Fun Book Recommendations for People Who Don't Like to Read
Having fun isn't hard, When you've got a library card.
About Me
I use my expertise in network security, cyber defense policy, and incident management to help organizations build a stronger IT infrastructure.
I graduated with my MS in Cybersecurity from Old Dominion University in 2022 and have recently relocated to Nairobi. As an IT support specialist who has worked with the US Environmental Protection Agency, I am actively seeking new opportunities in the cybersecurity field. Outside of my IT work, I enjoy writing about technology and was previously a tech podcaster.
I like being light on my feet and adapting myself to prepare for the next big thing. You can see that philosophy in my website, which in its entirety is smaller than the first video game I played.
Blog
How to Reclaim your Fried Dopamine Reserves
If it were simple, I wouldn't have written a blog post about it.
I GOT MY SECURITY+ CERT!!
That's it. I just got my CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) certification and I'm proud of it. That's why I'm posting it here on my site :)
I moved to Kenya!!
No big article (yet), but the long story short is I quit my job at the EPA because my wife got a job in Nairobi. I'm currently looking for a job in cybersecurity :)
My ADHD & Cybersecurity Career
Here are my thoughts and opinions on how my ADHD interacts with my profession.
How I Got Banned from Instagram (and Why I'm Glad It Happened)
I know it sounds weird... But it turns out that if you're addicted to social media, the best thing to do is not use it.
Dungeons and Dragons and Data Breaches: Using Fantasy Games for Real Training
An interview I wrote for CoSN, delving into an unorthodox strategy that school IT departments are utilizing to sharpen their network security.
Hack Me If You Can: Teaming Up with Student Hackers
This is one of the interviews I have written for the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN).
Making the Case for Increased Investment in Cybersecurity
A primer for K12 School Districts just getting started with Cybersecurity.
[RESEARCH PAPER] Eavesdropping & Jamming: Security Problems For 5G Wireless Networks
A paper on security problems for 5G wireless networks.
[RESEARCH PAPER] Handling an Incident Response: Crucial Points & Phases
A paper on the crucial points and phases of handling an incident response.
[RESEARCH PAPER] Is Cyberspace at Risk of Being Militarized?
A paper on whether cyberspace is at risk of being militarized.
[RESEARCH PAPER] Common Challenges Faced Among Traditional Encryption Methods
A paper on the common challenges faced among traditional encryption methods.
First Post!
This is only the beginning. Good things to come soon.
Curriculum Vitae
Work Experience
End User Support Specialist
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | December 2022 - June 2024
- Conducted IT audits, identified weaknesses in controls, and supervised government contractors to ensure adherence to service level agreements (SLAs).
- Established relationships with subject matter experts and end users to understand their needs and requirements.
- Demonstrated technical capabilities and professional knowledge to manage Assistive Technology for disabled employees.
- Planned and implemented the Problem Management team which led to an increase in efficiency in ticket triaging.
- Communicated major system changes to over 17,000 federal employees, contractors, and interns successfully.
IT Support Specialist
National Association of Counties (NACo) | August 2022 - December 2022
- Resolved technical issues in a timely and efficient manner as part of the IT helpdesk.
- Created and managed Active Directory user accounts for on-prem and cloud servers in Azure.
- Utilized Microsoft Intune to deploy, install, and configure new hardware and software.
- Assisted in IT equipment inventory management.
Blaschke Fund Research Fellow
The Consortium of School Networking | May 2022 - August 2022
- Conducted a report on emerging IT staffing in school systems and presented findings to trustees and leadership.
- Specialized in reporting on cybersecurity, data privacy management, and differences between smaller and larger school districts.
- Developed blog posts highlighting select findings from the project, including interviews with CTOs, Directors of Technology, and former hackers.
Graduate Assistant (Cybersecurity)
Old Dominion University | August 2020 – May 2022
- Supported cybersecurity lab operations by configuring servers, managing IDS/IPS (Snort), and conducting vulnerability assessments.
- Delivered presentations and developed training materials on cybersecurity awareness, risk management, and data privacy.
- Authored technical documentation, lab guides, and incident response procedures to support curriculum and student learning.
Program Specialist
Department of the Navy | April 2017 - January 2021
- Developed tutorials for interns, recent hires and contractors that needed immediate training.
- Dedicated response to Administrative IT team within the Office of Civilian Human Resources (OCHR).
- Customized team pages, policy & guidance libraries, points of contact, and FAQs.
- Optimized Microsoft Sharepoint UI/UX experience for teams ranging in levels of seniority.
- Provided Metadata on HR policy and guidance to restructure backend.
Education & Certifications
CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701)
November 2024
Masters of Sciences (M.S.) in Cybersecurity
Old Dominion University | June 2022
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Marymount University | August 2015
Skills
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT)
- Microsoft Copilot
- Perplexity
Risk Management Framework
- NIST 800-53 Controls
- ITIL
- FedRAMP
- ISO 27001
Network Security
- Social Engineering
- Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
- Incident Response (IR) Planning
Business Applications
- ServiceNow
- Sharepoint & PowerBI
- Intune
- Linux Operating Systems
Cloud Technologies
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Microsoft Azure
- Google Cloud Services (GCS)
Programming Languages
- Java & Python
- Full Stack Web Development
Spoken Languages
- English (Native)
- Spanish (Intermediate)
- Arabic (Elementary)