Patrick H. Swartz
Lowell,AR
Summary
Dynamic professional with over 20 years of experience in Open Source and Linux environments, recognized for delivering customer-focused technical solutions in business-to-business settings. Expertise in assessing complex customer needs and proposing tailored solutions that drive satisfaction and loyalty. Proven ability to forge strong relationships with key stakeholders, contributing to long-term business success. Committed to leveraging a passion for technology to create impactful outcomes.
Overview
36
36
years of professional experience
4
4
Certification
Work History
Solution Architech, Central US Region
SUSE
Lowell, AR
01.2018 - Current
- Responsible for interacting with prospective customers through executive meetings, discovery conversations, solution demonstrations of Linux management and automation, Kubernetes management, Cloud-native virtualization, and follow-up discussions.
- To gain acceptance from the customer that the SUSE solutions, including Linux, Cloud-Native, AI, and Edge, can solve the customer’s problem by understanding the technical architecture and design, where the SUSE-based technologies, processes, and integration are the right choice.
- Provided strategic technical and business advice to internal senior management during active deals.
- Represent the western half of the U.S. on the SUSE Manager Core team to provide key customer requirements and product enhancements.
Lead Systems Analyst – Linux
Tyson Foods
Springdale, Arkansas
01.2015 - 01.2018
- Develop a corporate Linux strategy and support environment, including 'from conception to production,' with full system monitoring and patching for a mixed-distribution Linux environment.
- Perform as the Splunk architect responsible for growing the Tyson environment from a single instance to a complete 8-node indexer cluster, with multiple search heads and support servers.
- Perform as the primary Linux architect for the SAP environment, supported on physical and virtual hardware.
- Responsible for guiding Tyson in choosing the primary Linux operating system distribution (SUSE) and providing guidelines for the process of consolidating to one OS.
- Responsible for the evaluation and selection of the chosen automation tool (SaltStack).
- Lead person in setting up SaltStack across the enterprise and developing the full automation of Linux builds with Salt through a GIT repository.
- Responsible for the evaluation and selection of the GIT backend solution (GitLab), and setting up the environment for multiple teams to utilize.
- Responsible for the evaluation and selection of a disaster recovery tool (Zerto), and setting up DR in the secondary datacenter using Zerto.
- Help develop and train new Linux administrators through documentation and hands-on opportunities.
- Manage vendor relationships, responsible for Linux distributions.
- Lead in developing a proof-of-concept IoT project utilizing Raspberry Pi devices to gather building data (temperature, humidity, light, sound, Wi-Fi SSID, etc.), and building analytical dashboards in Splunk
- Fun fact: Key player in helping Tyson become SUSE’s 2016 Customer of the Year
Security Engineer – Information Security
First Data Resources
Omaha, Nebraska
01.2013 - 01.2015
- Certify, engineer, and create standards required to support Splunk at the enterprise level.
- Includes the setup and standardization of forwarders, setup and troubleshooting of the infrastructure, development and support of monitoring tools, engagement with the business to understand possible Splunk use cases, assistance in developing Splunk applications and dashboards, and integration with external tools.
- Responsible for the Asia-Pacific Splunk infrastructure build-out, including the integration with the US-based Deployment Server.
- Primary architect of the revision control infrastructure using GIT.
Instructor
One Staff
Omaha, Nebraska
01.2001 - 01.2015
- Teach Red Hat Certification, Unix Fundamentals, Microsoft Windows Certification, and Comptia A+/Net+ classes on a contracted basis
- Responsible for content development and content selection for basic Linux administration
Systems Engineer – Distributed Systems Engineering
First Data Resources
Omaha, Nebraska
01.2008 - 01.2013
- Lead Linux engineer for First Data, working with the Linux System Administrators to develop the standards to be used
- Responsible for several high priority cross-platform projects to meet PCI audits and requirements including File Integrity Monitoring using OSSEC, Secure FTP (sftp/ftps), and Unix Active Directory integration
- Responsible for designing and setting up the Linux Patch deployment model and maintaining the Linux Golden Image – including Novell SUSE, Red Hat RHEL and CentOS
- Responsible for several Proof-of-Concepts including Splunk4Ossec and Quest Privilege Manager
- Manage vendor relationships responsible for Linux distributions
Systems Engineer
First Data Resources
Omaha, Nebraska
01.2006 - 01.2008
- Continue to be lead engineer for Digital-ROM Services, while helping shape Corporate Linux projects and development
- Conducted consolidated Linux patch management trials
- Responsible for testing virtualization platforms including VMware, XEN, zLinux
- Key Linux architect for the zLinux trials
- Primary Linux architect on Linux cluster methodologies
LAN/Systems Engineer
First Data Resources
Omaha, Nebraska
01.2002 - 01.2006
- Lead architect in designing and maintaining SAN infrastructure including fiber channel switches (Cisco, Brocade, Sandial) and storage arrays
- Lead systems engineer for Digital-ROM Services department in setup and maintain of all OS infrastructures including Unix (Linux, AIX, and Solaris), and Microsoft Windows
- Design and configure SuSE Linux and Microsoft clusters using Polyserve MatrixServer
- Responsible for development and production application configuration
- Design operational data work-flow procedures
- Lead architect in designing and maintaining SAN infrastructure including fiber channel switches and storage arrays
- Responsible for the $1.2 million IT budget for the Digital-ROM Services department
- Maintain all previous responsibilities as Sr
- LAN Administrator
LAN Administrator I Through Sr. LAN Administrator
First Data Resources
Omaha, Nebraska
01.1997 - 01.2002
- Design and configure multi-NOS network with AIX, Linux, and Microsoft Windows, for more than 400 connections
- Design, configure, and administer Switched-based, Fast-Ethernet with Gig-Ethernet backbone Intranet
- Setup and maintain internet and intranet domain controllers, DNS, DHCP, mail and web servers, and firewalls
- Act in lead capacity for LAN Administrators, set daily work priorities for LAN Administrators
- Serve as technical interface for business, planning, system and software needs
- Specify, install and configure file servers, desktop hardware and software, and network equipment
- Coordinate, track and report system performance, production and expenses activity
- Monitor network operations, identify, and repair network failures
- Isolate and diagnose hardware failures on distributed systems, desktop and file servers
- Manage file server, database servers, desktop, and internet and intranet network security
- Forecast computer/network hardware and software needs
- Plan and maintain budget for computer/network needs
- Responsible for all computer/network ordering and inventory control
- Administer LAN Administrator I and II on-the-job training plans
Instructor
Knowledge Alliance
Omaha, Nebraska
01.1998 - 01.2000
- Teach Comptia A+ and Net+ certification classes on a contracted basis
Computer Systems Analyst
Raytheon E-Systems Inc.
Offutt AFB, Nebraska
01.1989 - 01.1997
- Support, maintain and install system software and hardware for a Ground Data Processing System
- Familiar with various operating systems including: HP RTE-A, HP-Unix, SUN OS, SGI Unix, Windows NT/95 and DOS
- Administer various TCP/IP networks across a variety of system architectures
- Maintained Top Secret security clearance
Education
Bachelor of Science - Electronic Management
Southern Illinois University
Master of Science - Management Information Systems (MIS)
Bellevue University
Skills
- Linux Architect
- KVM Virtualization
- Kubernetes
- Splunk
- SaltStack Automation
- Samba
- VMware
- Public Speaking
Certification
SUSE: SLES 15 SCA
SUSE: SUSE Manager SCA
SUSE: Certified Deployment Specialist in Rancher Manager
SUSE: SCA Rancher Manager for Rancher Prime
Fun Facts
Deployed RaspberryPi lab in remote college in Ethiopia
Military Service
- Air National Guard, 01/01/84, 12/31/92, Avionics Integrated Systems Specialist on F-16 fighter aircraft.
- U.S. Air Force, 01/01/81, 12/31/84, Field Maintenance Specialist on C-141 and C-5 aircraft.
Previous Certs
SaltStack Certified Engineer, SSCE
Splunk Certified: Knowledge Manager, Admin
Red Hat Certified: Instructor/Examiner, Engineer
SNIA (Storage Networking Industry Association) Certified Professional (SCP)
Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, Microsoft Certified Professional
CompTia A+
Timeline
Solution Architech, Central US Region
SUSE
01.2018 - Current
Lead Systems Analyst – Linux
Tyson Foods
01.2015 - 01.2018
Security Engineer – Information Security
First Data Resources
01.2013 - 01.2015
Systems Engineer – Distributed Systems Engineering
First Data Resources
01.2008 - 01.2013
Systems Engineer
First Data Resources
01.2006 - 01.2008
LAN/Systems Engineer
First Data Resources
01.2002 - 01.2006
Instructor
One Staff
01.2001 - 01.2015
Instructor
Knowledge Alliance
01.1998 - 01.2000
LAN Administrator I Through Sr. LAN Administrator
First Data Resources
01.1997 - 01.2002
Computer Systems Analyst
Raytheon E-Systems Inc.
01.1989 - 01.1997
Bachelor of Science - Electronic Management
Southern Illinois University
Master of Science - Management Information Systems (MIS)
Bellevue University
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