Thomas Gardner
Cyber Security/Systems Engineer
Blythewood,SC
Summary
Proud military veteran who has honorably served with active combat hours in the Iraq War and many associated peacekeeping missions. After serving 12 years on active duty, I worked another 17 years within the military space as a Systems Engineer for United States Central Forces. Experienced leader with a strong background in guiding teams, managing complex projects, and achieving strategic objectives. Excels in developing efficient processes, ensuring high standards, and aligning efforts with organizational goals. Known for a collaborative approach and commitment to excellence. Deployed to many countries, deploying IT Solutions while providing hands-on training to military and civilian personnel local to the region. Tech-savvy innovator with hands-on experience in emerging technologies and a passion for continuous improvement. Skilled in identifying opportunities for technological enhancements and implementing effective solutions. Adept at leveraging new tools and methods to solve problems and enhance productivity. Excels in adapting to fast-paced environments and driving technological advancements.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Systems Design Engineer, Enterprise Messaging Section
CACI
Shaw AFB, SC
03.2016 - 03.2023
- Company Overview: USAFCENT
- Lead Engineer for the Black Berry Unified Messaging platform that provides secure mobile communications throughout the Theatre of Operations that spans Southwest Asia.
- Provides Technical advice to military leadership relating to Enterprise IT Systems, which spans classified and unclassified networks across the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations (AOR)
- Serves as a SME for all technologies relating to Enterprise Messaging - provides engineering, administration, network design support for Microsoft Messaging Technologies to include Exchange 2013, Microsoft Lync 2013, Symantec Mail Gateways appliances, and Kemp Load balancers
- Deploys to all locations across the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations (AOR) according to mission requirements
- Trains military members on deployed IT Solutions - writes technical documents such as Engineering Plans and Tactics Techniques and Procedures (TTP) to ensure implementation standards across the AOR
- USAFCENT
Senior Information Systems Instructional Subject Matter Expert (SME)
L-3 Stratis
Shaw AFB, SC
12.2013 - 03.2016
- Company Overview: USAFCENT
- Responsible for creating and maintaining a full-scale mockup of a Training Lab that mimics the AFCENT Production Network, to include routing-switching, Active Directory Services, Virtualization, and Storage Networks.
- Administers internal certification program for all AFCENT users that covers AD Services, Routing-Switching Infrastructure, and Firewall Administration
- Administers the internal certification testing program for all newly assigned AFCENT members - completion is mandatory for elevated privileges
- Servers and POC for all matters related to the monitoring and administration of civilian certifications to include Microsoft and Cisco Certifications
- Responsible for developing courseware for all new technologies entering the AFCENT Datacenter.
- Deploys to all locations across the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations (AOR) according to mission requirements
- Manages and coordinates all functions of the licensed testing center for Pearson Vue - allows local AFCENT members to test locally for vendor exams
- Servers and the POC for all AFCENT Agencies regarding the procurement of external classes relating to their specific area of expertise
- Creates internal CBTs for current and new technologies deployed within the AFCENT Datacenter for dissemination via SharePoint to end-users
- Class size averaged 10 to 15 students and consisted of both military and civilian personnel
Systems Design Engineer, Storage Section Lead
L-3 Stratis
Shaw AFB, SC
12.2007 - 12.2013
- Company Overview: USAFCENT
- Provides Technical advice to military leadership relating to Enterprise IT Systems, which spans classified and unclassified networks across the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations (AOR).
- Serves as the Technical Lead of the Storage Section, which is responsible for engineering and maintaining SAN Storage Systems, as well as dependent technologies such as VMware, Microsoft SQL, Microsoft SharePoint, Symantec Netbackup, Cisco Nexus and Brocade Fiber Switch Solutions.
- Designs and maintains Disaster Recovery strategies for the USAFCENT Enterprise via Symantec Netbackup and various tools such as Quest Recovery Manger for Active Directory and Quest Recovery Manger for Exchange - ensures operation of backup strategies according to AFCENT policy.
- Designs and maintains secondary Offsite SAN Suites, which serve as a coupe site for AFCENT locations within the AOR.
- Deploys to sites within the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations to install previously engineered solutions according to AFCENT Standards and report daily status to local and AFCENT military leadership.
- Trains military members on deployed IT Solutions - writes technical documents such as Engineering Plans and Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTP) to ensure implementation standards across the AOR.
- USAFCENT
Subject Matter Expert (SME), Enterprise Network Administrator
L-3 Communications
Shaw AFB, SC
08.2004 - 12.2007
- Company Overview: USCENTAF
- Provides Technical Advice to military leadership relating to the maintaining of the CENTAF Enterprise, which spans over 15 fully functional bases within the Middle East.
- Serves as DNS Administrator for the CENTAF Enterprise
- Closely works with DISA to solve high level outages that affect the availability of critical network services within the CENTAF Enterprise.
- Provides training and continuity to all members assigned to CENTAF NOSC Operations.
- Determines priority to all incoming Remedy tickets and performs Quality Control on all tasks involving network configuration changes made by assigned technicians.
- Configured, debugged, and Deployed Enterprise PKI Hardware/Software within the CENTAF Enterprise, which allows for remote management of the PKI Solutions.
- Responsible for creating work schedules for assigned contractors
- Manages both classified and unclassified networks for the CENTAF Enterprise
- USCENTAF
Enterprise Network Help Desk Administrator (CENTAF NOSC)
L-3 Communications
Shaw AFB, SC
12.2004 - 08.2005
- Company Overview: USCENTAF
- Responsible for making configuration changes on Sidewinder Firewalls as dictated by customer requests made via the Remedy Ticket System
- Maintains all core networking devices within the CENTAF Domain to include External Cisco Routers/Switches, Sidewinder Firewalls, External DNS servers (UNIX), and Solaris Mail Gateways.
- Maintains inter-networking devices for over 15 fully functional bases to include Windows 2003 Domain Controllers, Exchange 2003 servers, Symantec Internal Mail Gateways, OCSP Servers, and Symantec Anti-Virus servers
- Provides technical Expertise to local administrators at site-level regarding technical challenges that are beyond their level of proficiency/administrative rights.
- Manages both classified and unclassified networks for the CENTAF Enterprise
- Promoted to Subject Matter Expert (SME) 08/05
- USCENTAF
Enterprise Help Desk Technician
Lockheed Martin
Warner Robins, GA
06.2004 - 12.2004
- Company Overview: AFRC Warner Robins
- Performed Systems Help Desk duties within the Air Force Reserve Headquarters Domain (AFRC).
- Briefed AFRC Military Leadership concerning Network Status and trend analysis relating to enterprise systems configurations.
- Served as Black Berry Enterprise Administrator for AFRC (directly appointed by leadership)
- Left Lockheed Martin on excellent terms for an opportunity to work for L-3 Communications
- AFRC Warner Robins
Computer Networking Instructor
Middle Georgia Technical College
Warner Robins, GA
12.2002 - 12.2004
- Taught Computer Networking Principles with an emphasis on TCP/IP to enrolled students - classes averaged 20 to 25 students
- Taught Cisco 1 and Cisco 3 curriculum as outlined in the Cisco Networking Academy Curriculum
- Managed all functions associated with maintaining a classroom environment as directed by the policies of Middle Georgia Technical College and the State of Georgia
- Left Middle Georgia Technical College due to relocation to South Carolina
Pneudraulics Systems Technician (7 Level)
United States Air Force
Warner Robins, GA
01.1991 - 06.2004
- Served as a Non-Commissioned Officer on Active Duty - performed various Computer Security-related tasks as dictated by mission requirements.
- Awarded 2 Commendation Medals and 5 Achievement Medals for Top Performance.
- Awarded Honorable Discharge after fulfilling Active Duty Commitment.
- Submitted daily paperwork to record completed jobs and related information.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Professional Aeronautics
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Daytona Beach, FL10.2002
Associate of Science - Aircraft Systems Maintenance Technology
Community College of The Air Force
Robins Air Force Base03.2002
Computer Repair Certificate - Information Technology
Middle Georgia Technical Institute
Warner Robins, GA03.2001
Cisco Networking Academy Certificate - Information Technology
Middle Georgia Technical College
Warner Robins, GA03.2001
Skills
- Leadership: I have deployed around the world as a Project Lead relating to multi-million dollar IT projects I was responsible for all travel arrangements for my entire team, including airfare, hotel accommodations, car rentals, work scheduling, and daily status reporting to senior officials I have managed teams across multiple countries on the same project, each of which would reach out to me for support when needed
- Communications: Having spent over 25 years in the Federal Space, I have been tasked with briefing senior military officials regarding mission-critical assets and their status in both written and verbal formats Many of the projects that I was involved with took several months to a few years to plan
- Technical: I have a strong understanding of the Microsoft Active Directory Domain and how related technologies interact with it I was tasked with IP planning, boundary control via firewall ACLS, AD registration, role-based authentication, storage planning, and upgrade path considerations
- Technologies: VMware, MS Server 2003/2013, Dell/EMC Storage Arrays, Nutanix Storage Arrays, Symantec Mail Gateways, KEMP load-balancer, Cisco Routing/switching, Black Berry UEM, MS Exchange 2003/2013, MS Project Server, MS SharePoint Farm, FCOE, native Fiber Channel, Pix firewalls
- Certifications: Microsoft MCP Server 2012 MSID 11272254
Microsoft MCSA Server 2012
Cisco CCNA ID CSCO12759906
ITIL Foundation Cert 9980076223485200
CompTIA Security Plus exp 3/05/2018
DoD 8570 compliant
Timeline
Systems Design Engineer, Enterprise Messaging Section
CACI
03.2016 - 03.2023
Senior Information Systems Instructional Subject Matter Expert (SME)
L-3 Stratis
12.2013 - 03.2016
Systems Design Engineer, Storage Section Lead
L-3 Stratis
12.2007 - 12.2013
Enterprise Network Help Desk Administrator (CENTAF NOSC)
L-3 Communications
12.2004 - 08.2005
Subject Matter Expert (SME), Enterprise Network Administrator
L-3 Communications
08.2004 - 12.2007
Enterprise Help Desk Technician
Lockheed Martin
06.2004 - 12.2004
Computer Networking Instructor
Middle Georgia Technical College
12.2002 - 12.2004
Pneudraulics Systems Technician (7 Level)
United States Air Force
01.1991 - 06.2004
Bachelor of Science - Professional Aeronautics
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Associate of Science - Aircraft Systems Maintenance Technology
Community College of The Air Force
Computer Repair Certificate - Information Technology
Middle Georgia Technical Institute
Cisco Networking Academy Certificate - Information Technology
Middle Georgia Technical College
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