John L. Sayoun

Systems Engineer/Project Management Position

Experienced leader with strong background in guiding teams, managing complex projects, and achieving strategic objectives. Excels in developing efficient processes, ensuring high standards, and aligning efforts with organizational goals. Known for collaborative approach and commitment to excellence.

• Cybersecurity Fundamentals
• Networking Protocols & Architectures
• Network Infrastructure
• Cloud Technologies
• Network Management & Monitoring
• Legacy Technologies
• Protocols: TCP/IP, HTTP, DNS, SNMP, syslog
• Security +
• VMware
• MS O365: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook

• 2024-08-24, Current, Lead Data/Systems Engineer, Webworld Technologies, Inc. (WTI), Hampton, VA, Leads a model-based (MBSE) engineering team in design and implementation of enterprise-level system architecture solutions, adhering to UAF, Analyze mission and operational requirements to develop system-level specifications and designs, Leads system integration and ensures interoperability across platforms and components, Develops technical roadmaps and strategies for system modernization and optimization, Analyzes business processes and develops optimized solutions to improve efficiency and effectiveness, Gathers and translates business requirements into functional specifications for technical teams, Implements best practices for data management, including governance, security, and quality assurance, Provides guidance on technology investment planning and capability development, Develops and maintains documentation related to system design, configuration, and procedures
• 2022-11-01, 2024-07-31, Data/Systems Engineer, Definitive Logic, Hampton, VA, Provided staff support to program management, subject matter expertise, technical engineering, analysis, and systems engineering support, Worked with the ACC/A29D Branch, Headquarters Air Force, and Mission partners to implement best practices for Data Management Modernization, Enabled data interoperability through data governance, standards, planning, processes, and data literacy, Identified tools for digital maturity, data correlation, Metadata tracking, centralized storage, and data Governance
• 2020-07-01, 2022-11-30, Scrum Engineer, Insight Global, Hampton, VA, Researched weapon system upgrades to identify and/or determine if updates were compatible with legacy technology for US Cyber Weapon Systems, Researched ports and protocols to verify if an upgrade in one software suite will cause another to become inoperable to ensure ‘zero’ system failures, Developed a research laboratory valued at ~$1.2M, Liaised and coordinated with IT professionals and computer scientists via planning, feedback, and strategy meetings for scheduled test and implementation events, Developed and maintained AOC Sustainment Technology to sustain Warfighter weapon system(s) while forecasting, identifying, and ensuring compatibility with next-generation technology to ensure real-world warfighting capability for operators globally, Researched, analyzed, and tested software for correct operations and sustainment project planning and prioritization, including Global Command & Control System – Joint (GCCS-J) upgrades; researched and identified the most appropriate Security Information and Event Manager (SIEM) tool(s); research, analyze, audit, identify, and integrate Big Data Platform (BDP; e.g., data storage, servers, database(s), data management, business intelligence, utilities) and cloud services, Liaised and teamed with representatives (international fielding and operational support personnel) to identify software/hardware for testing against the AOC baseline to evaluate compatibility and variances to identify potential system or security vulnerabilities, Performed integration requirements analysis (e.g., software, hardware, applications, networking systems, and conveying legacy systems to newer systems), Used International Standards Organization Open Systems Interconnection (ISO/OSI) Layers, Domain Name System (DNS), Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), and Internet Protocol (IP) to manage firewalls and port security, including server configuration
• 2020-04-01, 2020-07-31, Senior Systems Engineer, BTAS, Hampton, VA, Designed and developed concept of operations (CONOPS) procedural roles for Mission Defense teams; designed, maintained, and operated secure communications network environments, Evaluated SIEM Tools, as well as researched, analyzed, and identified competitive ‘best practices;’ mapped integrations of data into the BDP, Liaised/coordinated with staff personnel/leadership, providing progress reports (daily/weekly), Created and analyzed engineering diagrams to develop a network that supports Mission Defense Teams for weapon systems, Conducted joint planning for cyberspace operations and Air Force initiatives to define roles and responsibilities for the CDCC and operational partners, Collaborated with (Mission Defense teams) MDTs and intelligence support organizations to develop procedures to defend weapon systems from cyber-attacks. Developed Initial Operational Capability (IOC) and Full Operational Capability (FOC) criteria for Cyber Mission Force (CMF) during the CDCC project, Researched, analyzed, and identified ‘tools’ to reconfigure, update, and test for integration, obtain approval from specific authorities, then implement the cyber defense solutions into the AOC and F22 organizations appropriate weapon systems, enabling corporate infrastructure safeguards, and reducing or eliminating the potential for cyber-attacks, increasing defensive cyber posture, and strategically reaching deployment in the field, Analyzed systems and networks; identified key cyber terrain, detected intrusions of sophisticated and slightly different attacks to the network infrastructure, applications, operating systems, firewalls, proxy devices, and malware detection; monitored the environment to prevent or identify, locate, and remediate unauthorized activity, Performed network security analysis for every weapon system under department span of control and preliminary incident response (network intrusions, cyber-attacks); conducted threat intelligence activities, including exercises/scenarios to test defense, Used OSI/ISO model, network and SIEM tools, web development, tech document writing, Visio, Excel, and Amazon Web Services to conduct systems engineering tasks
• 2019-09-01, 2020-04-30, Datacenter Specialist (IT Systems Engineering), BTAS, Hampton, VA, Ensured logical and systematic conversion of product requirements into total systems solutions that acknowledged technical, schedule, and cost constraints, Conducted research, analysis, identification, formulation, and development of concept of operations, requirements definition, systems analysis, and engineering, system architecting, Conducted decision analysis on system(s) and design, interface and data architectures, validation and verification, systems integration, and operation performance, lifecycle cost predictions and estimation, and physical configuration, Developed a data/information collection process, method, and/or system to receive and store automated data feeds from Mission Defense Teams (MDT), Installed, configured, tested, and developed systems, application software, and system management tools to defend the weapon system against attack
• 2016-06-01, 2019-09-30, Program Manager (E7 MSgt), Command Advisor, AOC Weapon System, US Air Force, Hampton, VA, Managed a $2.5M mission defense team program by instituting a 24/7 centralized network monitoring implementing equipment into the field; directed, managed, and monitored a $1.6B annual budget, Directed and coordinated the Defense Cyber Operations to deploy the Cyberspace Vulnerability Assessment/Hunter (CVA/H) CAOOC-X Sandbox and to document feasible mitigation tools and procedures as lessons’ learned, Facilitated implementation of Cyber Protection Unit Teams to provide increased cybersecurity and reduction of cyber threats to AOC WS, Monitored/performed vulnerability scans for potential exploits, resulting in hardened affected servers across three CONUS military base sites, Assessed NATO operational and strategic disaster recovery plans (tasks/equipment transferred to other sites in case of emergency) performance; developed and implemented Continuity of Operations (COOP) disaster recovery plan sites across the US and Europe, Managed the teams responsible for the $2.7M AOC Windows 10 Migration across 20 sites, Led, trained, and mentored a 20-member team, Researched, analyzed, identified non-essential legacy topics, and overhauled a 29-mission qualification training program eliminating outdated training requirements; rewrote qualification requirements for 29 different programs, resulting in $1M savings annually in AOC certifications, Led patch management and lifecycle management programs across seven networks to ensure constant cyber readiness and effective threat identification, Developed and implemented Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to enhance cyber security initiatives and cyber threat identification; built Standard Operating Procedures for team members to follow for reporting cyber threats as part of the MDT program (mission defense teams), Provided Subject Matter Expert (SME) advice and counsel to a $1.6B AOC WS program development and implementation in AOC WS operations for 29 units across the US and deployed locations, Supervised 10 AOC support contractors responsible for support of and ensuring CCRI inspections pass for 13 sites, with ‘zero’ downtime and 100% pass rate, Facilitated planning meetings to brief leadership on events and projects as senior staff advisor, Managed contract workforce, as well as coordination of manpower to 13 sites (worldwide), Coordinated contract support to AOC sites for software upgrades, budget and software test evaluation, and maintenance support; coordinated delivery of software/hardware to sites, Provided Command Cyber Readiness Inspection (CCRI) support, Conducted budget analysis, Managed logistics for equipment, people (~500 technicians), and software, including the development of policy and operational standards for units spanning the US, Europe, and Asia
• 2015-07-01, 2016-06-30, Flight Chief (E7 MSgt), Cyber Operations, Intelligence Support Squadron, US Air Force, Hampton, VA, Managed 40-50 personnel (system administrators and network technicians) responsible for resolving trouble tickets for thousands of people and hundreds of trouble tickets per week, Managed oversight of and reported trouble ticket status and project statuses to command (daily/weekly), Managed 40-member cyber operations flight providing Command and Control IT support to 1,500 personnel across nine Areas of Responsibility (AOR), Mentored subordinate staff on professional development, Developed Cyber Readiness Inspection checklists that drove a 100% pass rate from a baseline of ~70% across nine AORs, Planned, developed, and implemented the first continuity of operations (COOP) plan to rotate the mission to a different base in case of emergency (disaster recovery), Developed and implemented a new ticket system that increased efficiency, with the average trouble ticket resolution time moving from a baseline of a few days to a few hours for >100 tickets per week
• 2011-07-01, 2015-07-01, Flight Chief (E7 MSgt), US Air Force, Glons, Belgium, Managed 11 multinational team members responsible for servicing IT requirements/infrastructure for 300 internal and 1,500 external users and performing installation/configuration of Linux and Windows Operating Systems on five networks consisting of 325 servers, Briefed leadership on the status of tickets and ongoing projects, Managed client system upgrades for ~400 local systems with a value of ~$700K, Conducted exchange administration, Windows server updates, and trouble-ticket resolutions, Troubleshoot system failures (e.g., outages and file corruption, system compatibility issues and identify bottlenecks (e.g., network bandwidth, data corruption) to ensure the long-term efficiency of network, Inspected LAN infrastructure and fixed minor/major problems/bugs, Tested, configured, and troubleshot software and maintained and repaired hardware and peripheral devices, Used OSI/ISO model, network monitoring tools (HP OpenView), DNS, backups, and VMware software to conduct IT tasking, Conducted weekly training for >15 learners per event on topics of Windows upgrades and troubleshooting tactics, Developed a Data management project that outlined a legacy C2 software integration and migration plan that provided interoperability to 441 NATO sites, Upgraded 100+ servers, backed up data, restored data during non-mission hours, and ensured zero downtime to partner nations, Developed and implemented a new backup network monitoring solution to lock-down servers from outside cyber-attack threats
• 2007-06-01, 2011-07-01, Flight Chief (E6) Cyber Operations Flight /Superintendent, United States Air Force, Hurlburt Field, FL, Managed/supervised 35 enlisted and contract personnel, including server admins, network admins, client system support techs, and web services admins, conducting 80+ annual training events and performing system administration for the training and simulations network consisting of 200 servers and 700 clients, Coordinated with the curriculum development team to develop training evaluation criteria for exercise events for personnel on multiple bases on a quarterly rotation, Managed $340K annual operations and maintenance budget, Provided SME guidance on infrastructure upgrades and systems virtualization, Managed annual performance reports and awards and decorations and exercise event preparations; conducted dorm inspections, Managed/monitored staff responsible for trouble tickets, Conducted budget, configuration control, and first sergeant meetings to ensure enlisted standards upheld; briefed commander on weekly activities, Used VMware, Windows Server Update Service (WSUS), Network monitoring tools, ISO/OSI model, exchange services, and PowerShell in tasking, Researched, analyzed, and reported Status of Resources and Training) and Defense Readiness Reporting (DRRS) as Superintendent / Tech sergeant E6 during manning shortfalls, Conduct status of resources and training system (SORTS) and DRRS reporting
• 2004-06-01, 2007-06-01, Flight Chief (E6), United States Air Force, Hurlburt Field, FL, Managed a flight of seven programmers; led a team of four programmers, system admins, network admins, and client support techs within the Command-and-Control (C2) Mission Systems Branch, Conducted exercise planning for modeling and simulations for Air Space and hostile aircraft with simulations built by Air Operations Center, AOC operators programmers for cyber security initiatives spanning Continental US, Pacific, Europe, and Asia, Managed the capabilities-based planning, programming, and budgeting for designated system-wide unique server equipment that simulated air space, upgrades/modifications, initial spares (backups), and weapon system-unique logistics issues enabling simulations to work with real-world weapon system(s), Research, analyze, identify, and develop capability testing requirements documents; conducted gap-fill analysis exercise specific requirements enabling leadership to test weapon systems, Designed high-level detail and accuracy network architecture based on mission requirements, Supervised IT programming staff using Linux programming, Responsible for performance reports, awards, and decorations; managed exercise planning to ensure databases were ready for events; reported personnel and exercise readiness status to command staff

• 2013-07-01, Senior Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Academy, United States Air Force
• 2012-10-01, Security+ Certification, CompTIA
• 2012-10-01, Info-Tech Pro, CompTIA
• 2012-10-01, Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL), CompTIA
• 2009-08-01, Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Academy, United States Air Force
• 2004-06-01, Airman Leadership School, United States Air Force