RONALD FORD
Security Technical Program, Manager
Madison, United,US
Summary
Computer security professional with over twenty years of progressive experience in management, security, and networking. Experienced Security Technical Program Manager skilled in managing functional operations and projects related to security and networking. Advanced understanding of security, networking, 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 people and budgets and reporting status to stakeholders. Background designing and implementing layered network security approaches. Organized Senior Technical Program Manager committed to resolving customer issues and offering analytical problem-solving and strong critical thinking skills.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
6
6
Certifications
Work History
Security Technical Program Manager
Amazon
06.2022 - Current
- The Top Amazon Security Technical Program Manager (TPM) measured by reviewing security engineering assignments and completions. My security review completion rate is 1.89 vs. the overall Security TPM completion rate of 1.2. Completed over 300 critical security review
- Security Technical Program Manager responsible for defining customers' requirements, delivering updates, and assigning appropriate security engineers.
- Responsible for software developer relationships and bridging the security and software developer gaps
- Responsible for setting customers' milestones and delivery dates and tracking security reviews to completion
- Provide mentoring and coaching of security engineers to deliver results.
- Verified completion of senior security engineer and audited reviews, provided input and suggested alterations to meet goals.
- Worked closely with other departments to better understand product features and develop appropriate training materials for security teams.
- Led multi-departmental roundtable to discuss optimizations to address departmental weaknesses.
- Interfaced between business channels and internal departments, aligning Amazon security requirements with the realities of sales, finance departments, and customer service.
- Performed risk management assessments on projects.
- Collaborated with team to define and explore business challenges, creating technical roadmaps based on findings.
- Interfaced with internal IT development teams to integrate new technologies, streamlining the use of existing systems to reduce operational timelines by 50%.
- Improved cross-functional communication by establishing regular meetings and facilitating clear documentation.
- Championed process improvements, introducing streamlined workflows that increased productivity across teams.
- Nurtured strong client relationships by maintaining open lines of communication throughout program lifecycle stages.
NASA Program Manager Software
National Aeronautics And Space Administration
12.2018 - 06.2022
- NASA Zero Trust and Software Defined Networking Program Manager Subject Mater Expert responsible for designing and implementing Zero Trust Network.
- NASA security lead responsible for communicating, defining, tracking, and deliverying security requirements between Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and NASA.
- Providing consulting knowledge of IT security systems, network systems, network and data security, and telecommunications, reducing NASA's overall procurement costs by 100 million dollars in software, network, and labor costs.
- Established metrics, thresholds, and targets to drive performance in alignment with NASA security, reducing overall cost by 30% while aligning with NASA business strategies
- Researched, reviewed, and recommended equipment, materials, and supplies to prepare and reduce security expenses within approved budget
- Developed and grew staff competencies through team development, implementation, and support of specific training for security teams.
- Directed security and engineering functions to align critical processes with key goals and objectives of NASA organization and regulatory compliance
- Conducted security audits to identify vulnerabilities
- Performed risk analyses to identify appropriate security countermeasures
- Reviewed violations of computer security procedures and developed mitigation plans.
- Managed cross-functional teams for successful project completion within deadlines and budgets.
- Managed multiple strategic projects with numerous sub-projects or workstreams.
- Collaborated with business leadership to set priorities based on business needs, resource capacity and risk exposure.
- Established strong relationships with key stakeholders, ensuring support for program initiatives.
- Developed and maintained logistics workflows, procedures and reports.
Information Systems Security Officer
City Of Huntsville
01.2018 - 03.2019
- Implemented Zero Trust network for City of Huntsville, reducing external exposure.
- Responsible for Compliance of PCI DSS, reducing PCI audits from three months to three weeks
- Recommend improvements in security systems and procedures that resulted in decrease in security violations by 50%.
- Engineered solutions, mediated vulnerabilities, and repaired security violations at the City of Huntsville.
- Developed and implemented 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 the City of Huntsville's Cybersecurity training and professional growth of four thousand employees.
- Designed secure networks by applying defense-in-depth principles that minimized attack surfaces while maintaining usability requirements for endusers.
- Developed comprehensive security policies, procedures, and training materials to strengthen organizational security posture.
- Evaluated emerging technologies and made recommendations for strategic investments in information security tools and resources.
- Optimized secure access controls by implementing multi-factor authentication solutions across all critical systems.
- Increased user awareness through targeted cybersecurity training programs tailored to employee roles.
Cyber Security Instructor
Huntsville City Schools
07.2015 - 01.2018
- 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.
- Promoted classroom safety, collaboration, and best practices.
- Promoted a positive learning environment by establishing clear expectations and maintaining consistent classroom management techniques.
- Evaluated and revised lesson plans and course content to achieve student-centered learning.
- Applied various teaching aids to minimize learning gaps and instruct and motivate students.
- Improved student performance by defining clear goals and communicating performance metrics.
- Optimized day-to-day instruction to align educational strategies with industry best practices.
Public Sector Senior Manager
Cisco Systems Inc
06.2006 - 10.2014
- 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).
- Established strong relationships with clients and stakeholders, ensuring long-term partnerships and repeat business.
- Implemented and developed operational standards, policies and procedures.
- Held monthly meetings to create business plans and workshops to drive successful business.
- Provided strong leadership to enhance team productivity and morale.
- Led cross-functional teams to achieve project milestones and deliver high-quality results.
- Consistently met or exceeded annual performance targets set by senior leadership.
- Reduced costs, optimized resource allocation, and improved efficiency in managing projects.
- Improved team performance by providing comprehensive training and fostering a collaborative work environment.
Senior Manager
Science Applications International Corp
03.2004 - 06.2006
- 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.
- Implemented and developed operational standards, policies and procedures.
Senior Manager Architecture & Engineer
Computer Science Corporation (CSC)
12.2001 - 03.2003
- 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
Troy, AL04.2011
Bachelor of Science - Management of Information Systems
The University of Alabama
Huntsville, AL01.1993
Skills
Project Management
Policy and Procedure Improvements
Team Leadership and Goal Setting
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
Agile Methodologies
Agile project management
Certification
CISSP - Certified Information Systems Security Professional
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
Security Technical Program Manager
Amazon
06.2022 - Current
NASA Program Manager Software
National Aeronautics And Space Administration
12.2018 - 06.2022
Information Systems Security Officer
City Of Huntsville
01.2018 - 03.2019
Cyber Security Instructor
Huntsville City Schools
07.2015 - 01.2018
Public Sector Senior Manager
Cisco Systems Inc
06.2006 - 10.2014
Senior Manager
Science Applications International Corp
03.2004 - 06.2006
Senior Manager Architecture & Engineer
Computer Science Corporation (CSC)
12.2001 - 03.2003
Master of Science - Leadership And Organizational Effectiveness
The University of Troy
Bachelor of Science - Management of Information Systems
The University of Alabama