About Me

Welcome to my portfolio. I am currently a Systems Administrator with nearly 7 years of experience in Information Technology. I hold an active CompTIA Security+ certification and have strong interests in help desk operations, systems administration, and cybersecurity.

My IT career began at a Managed Service Provider (MSP), where I worked as a computer technician setting up, configuring, and troubleshooting user workstations. During downtime, I took initiative by rebuilding and testing recycled equipment at the workbench to better understand how systems functioned. Because MSP environments frequently decommission hardware, I gained hands-on experience with servers, NAS devices, laptop restoration, Netgear switches, WatchGuard firewalls, and SonicWall appliances.

That extra effort caught the attention of senior engineers, who often stopped by to share knowledge and practical advice. Management also recognized my initiative and promoted me to a Junior Project Engineer role. In this position, I worked closely with senior engineers on server configurations and migrations, network implementations, office moves, and security solutions such as Duo MFA. I was able to apply what I learned on the bench directly to live production environments for client projects.

While working full time at the MSP, I also attended school full time and earned my Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity from Old Dominion University. Although I enjoy systems administration work, my primary interest lies in cybersecurity. The MSP environment significantly enhanced my academic experience and I was constantly applying real-world concepts at work to my coursework and vice versa.

Balancing full-time work and school was challenging. Many days involved long hours in front of a computer, but the experience taught me how to manage stress, stay disciplined, and persevere through demanding situations.

Outside of my career, I tend to keep to myself. I enjoy staying active through surfing, expressing creativity by playing guitar, and relaxing with video games such as Dark Souls and Elden Ring. While I may initially come across as reserved, I become more open and outgoing over time. One of my proudest achievements was receiving a Citizen’s Life-Saving Award from the City of Virginia Beach after rescuing a person caught in a dangerous ocean current.

As long as I can get back up, I will keep trying. And if I can’t, I will work toward getting back up