Points for Enterprise Wi-Fi Solutions. This included:
- Database configuration of Interface and VLANs for various broadband connections, (i.e. 1Gbs, 10Gbs, & 100Gbs circuits), in the Juniper ACX5048, QFX5110, QFX5200, MX480, MX960, & PTX1000 and the Brocade MLX, FESX424, & CES2k
- Understanding protocols of OSPF, MPLS, & BGP and its supported configurations
- Designed and deployed enterprise customer indoor/outdoor Wi-Fi solutions using Cisco Meraki Access Switches (MS120 & MS220) and Access Points (MR42, MR52, MR74, & MR84), managing customer networks via Cisco Meraki Cloud Dashboard.
- Completed core network designs, prepared projects with cost estimates, installation specifications, and drawings; obtained quotes and ordered materials while approving associated invoices.
- Oversaw implementation of network designs and accepted facility additions per job orders to ensure compliance with specifications and timelines.
- Maintained accurate records and drawings of network facilities.
Network Equipment Engineer
Verizon Wireless
Charlotte, NC
03.2013 - 05.2017
- Designed, installed, and maintained equipment for over 500 indoor/outdoor cellular sites across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
- Planned, ordered, installed, and maintained equipment from Ericsson, Cisco, Juniper, GE, Delta, Deka, Enersys, and Generac for new builds and project activations.
- Project Management of various network wide projects such as LTE to AWS Conversion, Carrier Aggregation, LTE over 850, & Service Improvement Upgrades
- Managed budget and tracked expenses for equipment across projects.
- Extensive Granite (XNG) database inventory, planning, and provisioning of cell sites facilities equipment, circuits, and transmission paths
- Experienced in DC power systems including +24vDC, -48vDC, & Power-Over-Ethernet
- Managed vendor relationships and monitored project progress
- Purchase Order Tracking and monitoring for Match Exceptions and SOX Violation avoidance
- Provided quarterly reports to Regional and Executive management on project equipment readiness and associated costs.
Translations Engineer
Verizon Wireless
Charlotte, NC
10.2002 - 03.2013
- Implement new features and major initiatives e.g. Ubicell, TrFO, Premium Voicemail, Circuit to Packet conversions, NNI, IMS, MPLS... etc
- Designed, implemented, and maintained call routing for Oracle Session Routers, Session Border Controllers, Ericsson MTXs, Motorola EMXs, and Samsung WSS.
- Configuring standard tasks such as call routing for circuit and packet call/session control protocols with the goal of supporting end-to-end routing across circuit and packet domains
- Troubleshoot protocols such as SIP, RTP, TCP/IP, OSPF, BGP, & SS7 using BRIX, Wireshark, SNMP, and NetFlow Analyzer/Packet Capture tools.
- Identified cost efficiencies, building cost-effective call routes to reduce capital expenses
- Assisted the regions with switch cutovers, cell site additions, and new market integrations.
- Reviewed, analyzed, and resolved ongoing trouble tickets impacting network service and revenue
- Updated and developed MOPs for work performed, filing supporting change controls
- Provided 24-hour support for network operations
- Database Prime for network integration of various switch & SR/SBC and maintained the databases that reside at each
Education
Diploma -
Northampton County-West
Gaston, NC01-1992
Some College (No Degree) - Computer Science
N.C Agricultural & Technical State University
Greensboro, NCSkills
- Wireless Design
- 80211ac
- 80211ax
- WLAN Survey
- Ekahau
- IBwave
- Ruckus Networks
- HPE Aruba Networks
- Cisco Meraki
- Cisco Network Implementation
- Cambium Networks
- Subscriber Gateways
- RGNets
- Nomadix
- Microtik
- BOM management
- ROM estimation
- Ericsson Cell Site Equipment
- ACME Packet
- Bill-of-Materials (BOM)
- Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM)
- Project Management
- Budget Management
- DC Power Systems Implementation
- Tracking Systems
- Ticketing Systems
- Inventory Systems
- Excel
- Word
- Visio
- Access
- PowerPoint
References
Available Upon Request
Training Education
- RGNets Fundamentals, 04/2024
- Ruckus Networks ICX Implementor, 05/2023
- Juniper JUNOS IJOS, 02/2019
- Oracle(
- FKA ACME) SBC Routing, 05/2009, Southlake, TX
- Samsung WSS Translations, 07/2008, Richardson, TX
- Nortel MTX Translations, 03/2005, Richardson, TX
- Motorola EMX Translations, 03/2004, Schaumburg, IL
- N.C Agricultural & Technical State University, Majoring in Computer Science, 08/1992, 05/1995, Greensboro, NC
- Northampton County-West, Received Diploma, 08/1988, 05/1992
Timeline
Sr. Solutions Engineer
Airtower Networks
02.2023 - Current
Network Wi-Fi Designer
Charter Communications
03.2020 - 02.2023
Broadband Engineering Associate II
Comporium
07.2018 - 11.2019
Network Equipment Engineer
Verizon Wireless
03.2013 - 05.2017
Translations Engineer
Verizon Wireless
10.2002 - 03.2013
Diploma -
Northampton County-West
Some College (No Degree) - Computer Science
N.C Agricultural & Technical State University