D. Heath Westenskow
Kanab,UT
Summary
Multi-discipline Systems and Network Engineer with over 25 years of experience designing, securing, and managing mission-critical infrastructures for aerospace, defense, and embedded systems programs. Proven leader in virtualization, security hardening, and cross-domain system integration supporting NASA and DoD missions. Skilled in technical leadership, infrastructure modernization, and embedded system development.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Network Design Engineer / Consultant
DHW LLC
01.2017 - 01.2025
- Supported OSIRIS-Rex, Lucy, and EMM missions across three states (AZ, CA, CO), maintaining 100% operational uptime.
- Refactored Hyper-V clusters, implemented high-availability storage architecture, and designed archive strategies.
- Managed O365 migration and administration; integrated multi-site infrastructure for improved security and performance.
- Served as interim IT Manager ensuring continuous operations during leadership transition.
- Led SD-WAN integration and data center backhaul; maintained oversight of navigation computing and storage systems.
- Contracted to KinetX Aerospace Inc.
Owner / Lead Production & Engineering Manager
DHW LLC
01.2014 - 01.2021
- Operated a wiring harness manufacturing business supporting the waste collection industry.
- Designed, reverse engineered do and documented 25+ wiring harness assemblies; supervised production and QA teams.
- Managed procurement for 250+ components from multiple suppliers ensuring cost-effective production.
Embedded Software / Firmware Engineer
DHW LLC
01.2014 - 01.2017
- Developed secure Windows 7/10, Server 2012R2, Solaris and Linux images for the MUOS program.
- Integrated hardened systems supporting AWARE load-test environments.
- Contracted to General Dynamics C4 Systems
Senior Embedded Software Engineer
Phoenix Logistics Inc.
01.2014 - 01.2014
- Built IRAD prototypes for DoD training systems; supported embedded software development and proposals.
Embedded Software Engineer
KinetX Aerospace Inc.
01.2007 - 01.2013
- Supported worldwide MUOS Ground Segment deployments; led validation and verification of waveform development systems.
Embedded Software / Firmware Engineer
Motorola Inc.
01.1998 - 01.2007
- Contributed to multiple projects including WCDMA hardware support, E911 systems, and UAV control integration.
- Debugged multi-threaded TCP/UDP stack issues and reconfigured serial interfaces for tactical network radios.
Education
undefined
United States Army Reserve
01.2011
B.S. - Computer Engineering
Utah State University
01.1998
Skills
- Languages: C, Assembly, Perl, Bash
- Protocols: IP, TCP/UDP, DNS, DHCP, SPI, UART, I2C, IEEE-1394
- Systems: Hyper-V, Linux (RHEL, Ubuntu), Windows Server, O365, NIST, STIG, Firewalls, NAS/SAN, iSCSI, RAID
- Tools: AD/GPO, lab test equipment, V&V, CM, data analysis, system hardening
Languages
Korean
Limited Working
Timeline
Network Design Engineer / Consultant
DHW LLC
01.2017 - 01.2025
Owner / Lead Production & Engineering Manager
DHW LLC
01.2014 - 01.2021
Embedded Software / Firmware Engineer
DHW LLC
01.2014 - 01.2017
Senior Embedded Software Engineer
Phoenix Logistics Inc.
01.2014 - 01.2014
Embedded Software Engineer
KinetX Aerospace Inc.
01.2007 - 01.2013
Embedded Software / Firmware Engineer
Motorola Inc.
01.1998 - 01.2007
undefined
United States Army Reserve
B.S. - Computer Engineering
Utah State University