Rocky Long
Sioux Falls,SD
Summary
Accomplished IT Systems Engineer and Manager with 25+ years of experience leading infrastructure, systems, and enterprise technology initiatives. Recognized for combining technical expertise with strategic leadership to deliver secure, scalable, and reliable solutions. Skilled at driving process improvements, optimizing operations, and aligning technology with business objectives. Proven ability to lead high-performing teams, manage complex projects, and foster strong relationships across all organizational levels.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Technical Services Engineer IV
CentralSquare Technologies
07.2025 - Current
- Led end-to-end implementation of enterprise software solutions, overseeing infrastructure reviews, system design, and full lifecycle deployments to ensure client success.
- Directed installation, configuration, and hardening of operating systems, SQL Server, Active Directory, and clustered/database environments, aligning with performance, security, and compliance standards.
- Oversaw cloud and on-premises deployments, upgrades, and disaster recovery initiatives, driving system reliability, scalability, and business continuity.
- Directed operations of the 911 lab and warehouse stock, managing vendor relationships, budget planning, and inventory controls to ensure resource readiness and cost efficiency.
- Mentored junior engineers and contributed to development of professional services tools, improving team efficiency and client results.
- Built and maintained strong client relationships while managing complex projects independently with minimal supervision.
IT Project Manager
Sanford Health
10.2024 - Current
- Facilitated communication among team members to solve complex technical challenges efficiently and effectively.
- Delivered reliable solutions by overseeing design, development, testing, implementation, and support phases of IT projects.
- Managed cross-functional teams to ensure efficient allocation of resources and successful project completion.
- Developed project management roadmap to define project objectives, timelines and milestones.
- Led technical upgrade projects for clients by working and coordinating with consultants and developers for integrations.
- Built and maintained strong relationships with stakeholders, resulting in increased trust and collaboration on future projects.
IT Manager
Risk Administration Services, INC (RAS)
04.2018 - 10.2024
- Led a team of IT professionals through hiring, training, and performance management, resolving team issues and driving measurable improvements in efficiency and service delivery.
- Managed enterprise infrastructure spanning servers, data centers, cloud platforms, hardware, software, and networks—ensuring high availability, minimal downtime, and seamless daily operations.
- Directed complex technical upgrade projects, coordinating with leadership and departments to plan integrations, set clear milestones, and deliver on roadmap objectives.
- Created and maintained standardized processes, documentation, and diagrams to enhance team productivity, improve cross-training, and support long-term operational consistency.
- Developed and managed annual IT budgets, established business continuity and disaster recovery plans, and collaborated across IT units to align systems and strategy organization-wide.
IT Manager
Zuercher Technologies/TriTech Systems
01.2014 - 04.2018
- Led a team in administering and supporting complex IT infrastructure, ensuring efficient operations and timely resolution of technical issues.
- Managed vendor relationships and negotiated service agreements to drive cost-effective, high-quality service delivery.
- Oversaw network and systems administration, including Active Directory and security controls, to support organizational stability and scalability.
- Directed hardware lifecycle and software license management, aligning procurement and compliance with business objectives.
- Developed and maintained IT budgets for infrastructure and software, ensuring strategic allocation of resources.
- Served as the primary point of contact for internal stakeholders, communicating project timelines, scope, and support needs while providing after-hours coverage when necessary.
Sr. IT Systems Engineer - Linux
Raven Industries
01.2012 - 01.2014
- Administered and optimized Linux-based systems, implementing fault-tolerant configurations and performance tuning to maximize availability and reliability.
- Directed concurrent IT projects—including infrastructure and software upgrades—while providing clear progress tracking and executive reporting through JIRA and MS Project.
- Designed and maintained backup and disaster recovery strategies that safeguarded system, database, and configuration integrity.
- Monitored performance metrics and enforced compliance with data retention, privacy, and access policies to ensure scalable, secure operations.
Education
Computer Information Systems
Nettleton Career College
Sioux Falls, SD01.1999
H.S. Diploma - undefined
Dell Rapids Public High School
Dell Rapids, SD01.1995
Skills
- IT Strategy & Roadmap Development
- Budgeting & Cost Optimization
- Vendor & Contract Management
- IT Procurement
- Stakeholder Management
- Team Development & Mentoring
- Project Scheduling & Delivery
- Change Management
- Cloud & Hosted Infrastructure
- 0365 Administration
- DevOps Principles
- Cybersecurity & Data Governance
- Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery
- Root Cause Analysis
- Data Analytics & Reporting
- Process Improvement & Automation
Certification
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, 2022-12
Training
- AIX Virtualized I/O, NIM Installation, Evolving Solutions, Sioux Falls, SD, 2007-04
- MySQL Connect Conference, MySQL, San Francisco, CA, 2012-09, 2013-09
- Amazon AWS re:Invent Conference, Amazon Web Services, Las Vegas, NV, 2013-10, 2017-11, 2021-11
- CrowdStrike Fal.con Conference, CrowdStrike, Las Vegas NV, 2023-09
Accomplishments
- PIELIT Award, RAS, Sioux Falls SD
- Dimensions in Action, Raven Industries, Sioux Falls, SD
- STAR Award, SGT, Sioux Falls, SD
- Excellence Award, Precision Computer Systems, Sioux Falls, SD
- NASA Outstanding Teamwork Award, Landsat-7 DAAC Emergency System Team, Sioux Falls, SD
- NASA Outstanding Teamwork Award, Landsat-7 Government Industry Team, Sioux Falls, SD
Additional Information
Public Speaking Experience
- Presented at industry conferences on cloud migration strategy, offering practical insights on risk mitigation, timeline management, and stakeholder coordination.
- Recognized for delivering clear, engaging content and simplifying complex technical concepts for diverse audiences.
Timeline
Technical Services Engineer IV
CentralSquare Technologies
07.2025 - Current
IT Project Manager
Sanford Health
10.2024 - Current
IT Manager
Risk Administration Services, INC (RAS)
04.2018 - 10.2024
IT Manager
Zuercher Technologies/TriTech Systems
01.2014 - 04.2018
Sr. IT Systems Engineer - Linux
Raven Industries
01.2012 - 01.2014
H.S. Diploma - undefined
Dell Rapids Public High School
Computer Information Systems
Nettleton Career College
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