DevOps Engineer with 9+ years of experience supporting government contracts. I hold a B.S. in Information Technology and certifications such as CompTIA Security+, LPI Linux Essentials, and AWS Cloud Practitioner. Skilled in deploying, maintaining, and troubleshooting diverse systems ensuring a robust IT infrastructure. Currently specializing in Ansible and CI/CD pipelines to deliver secure, automated solutions that streamline workflows and improve team efficiency.
Personal Projects
This website! Developed and deployed a personal website jacehickman.com utilizing Amazon Web Services. The front and backend code that created this project can be found on GitHub here: Cloud Resume Project
This project was inspired by the Cloud Resume Challenge Check out my blog for a deep dive on this project!
Work Experience
DevOps Engineer
Insight Global - Colorado Springs, Colorado
November 2024 - Present
DevOps Engineer for the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) maintaining the information systems needed to achieve missile defense objectives for combatant commanders.
Implemented a scheduled CI/CD pipeline integrated with Ansible to automatically provision and update Windows VM pools.
Deployed Mattermost Enterprise on Kubernetes in an airgapped environment using Helm, integrating LDAP, and securing database credentials with secrets.
Systems Administrator II
April 2024 - November 2024
Developed an Ansible playbook to automate domain user creation, disabling, and deletion across a multi-domain enterprise, with Jira integration for task tracking, reducing manual efforts and ensuring consistency.
Designed a real-time NFS monitoring tool using GitLab CI/CD pipelines, automating storage tracking across multiple hosts and updating a website, providing end users with up-to-date visibility.
Enhanced existing Ansible playbooks by resolving bugs, improving functionality, and optimizing performance.
Resolve user issues daily related to a wide range of hardware, software, and connectivity issues, ensuring minimal disruption.
Executed Ansible playbooks for creating Linux and Windows VMs in Nutanix, contributing to streamlined VM buildouts.
Systems Administrator I
September 2023 - April 2024
Proactively manage RHEL servers to ensure the continuous availability of critical services and applications.
Ensure access to archived data, providing cross-functional teams with insights to develop innovative applications and intelligence to external agencies.
Utilize Confluence as a knowledge base, regularly updating system configuration, procedures, and best practices.
Diagnose and resolve system issues, ensuring minimal downtime and optimizing performance.
System Administrator
Ideal Innovations, Inc. - Clarksburg, West Virginia
April 2023 - September 2023
IT support for the US Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) Defense Forensic Science Center (DFSC) Biometrics Operations Directorate (BOD) ensuring 24/7 operations enabling users with near real time biometric information.
Implement Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs) to ensure DoD infrastructure compliance.
Remediate Tenable Nessus vulnerabilities ensuring a secure IT environment and maintaining compliance.
Configure and maintain a MECM server ensuring timely updates for clients and improving security.
Create and manage Group Policy Objects (GPOs) to enforce security settings and access controls.
Effectively manage Virtual Machine technologies (ESXi, VCenter, VSphere) to optimize resource utilization and ensure high availability.
Desktop Support
June 2022 - April 2023
Promptly resolve requests for assistance for Windows 10, Office 365, VPN, and hardware issues.
Deploy updates and applications to users through Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (MECM).
Manage and maintain Active Directory user accounts, groups, and computers for an organization that includes 400 workstations and 150 local end users.
Execute PowerShell scripts to automate routine troubleshooting fixes and apply updates as necessary.
Program Analyst
6K Systems, Inc. - Clarksburg, West Virginia
December 2019 - June 2022
Examiner for the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Operations Unit (NOU). Performed accurate research and analysis to determine a persons eligibility to possess firearms per state and federal law.
Outperform production standards at 2.25 transactions per hour, expectations are 1.5 per hour.
Manage significant caseloads, totaling between 75-100 active cases.
Review incident reports and court documentation and evaluate if contents would prohibit firearms possession.
Radio Engineer
United States Air Force - Joint Base Andrews, MD / Yokota Air Base, Japan
August 2015 - August 2019
Install and maintain a variety of communications equipment to support base command and control (C2). HFGCS radio engineer supporting military operations of 13 global stations.
Led 10 airmen in installing 29 vehicle radios which generated mobile C2 for Yokota aircraft refueling unit.
Awarded Cyber Airman of the Month for leading 2 team members and installing 4 LMR packages supporting C3 for 23,000 aircraft missions.
Assited execution of a $2.4 million LMR technical refresh by upgrading 2,500 radios and eliminating 1,000 obsolete devices which boosted radio coverage by 30%.
Performed preventative maintenance and troubleshooting for 42 HF radios and supporting equipment providing 24/7 nuclear communication, command, and control (C3) for WHCA, US Navy 7th Fleet, and 31 DoD agencies.
Education and Certifications
Bachelor of Science - Information Technology, Western Governors University
CompTIA Security+ ce, Network+ ce, A+ ce, and Project+