Mark Bortle

I presently serve as the U. S. Coast Guard (USCG) Chief Enterprise Architect (CEA), a C-level leadership team supporting the Office of the Coast Guard Chief Information Officer (OCIO). My position is a Cybersecurity IT Specialist, SUPV. (ENTARCH) is a series 2210 – Information Technology Management at the GS-15/06 level. Other roles performed from this position are Deputy Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Acting Chief Data Officer (CDO), and Coast Guard Enterprise Architecture (CGEA) Program Manager.

• Created and implemented the EA process and the Enterprise Architecture Board (EAB) for the USCG to an institutionalized CMMI-like, level 4 process that is now under continuous improvement, resulting in a repeatable process that performed and enabled strategic alignment, improved consistency, risk mitigation, enhanced communication, governance and compliance, decision quality, and advocacy for enterprise architecture.
• Created, implemented, and operationalized a RIGOR/AGILE framework for portfolio management of over 40 major and non-major multi-domain acquisition programs within a program portfolio valued at over $300M, resulting in improved decision-making, risk mitigation, enhanced strategic alignment, optimized resource allocation, increased visibility and accountability, and improved communication and customer experience (CX).
• Created, implemented, and operationalized core processes for Enterprise Architecture Planning, Architecture Enablement, Strategic Communications, Enterprise Architecture Repository Management, and Architecture tool enablement and awareness, resulting in a mature enterprise architecture program that enables Strategic Alignment, Cost Optimization, Increased Agility, Improved Decision Making, Risk Management, Enhanced Collaboration, and Reduced Complexity.
• Performing in the acting CDO role, I led and produced core foundational and historical outcomes in this role for the Coast Guard, such as: the Coast Guard's first-ever data implementation strategy, the Coast Guard's first-ever cloud implementation strategy, the Coast Guard's first-ever big data analytic platform, known to the USCG as Surveyor, and completed the big data analytics proof of concept initiatives with the Palantir platform.

• Performing as a Data Enterprise Architect within the Programs, Analysis, and Evaluation (PAE) directorate of the Marine Corps (USMC), I designed, provided, evaluated, and structured data in support of the Ready Data Environment (RDE). The RDE was the data quality and data ingestion phase of the analytics process. The PAE directorate performed analysis to inform decision-making for the Programs and Resources organization of the USMC, which reported to the Commandant of the USMC. PAE structured and performed analytic use cases to inform decision-making for USMC resourcing and risk concerns.
• As a data architect, I identified the architecture elements of people, processes, and technology that contributed to data quality, identified gaps, and presented transition plans for data architecture, resulting in better decision-making, improved customer engagement, operational efficiency, cost reduction, risk mitigation, and enhanced analytics.
• I directly supported the USMC Chief System Architect, providing enterprise architecture review and assessment specific to principles, concepts, methods, and standards based on DoDAF, FEA, and TOGAF architectural frameworks, as well as ISO/IEEE standards, resulting in improved decision-making, faster development time, enhanced maintainability, cost-effectiveness, scalability, risk mitigation, and improved communication.
• Analyzed current and future data needs, identified potential solutions, and created architectural models.
• Created documentation outlining the architecture of all developed components within the enterprise environment.

• At the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), I performed as the Business Modernization lead. I organized, reviewed, and optimized the architecture of business processes that supported the organization. This was completed by working with stakeholders to capture the as-is business architecture and developing transition plans to the optimized process target state, resulting in increased efficiency, improved customer experience, enhanced agility, data-driven decision-making, employee engagement, and competitive advantage.
• I also performed as the Information System Owner (ISO) for the Global Requirements Analytics Decision Support (GRADS) system. The GRADS system was the core analytics platform for the organization. As the ISO, I developed the security and compliance with relevant regulations by aligning to DHS MD 4300 A and B, and the National Institute of Standards and Technologies (NIST) Special Publication (SP) 800-37, and performed Information System Security Officer (ISSO) functions, including creating and maintaining the system security plan, FISCAM compliance, creating and executing the security plan of action and milestone (POA&M), remediation actions, and responding to NIST IAVA (vulnerability alerts), resulting in improved strategic decision-making, security oversight, business alignment, and cost control.
• Created process documents, flowcharts, and diagrams to illustrate business processes.
• Researched and led investigations into various areas to drive improvements and devise new processes.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop solutions that meet organizational objectives.
• Negotiated contracts with vendors and suppliers to reduce costs.

• During this timeframe, I was employed as an IT consultant, an independent IT contractor, and a military service member. As an IT consultant and independent IT contractor, I provided hands-on services for mission-critical UNIX platforms and environments. These services included system installation and configuration, user account management, system security, software updates and patching, system monitoring, backup and recovery, troubleshooting, scripting and automation, and collaboration with other teams.
• Various tasks and activities were performed within the financial, government, and private sectors for several clients, such as Capital One Finance, SWIFT Financial, Unisys/Department of Homeland Security, Sun Microsystems, and Booz Allen Hamilton.
• I served in the U.S. Air Force as a Computer Communications Specialist. I provided leadership, training, hands-on configuration, deployment, and operation of tactical and secure communications equipment, and capability for real-world events and training activities.
• I created and delivered mission-critical computer communications training at the squadron level.
• I participated in joint allied special forces training operations throughout the Pacific Theater, including Thailand, the Philippines, Korea, and Japan.

• During this timeframe, I was employed as a senior IT consultant and program manager. As a Senior IT Consultant, I performed a wide array of responsibilities, including accessing client needs, developing IT solutions, managing implementation, providing technical support, evaluating performance, communicating with clients, and staying current
• Throughout the performance of this work, interaction was conducted at the corporate board, C-level executive, and subject matter expert levels.
• Client engagements were conducted across multiple domains, such as global data center consolidation, cloud adoption and implementation, infrastructure optimization, IT service management, business continuity, and disaster recovery.
• Client engagements included companies such as Cingular (AT&T) Wireless, Turner Broadcasting, Inc., JP Morgan Chase/BankOne, Pfizer Pharmaceutical, Intelsat, George Washington University, University of Maryland, and Congressional Federal Credit Union.
• As a Program Manager, I performed responsibilities that included strategic planning, project portfolio management, stakeholder communication, risk management, budgeting and resource allocation, performance tracking, team leadership, reporting and analysis, and change management.
• Throughout the performance of this work, interaction was conducted at the corporate board, C-level executive, and subject matter expert level.
• Client engagements were conducted across multiple government agencies. One client engagement required program management of a contract valued at $110M and 82 staff members to perform functions for help desk services, server and virtualization infrastructure, data center consolidation and optimization, cloud transition services, network firewall, virtual private networking (VPN), and content filters, WAN/LAN infrastructure, IP telephony/IP call centers, wireless networking, enterprise e-mail, calendaring, and instant messaging, Internet Protocol (IP/TV); video teleconferencing (VTC), Blackberry personal handheld communications devices, cell phones and pagers, PKI/security certificates, and telecommunications office infrastructure test lab.