Kenneth Abankwa
Virginia Beach,VA
Summary
Experienced network engineer and military veteran with over 5 years of expertise in routing, switching, wireless, and firewall technologies. Demonstrated ability in LAN and WAN design, configuration, implementation, documentation, and troubleshooting for complex network systems. Possessing strong communication skills, I bring a wealth of experience to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams and deliver exceptional results.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Network Engineer
US Navy
01.2020 - Current
- Responsible for supporting clients enterprise level networking infrastructure providing network troubleshooting, managing and configuring data center network devices, design and support for LAN and WAN
- Provided operational support and project implementation for Cisco-based network infrastructure, including switching, routing,cabling, and monitoring
- Participating in on-call responsibilities in support of a 24 x 7 x 365 production environment
- Maintained technical and operational documentation and training materials for installation and configuration activities
- Handled the tasks of documenting network problems and resolutions for future reference
- Managed Cisco Nexus and Catalyst switches, including configuration, troubleshooting, and performance tuning
- Provided expert-level support for F5 load balancers, optimizing traffic distribution and improving application performance
- Ensured network connectivity between all corporate offices, vender facilities and cloud environment
- Led the successful migration of legacy systems to modern network solutions, enhancing system performance and reducing maintenance costs.
- Monitored network capacity and performance to diagnose and resolve complex network problems.
Network Operations Engineer
US Navy
12.2018 - 12.2019
- Providing support as part of a 24×7 network operations center for the company's international wide area network and data center servers, firewalls, routers switches, load balancers
- Monitoring the server and system health through the PRTG monitoring tools and responding to the alerts with proper resolution measures
- Escalating to specific group or personnel and creating bridge line for critical issues
- Ensuring the 3 main SLAs during the day are met and that settlement/funding is completed
- Deployed and administered Cisco Meraki solutions, leveraging cloud-based management for network optimization and ease of configuration
- Collaborated with stakeholders to define technical requirements and deliver customized solutions aligned with business objectives.
- Contributed towards continuous improvement initiatives aimed at optimizing overall Network Engineering team''s efficiency.
- Participated in ongoing professional development training to stay current with the latest advancements in networking technologies and methodologies.
- Performed root cause analysis on recurring network issues, leading to long-term resolutions that minimized future disruptions.
- Provided continuous support to end-users, resolving connectivity issues promptly and professionally.
Helpdesk Support Specialist
IP Nak Consulting
08.2016 - 11.2018
- Provide technical support to over 500 end-users across multiple locations, resolving hardware, software, and network issues via phone, email, and in-person support
- Manage and prioritize incoming support tickets using ServiceNow, ensuring timely resolution and maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction
- Perform hardware installations, upgrades, and maintenance, including PCs, printers, and peripherals
- Assist with network cabling and setup for new workstations, ensuring optimal connectivity and minimal downtime
- Conduct training sessions for end-users to enhance their understanding of software applications and best practices.
- Built strong relationships with clients through excellent communication skills and empathy toward their technical challenges.
- Ensured compliance with company policies regarding data security during interactions with customers.
- Maintained detailed records of all interactions with clients, including steps taken towards resolution, improving future support efforts.
- Conducted regular training sessions for new help desk staff, ensuring consistent quality of service across the team.
Desktop Support Technician
Vie De France Yamazaki
05.2014 - 07.2016
- Provided frontline technical support for 300+ users, addressing issues related to Windows and macOS operating systems, Microsoft Office Suite, and various enterprise applications
- Utilized a ticketing system to document, track, and resolve user-reported incidents, achieving a 95% first-contact resolution rate
- Coordinated with network and systems administrators to assist with network troubleshooting and maintenance tasks
- Performed regular system updates, patches, and backups to ensure data integrity and security
- Assisted with IT inventory management, including hardware procurement and asset tracking.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Computer Science
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VAMaster of Science - Cybersecurity
American Military University
09.2024
Skills
- Experience with computer troubleshooting, Cabling, installation configuration
- Experienced with routing, switching & planning IT infrastructure
- Knowledge over TCP/IP, UDP, OSI model, DHCP, DNS, BGP,OSPF, HTTP, VPN, VRF, VSS, SSL, SMTP, VLAN, NAT, EIGRP, HSRP, VRRP, GLBP, VTP, IP multicast
- Experienced with installing and configuring web server, WAN, LAN, VLAN
- Hands on experience with installation & configuration of Switches ( 9300,9200,6500,4500,3850,3750,3560) and Routers (2800,2900,4400)
- Wireless Technologies - Products-Cisco WLC, WCS
- Protocols & Standards – WLAN, WAP, AP
- Security/Firewalls Technologies - Cisco ASA 5500 series firewalls, VPNs (Site-to-Site, IPsec)
- Monitoring -Solarwinds, Wireshark, Spectrum, NetQOS
- ServiceNow Ticketing system
- Familiar with cloud computing services, VOIP
- Strong written and verbal communication Skill with experience in customer support
- Confident, quick learner, highly motivated, proactive and willing to take on new challenges
- Problem solving & decision making skills and have ability to work in a fast-paced collaborative environment
- Leadership skill and specific order following capability as a member
- Network configuration
- Layer-2/3 protocols
- IP Addressing and Subnetting
Certification
- Cisco Certified Network Professional CCNP – Scheduled
- Cisco Certified Network Associate –CCNA -Active
- Certified Network Professional Engineer CNPE
- CompTIA Security + Active
- Amazon Web Server Practitioner-AWS-Active
Accomplishments
- Replaced all the remote routers (800,1800,2800,2900) with new models 4300,4400 models because they are end of life.
- Replaced old model switches (2960,3560,3650) with new models 9200,9300,9400 to get a higher speed.
- Upgrading 20 IDF centers.
Timeline
Network Engineer
US Navy
01.2020 - Current
Network Operations Engineer
US Navy
12.2018 - 12.2019
Helpdesk Support Specialist
IP Nak Consulting
08.2016 - 11.2018
Desktop Support Technician
Vie De France Yamazaki
05.2014 - 07.2016
Bachelor of Science - Computer Science
Liberty University
Master of Science - Cybersecurity
American Military University
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