RONALD FORD
Cybersecurity
Madison, United,AL
Summary
Experienced Public Sector Technical / Program Manager skilled in managing functional operations and projects related to security and networking. Advanced understanding of organizational strategies, financial management, procurement, and contracting. Attentive to detail with experience in coordinating large budgets, projects, and programs. Skilled in mentoring, training, and contributing to the professional development of staff members. Proficient in managing budgets and reporting status to stakeholders. Computer security professional with twenty years of progressive experience in security and networking industry. Demonstrated skill identifying business risks and compliance issues and designing proactive solutions. Background designing and implementing layered network security approaches.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
NASA Program Manager Software
National Aeronautics And Space Administration
Huntsville , AL
2019.01 - Current
- NASA Zero Trust and Software Defined Networking Program Manager Subject Mater Expert
- Responsible for communicating and defining security requirements between Department of Homeland Security and NASA
- Extensive knowledge of IT security systems, network systems, network and data security, telecommunications and all associated hardware, software and associated protocols
- Established measures, metrics, thresholds and targets to drive performance in alignment with NASA security and other business strategies
- Researched, reviewed and recommended equipment, materials and supplies to prepare and maintain security expenses within approved budget
- Developed and grew staff competencies through team development, implementation and support of specific training for various responsibilities
- Directed security and engineering functions to align key processes with goals and objectives of NASA organization and regulatory compliance
- Recommend improvements in security systems and procedures
- Conducted security audits to identify vulnerabilities
- Performed risk analyses to identify appropriate security countermeasures
- Reviewed violations of computer security procedures and developed mitigation plans.
Information Systems Security Officer
City Of Huntsville
Huntsville , AL
2018.01 - 2019.03
- Compliance PCI DSS
- Recommend improvements in security systems and procedures
- Reviewed violations of computer security procedures and developed mitigation plans
- Engineered, maintained and repaired security violation at the City of Huntsville
- Developed plans to safeguard computer files against modification, destruction or disclosure
- Conducted security audits to identify vulnerabilities
- Encrypted data and erected firewalls to protect confidential information
- Performed risk analyses to identify appropriate security countermeasures
- Researched and developed new computer forensic tools
- Managed City of Huntsville's Cybersecurity training and professional growth of employees numbering four thousand individuals.
Cyber Security Instructor
Huntsville City Schools
Huntsville , AL
2015.07 - 2018.01
- Interviewed, hired, trained, and mentored Cyber teaching staff by coaching daily, leading performance reviews and offering constructive feedback
- Design, implementation, testing and deployed Cybersecurity curriculum for the school district
- Oversaw development and implementation of improvements to support Cyber department operations
- Coordinated with administration teams to plan, develop, align and execute strategies that would meet parent, students, and administration's vision, mission and purpose
- Analyzed network security and current infrastructure to assess areas in need of improvement and develop solutions
- Developed maintained courteous and effective working relationships with parents and students while recruiting top students to the Cyber program.
Public Sector Senior Manager
Cisco Systems Inc
Nashville , TN
2006.06 - 2014.10
- Direct report to Senior VP Systems Engineering Global Sales
- Collaborated with upper management to implement continuous improvements and exceed team goals
- Continually evaluated marketplace trends and oversaw gathering of competitive intelligence within markets and across service lines
- Created strategic service road-maps for new initiatives
- Supported business development efforts and coordinated with marketing team on special campaigns
- Drove company branding efforts to increase market presence and brand recognition
- Developed overall marketing strategy and support implementation across Cisco Americas
- Built relationships with customers and community to establish long-term business growth
- Exceeded sales quotas and increased profitability through effective sales strategy and business planning
- Drove sales by developing multi-million dollar contract sales
- Increased regional market share 150% within 9 months
- Enhanced profitability by developing pipelines utilizing marketing and sales strategies
- Managed accounts to retain existing relationships and grow share of business
- Managed state, local, higher education, and governmental sector accounts (SLED).
Senior Manager
Science Applications International Corp
Huntsville , AL
2004.03 - 2006.06
- Oversaw reporting functions to NASA executive leadership
- Supervised and managed NASA communication to achieve secure transmission, data accuracy, and service-level agreement (SLA)
- Collaborated with vendors, suppliers and major telecom carriers to deliver services around the world
- Managed team of 100 network engineers and budget of $50 million, overseeing multi-regional NASA sites
- Supervised and managed a $30 million yearly video and conference budget
- Determined priorities and set policies for Network Engineering and Security
- Evaluated hiring, firing and promotions requests.
Senior Manager Architecture & Engineer
Computer Science Corporation (CSC)
Huntsville , AL
2001.12 - 2003.03
- Optimized schedules to identify critical paths, major risks and deploy strategies.
- Fostered teamwork and strove to maintain environment of collaboration, openness, trust and performance.
- Achieved defined cost, schedule and performance requirements of project.
- Elevated sense of priority, urgency, and problem solving to respect key deliverables.
- Integrated architectural and engineering drawings to create cohesive packages.
- Recruited, placed and oversaw project staff for optimal project results.
- Evaluated existing procedures and made proactive adjustments to meet changing demands.
- Led projects and analyzed data to identify opportunities for improvement.
- Established project goals to carry out directives of top management.
- Presented project information and status updates to customers and fielded concerns.
Education
Master of Science - Leadership And Organizational Effectiveness
The University of Troy
03.2011
Bachelor of Science - Management of Information Systems
The University of Alabama
Huntsville, AL01.1993
Skills
- Project Management
- Policy and procedure improvements
- Team leadership and direction
- Program Leadership
- Security vulnerability assessment
- Risk mitigation strategies
- Security regulations compliance
- Data security
- Implementing security programs
- Designing security controls
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Program Development and Management
Certification
CISSP - Certified Information Systems Security Professional
CEH - Certified Ethical Hacker
CompTIA Security+
CompTIA Network+
Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer
CISM - Certified Information Security Manager Pending
Additional Information
- Risk Management Framework
- Zero Trust Architecture
- Software-Defined Networking / Software-Defined WAN
- Agile Framework
- Scrum Methodology
- DevSecOps Training
- Cisco Leadership Program Graduate
- Palo Alto Firewall Training
- Cisco Systems Training CCNA, CCDA, CCNP, CCDP, CCIE Written, CCIE Training
- Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
- Secret Security Clearance Granted 2019
Timeline
NASA Program Manager Software
National Aeronautics And Space Administration
2019.01 - Current
Information Systems Security Officer
City Of Huntsville
2018.01 - 2019.03
Cyber Security Instructor
Huntsville City Schools
2015.07 - 2018.01
Public Sector Senior Manager
Cisco Systems Inc
2006.06 - 2014.10
Senior Manager
Science Applications International Corp
2004.03 - 2006.06
Senior Manager Architecture & Engineer
Computer Science Corporation (CSC)
2001.12 - 2003.03
Master of Science - Leadership And Organizational Effectiveness
The University of Troy
Bachelor of Science - Management of Information Systems
The University of Alabama
CISSP - Certified Information Systems Security Professional
CEH - Certified Ethical Hacker
CompTIA Security+
CompTIA Network+
Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer
CISM - Certified Information Security Manager Pending
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