I’ve always been drawn to the moments that matter — where preparation meets uncertainty and who you are actually shows up. Sometimes that means leading cybersecurity efforts that protect a hospital and the people who depend on it. Other times it’s descending beneath the surface with a new diver, stepping into the wilderness with a medical pack, or choosing the harder path simply because that’s where growth lives.
I believe in staying curious, learning constantly, and being ready when life asks something of you. Titles have never been the point. The mission has stayed the same: protect what matters, help people move forward safely, and never stop exploring what’s next.
Chief Information Security Officer | HIPAA Security Officer | Wilderness EMT | Scuba Instructor
Trusted with: Chief Information Security Officer · HIPAA Security Officer
SSI Scuba Instructor · Wilderness EMT
How I Learned to Carry Responsibility
I learned that early, and instead of finding it unsettling, I found it clarifying. Responsibility isn’t something to avoid — it’s something you prepare for.
That belief led me to become an EMT and later earn my Wilderness EMT certification. In remote environments, help isn’t minutes away. Training, judgment, and the ability to stay calm directly influence what happens next. There is no substitute for preparation.
Diving followed a similar path. What began as curiosity became commitment, and eventually I became an SSI Open Water Specialty Instructor. I’ve worked with new divers as they step beyond what they once believed possible. Watching that shift never loses its meaning.
I often tell my students something simple: there are people who talk about doing adventurous things, and there are people who do them. I’ve always tried to be the person who prepares, steps forward, and answers when responsibility calls.
No one is coming to save you.
What Drives Me
I’ve never been interested in drifting through life. I want to know I was useful — to the people around me, the organizations I served, and the moments that demanded steadiness.
Whether in a hospital, underwater, or miles from the nearest road, the principle is the same: prepare well, stay calm, and take responsibility when it’s your turn to carry the weight.
Work Experience
Cloud Architect
T-Mobile / 2018 - 2023
At T-Mobile, I led cloud transformation efforts that reshaped how infrastructure was designed, deployed, and secured. My focus was building out AWS strategies that made our systems more scalable, reliable, and secure—while also keeping an eye on cost and performance.
Beyond the architecture itself, I built training programs, mentored engineers, and helped teams develop the confidence to operate securely in the cloud. Watching the team grow into a security-conscious, cloud-savvy group was just as rewarding as the tech milestones we hit.
This role gave me a chance to bridge deep technical work with long-term strategy, always grounded in the idea that better infrastructure means better business outcomes.
Education
American InterContinental University
Master's degree, Business Administration / 2004 - 2006
Commitments Beyond the Office
Wilderness-Emergency Medical Technician (W-EMT)
Issued Dec 2022 · Expires Mar 2028
Credential ID B-76507
"Big"
Big Brothers/Big Sisters / 2021
Senior Operations Manager
NETSCOUT / 2015 - 2018
At NETSCOUT, I helped modernize data center operations by moving toward Infrastructure as Code—using tools like Terraform and Ansible to automate deployments and keep things consistent across the board. It was more than just streamlining; it was about building something reliable, scalable, and secure from the ground up.
I worked closely across departments to make sure our infrastructure supported broader business goals, not just IT ones. Along the way, I mentored a solid team of IT pros—sharing what I knew about automation, agile methods, and operational security. We cut costs, boosted efficiency, and set a new standard for how we approached both systems and collaboration.
Principal Architect
Comcast / 2008 - 2014
In this phase of my career, I was deeply involved in bridging architecture with people—working alongside cross-functional teams to ensure our systems were resilient, forward-thinking, and aligned with the broader goals of the organization.
I led initiatives to elevate architectural standards, improve integration practices, and embed security and scalability into everything we built. Mentoring was a big part of the job—I helped grow the technical strength of our teams, encouraging a culture of curiosity, learning, and continuous improvement. Clear, open communication across departments became just as important as the code or systems we delivered.
These years shaped how I think about infrastructure—not just as something to build, but as something to build with others.
West Texas A&M University
Bachelor's degree, Computer Science / 1998 - 2004
Amarillo College
Associate's degree, Architecture [Machine Design] / 1993 - 1995
Amarillo College
Associate's degree, Architecture / 1992 - 1994
Open Water Classified SCUBA Instructor
Issued Feb 2026
Pro ID: 108266
Wilderness First Responder
Issued Jul 2024 · Expires Jul 2026
Credential ID: NOLS 24-WMIN-F2-4179
Speaker: Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons
Founder: Parental Alienation Support & Education Database
Founded a non-profit resource designed to raise awareness of the challenges families can face within complex custody systems. The platform helps parents find footing, access foundational knowledge about parental alienation, and better understand the legal and emotional terrain many encounter. All software is released under the GPL-3 license to ensure the information remains accessible to those who need it.
Chief Information Security Officer & Designated Security Officer
Western Missouri Medical Center / 2021- Present
Responsible for cybersecurity across a rural healthcare system as the designated HIPAA Security Officer — protecting clinical platforms, medical devices, operational infrastructure, and the data tied directly to patient care. Translate HIPAA, NIST, and ISO frameworks into practical, clinician-aligned safeguards that prioritize risk management and continuity over restriction.
Concurrently develop privacy-preserving, locally hosted analytics and AI capabilities to strengthen governance, inform policy, optimize MIPS performance, and uncover EDI 835 denial patterns. Emphasize transparent, internally controlled systems designed for real-world failure modes — delivering security that performs under sustained pressure and regulatory scrutiny.
CISA
ICS 101, 201, 202, 300, 301, 311, 401 and CyberStrike
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
IS-100.c: Introduction to the Incident Command System
IS-200.c: Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response
IS-700.b: An Introduction to the National Incident Management System
IS-800.d: National Response Framework, An Introduction
Open Water Specialty SCUBA Instructor
Issued Feb 2024
Pro ID: 108266
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