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Bio

IT Systems Operations and Management Professional

Striving to synergize Information Technology with business requirements

 

Paul is a successful organizational and technical team leader, proven through years of supporting server systems, data center operations, and teams of technical experts in complex and harsh environments.

 

Paul began his IT career as a Cryptologist for the Navy Information Operations Command (Formerly NAVSECGRU) in San Diego, where his technical skills and natural leadership abilities were quickly sought to manage server systems, and mentor junior systems administrators in a Top Secret Lan/Wan environment. Following his military service, he then became a critical member of the Systems Operations team that administered Network and Server systems of the United States Antarctic Program. During that time, Paul was instrumental in the redesign of the Antarctic Program's Email and Active Directory infrastructure, as well as streamlining the organization's disaster recovery strategy. In 2004, Paul achieved his Masters of Business Administration degree, with a focus on Technology Management, and was promoted to Senior Systems Administrator. Over the next couple of years Paul increasingly assumed the responsibilities of the IT Systems Operations Manager, a position to which he was seamlessly promoted to in 2007. As a successfully IT Manager, responsible for worldwide data center operations of the US Antarctic Program, he supervised a widespread group of 15 technical experts whom supported Server systems in the harshest conditions on the planet.

 

Paul accepted the role of Senior Systems Administrator in the Global Systems Operations group at CaridianBCT in order to keep his technical and leadership skills sharp. In that role, he was instrumental in the deployment of a new DMZ, as well as a new, highly secure web presence and was a key resource in planning and implementation of several high profile project initiatives.

 

In Paul's current role as an IT Manager at CaridianBCT, he leads several highly skilled teams of systems, storage, SAP Basis, and database administrators providing operational and project support to CaridianBCT's global IT infrastructure.

 

In his spare time, Paul writes articles on Technology, Computers and the Internet for QuantumofGeek.com.

Work History

CaridianBCT

Lakewood, CO, United States
2010 - Present
Manager of Global Systems, Database and Storage Administration 

Lead a diverse group of Systems, Storage and Database Administrators supporting the global IT infrastructure for CaridianBCT, a major medical device manufacturer based in Colorado. Responsible for the day-to-day operations support , as well as strategic and tactical planning for 400+ node Windows, Unix and Linux server systems, Oracle and SQL Databases, Netapp SAN & NAS storage, and SAP Basis administration. 

 

2008 - 2010
Senior Systems Administrator 

Responsible for the implementation and migration of new server systems and enterprise applications into the CaridianBCT IT infrastructure. Provided advanced troubleshooting, mentoring, and technical leadership in a systems operations and maintenance role. 

 

  • Technical liaison,  and subject matter expert to multiple simultaneous projects, and new systems implementations, such as SAP BPC, Netapp Snap Manager, MS Office Sharepoint Farms and new DMZ infrastructure.

 

  • Responsible for maintenance and operations of 300+ Windows 2000/2003/2008, UNIX and Linux server systems hosted on Dell hardware and VMware virtual platforms.

 

  • Redesigned core infrastructure systems in support of business entity separation, such as Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, Mail routing and WINS.

 

  • Accountable for enterprise back office services, such as Active Directory, Exchange Messaging, SQL Server Administration, and Blackberry Enterprise services.

 

  • Worked closely with Network Engineering and Enterprise Architecture to develop and deploy a secure outwardly facing network and systems infrastructure including a new public web presence.

 

  • Reviewed, interviewed and mentored new systems administrators.

 

  • Initiated a project to address problems with unsolicited commercial email or junk mail which reduced SPAM by over 90%.

 

  • Led an initiative to migrate dozens of SQL based applications to a new high availability SQL cluster.

Raytheon

Centennial, CO, United States
2007 - 2008
Manager, IT Systems Operations - US Antarctic Program 

Managed and provided hands-on technical leadership to a global team of 15 systems administrators and technical experts supporting server operations throughout the United States Antarctic program.  

 

  • Estimated, planned, budgeted, purchased and managed the implementation of all server system life-cycle replacements and ongoing maintenance of server operations.

 

  • Successfully supervised the implementation, maintenance, and further refinement of NIST security standards with minimal down time, thereby ensuring high availability coupled with intense security standards.

 

  • Responsible for service level agreements related to the maintenance and support of 200+ Windows 2000/2003, UNIX/Linux server systems, and enterprise applications in data centers on multiple continents.

 

  • Directed the administration of enterprise application services such as Active Directory, Email, Instant Messaging, Web, Storage, File transfer and related technologies. 

 

  • Active and voting representative of server systems, and data center operations for enterprise change management board.

 

  • Effectively hired, trained and retained the highest caliber of technical experts for deployment to US Antarctic research stations.
2004 - 2007
Senior Systems Administrator - US Antarctic Program 

Provided technical leadership and mentoring to systems administrators of the United States Antarctic program while collaborating with Application Developers, Network Engineers and Satellite Technicians on numerous successful projects. Managed a globally distributed team of systems administrators as acting systems operations manager.

 

 

  • Designed and implemented the USAP Active Directory and Group Policy infrastructure, and developed AD architectural standards in the process.

 

  • Built the first highly available server clusters in the USAP program which dramatically increased system uptime and became the standard for all highly available systems such as SQL, Email and File services.

 

  • Plannned, budgeted, purchased and managed the implementation of all server system lifecycle replacements.

 

  • Developed and authored IT standards, technical manuals and systems administrator guides used at all United States Antarctic Program sites.

 

  • Responsible for the security of information residing on USAP server systems and successfully hardened those systems to National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) security standards.
2002 - 2004
Systems Administrator - US Antarctic Program 

Responsible for the day to day operations of server systems and back office applications at RPSC Denver Headquarters and provided technical assistance and troubleshooting to remote IT staff and systems.

 

  • Streamlined disaster recovery services, managed storage, quota management, backups, offsite storage, retrieval and restoration of agency data.

 

  • Provided day to day security and management of server systems, applications and file storage systems including Active  Directory, Group Policy and Exchange email.

 

  • Developed, implemented and documented numerous application and operating system new deployments, upgrades and migrations.
2000 - 2002
Network Administrator - US Antarctic Program 

Responsible for the configuration, administration and documentation of Windows NT, Windows NT Terminal Servers, Windows 2000 and Citrix Metaframe systems of both the United States Antarctic Program and Raytheon Technical Services Company.

 

  • Provided day to day administration of Windows NT and Active Directory systems.

 

  • Supported Cisco Voice Over IP (VOIP) systems in Denver and the South Pole.

 

  • Automated common tasks via scripting, such as account management and logon processes.

Navy Information Operations Command - San Diego (Formerly NAVSECGRU)

San Diego, CA, United States
1998 - 2000
Systems Administrator and Cryptologist 

Managed and administered a Top Secret Windows NT 4.0 fiber-optic LAN/WAN encompassing two separate naval installations.

 

  • Coordinated, supervised and directed Naval Security Group’s unclassified LAN/WAN administration.
  • Trained and supervised a group of five system administrators.

 

  • Streamlined an automated help desk support system and conducted ongoing team training and mentoring.

 

  • Researched and implemented new computer technologies.

 

  • Developed command-wide network disaster recovery procedures.

 

  • Authored command-specific network administration reference guides and standards.

 

Skills

Organizational Management Skills

(Expert)
10+ Years Experience, (Currently in use)
Skillometer_4
  • Effective Planner: Regularly and consistently exceeds expectations, service level agreements and project constraints
  • Strong Leader: Experienced in building, training, and retaining highly effective technical teams by providing targeted situational leadership
  • Highly Organized: Capable of effective multitasking in fast paced, stressful environments

Management of Systems and Data Center Operations

(Expert)
10+ Years Experience, (Currently in use)
Skillometer_4
  • Server life-cycle and spares inventory planning
  • Network, power and physical capacity planning
  • Physical security and vulnerability remediation

Technical Skills

(Expert)
10+ Years Experience, (Currently in use)
Skillometer_4
  • Operating Systems: Windows Servers (NT, 2000, 2003, and 2008); Linux (Red Hat Linux Enterprise, CentOS)  
  • Enterprise and Infrastructure Applications:  Active Directory, Group Policy, Citrix Metaframe, Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft SQL, Internet Security and Acceleration Server, Threat Management Gateway, VMWare Infrastructure, Microsoft SharePoint 2003 & 2007, SAP BPC, Blackberry Enterprise, Idiom Worldserver
  • High Availability: Microsoft Clustering, Microsoft Load Balancing 
  • Server Hardware: Dell, HP, IBM, Compaq 
  • Other supported applications, services and protocols:  IIS, PKI, RADIUS, DNS, DHCP, TCP/IP, WINS, VPN, VOIP, SPAM and Virus/Malware Filtering, Disaster Recovery, PKI and Certificate Services, File and Print Services, KVM over IP

Education

University of Phoenix

Lone Tree, CO, United States
2002 - 2004
MBA, Technology Management

Colorado State University

Fort Collins, CO, United States
1990 - 1995
BS

Certifications

ITIL V3 Foundation

(ITIL)

R6σ Specialist

(Raytheon Six Sigma)

MCSE 2003

(Microsoft Corporation)

MCSE 2000

(Microsoft Corporation)

MCSE NT

(Microsoft Corporation)

MCSA

(Microsoft Corporation)

MCP

(Microsoft Corporation)

Additional Relevant Training

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux, RHCT (2009)
  • VMWARE Infrastructure 3 (2008)
  • Sharepoint 2007 (2008)
  • (ISC)² Certified Information Systems Security Professional, CISSP(2007)

Recommendations

 

Excerpts from recommendations and endorsements on Paul's LinkedIn profile


  • "Paul Beckford has several characteristics that set him apart from the typical IT professional. In addition to being very technically competent and capable, Paul's ability to lead others in a calm, focused manner helps to diffuse tensions and bring clarity to any situation." Former colleague Peter Lund

  • "I have grown to respect Paul greatly over the years and continue to retain that admiration for his ethics, professionalism, and diligence. It is those qualities and more that fueled my interest to work for him directly when the opportunity arose late last year." Former direct report Charles Watkins

  • “Paul excels at researching, testing, and implementing systems infrastructure solutions - no matter how complex the problem. He is efficient and organized. Tactically speaking, he is a customer-focused network designer who recognizes value in doing something right the first time, and communicating those intentions with pith." Former direct report Mitchell Bollig

  • The people working on his team respect Paul's opinion, and he is looked at as a leader. I respect Paul, both professionally and personally. His work ethic is outstanding, and he is always willing to go above and beyond to reach the objective. I heartily recommend Paul Beckford for consideration as an employee or a member of your team. You will not find a more honest, hard-working employee." Former, and current colleague Scott Holbrook

  • "I could always depend on Paul to complete any project or task assigned to him with the highest quality." Former, and current supervisor Jonathan Boemper

 

 

Security Clearance

Highest Clearance Held: Top Secret SCI