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The NerdPioneer Chronicle Class of January 2026 · Dallas, TX

The Builder Who Asks
Why Things Break

I grew up around computers. Windows Vista machines that crashed every other day, and MacBooks that just worked. At some point, I stopped just clicking around and started wondering why. Why one thing breaks, why another doesn't, and what's actually happening underneath. That question never really went away.

I am a Cloud Computing graduate from Western Governors University, class of January 2026. I love to build things, break things, and figure out how they work. Put me in a lab with a problem to solve and I am in my element. I learn by doing and by watching. I pay close attention to people who are further along than me, and I take their feedback seriously. If someone has been where I want to go, I want to know how they got there. I document everything so other people can follow along, or skip the mistakes I already made.

The technical side is what gets me in the door. But I stay because of the people. I want to be in a room where everyone is trying to get better, and I want to be part of what makes that happen. Not the loudest, not the most senior. Just someone you can actually rely on.

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

— Proverbs 27:17
CySA+ Security+ AWS Security CompTIA Network+

EDUCATION

My academic background and the coursework that gave me a strong foundation in technology and security.

Western Governors University

Bachelor of Science in Cloud Computing

Specialization in Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Completed January 2026

What I Studied

Coursework focused on how computer systems connect and communicate, and how cloud platforms like Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure support real businesses. I learned the essentials of building reliable networks, protecting data, and creating cloud environments that keep modern applications running without interruption.

Next Level — Locked

Master's Degree

Graduate school — a future goal. Fully committed to the work in front of me right now.

In Progress
Journey

Highlighted Courses

Introduction to Cryptography

Academic Course - WGU

PASSED
Learned the basics of how digital security works, including how information is protected when stored or sent, and what makes encryption reliable.

Python for IT Automation

Academic Course - WGU

PASSED
Built Python scripts to automate repetitive IT tasks, work with files and structured data, and connect to online services to improve efficiency and consistency.

Network and Security Foundations

Academic Course - WGU

PASSED
Learned how computer networks function and how organizations manage security risk, including common threats, baseline controls, and practical security best practices.

Scripting and Automation (PowerShell)

Academic Course - WGU

PASSED
Developed PowerShell scripts to automate routine system tasks, validate inputs, handle failures cleanly, and generate clear output so work is repeatable and easy to audit.

GitHub Activity

Development contributions and coding activity

150+

Contributions

365

Days Tracked

View Profile
GitHub contribution chart for NerdPioneer

Credentials

10 Active

Certifications I have earned that validate my technical skills and my commitment to continuous learning.

CompTIA
A+
Hardware & Software Fundamentals
CERTIFIED
Network+
Networking Infrastructure
CERTIFIED
Security+
Cybersecurity Fundamentals
CERTIFIED
CySA+
Cybersecurity Analyst
CERTIFIED
Project+
Project Management
CERTIFIED
Cloud+
Cloud Infrastructure
CERTIFIED
Amazon Web Services
Developer Associate
Cloud Development & Deployment
CERTIFIED
SysOps Administrator
Operations & Management
CERTIFIED
Security Specialty
Cloud Security & Compliance
CERTIFIED
Governance & Operations
ITIL 4 Foundation
IT Service Management
CERTIFIED
MITRE ATT&CK
Threat Intelligence Framework
CERTIFIED

Projects

Hands-on work I built to solve real problems and apply what I have learned outside the classroom.

Security Operations Details

Python Security Triage & Analytics Tool

Built a Python workflow that filters out false positives, sorts the remaining events for faster review, and delivers clear, actionable findings for handoff.

Python Triage Analytics Log Parsing

What I Built

  • Filters out false positives automatically, so analysts spend time on what matters.
  • Prioritizes events for triage and generates handoff-ready outputs.
  • Creates short summaries and exports so results are easy to document and share.
  • Wrote the code to be easy to read, test, and update as requirements change.
Cloud Security Details

AWS EC2 Cloud Security Hardening

Hardened EC2 instances with practical security guardrails—safer access, stronger logging, and repeatable checks—so misconfigurations are caught early.

AWS EC2 IAM Hardening

What I Built

  • Locked down network access so only the right traffic can reach the servers.
  • Applied least privilege (users/systems only get the permissions they need) and used IAM roles instead of long-lived access keys.
  • Enabled logging and monitoring so suspicious activity leaves an audit trail.
  • Validated configurations against a documented baseline using repeatable checks.
SOC Capstone - IAM Details

PowerShell IAM Capstone Project

Built PowerShell automation to audit identity and access—so you can quickly see who has what permissions, generate clean evidence, and keep RBAC-style access consistent.

PowerShell IAM RBAC Audit

What I Built

  • Automatically collected users, groups, and permission details for audit readiness.
  • Produced clear reports and checklists to support review, verification, and remediation tracking.
  • Added reliable error handling and logging so the script runs cleanly even when data is imperfect.
  • Wrote repeatable run steps so another admin can rerun it confidently.

NOTES FROM THE CLIMB

Where I think out loud - writing, code, and everything in between.

Medium

Writing & Insights

Security breakdowns, cloud deep-dives, and career lessons I had to learn the hard way. Written for people actually doing the work - not just reading about it.

Terminal

PERSONAL NOTES

Raw notes from the lab. What broke, what worked, and what I'd tell myself before I started. Unfiltered - no polish, no spin.

Coming Soon

GitHub

Code & Projects

Hands-on builds - Python triage tools, AWS hardening scripts, IAM automation. Code that actually runs, not just portfolio pieces.

Substack Newsletter

NerdPioneer on Substack

I don't write on a schedule. I write when something clicks - a career lesson, a security concept, a mistake worth sharing. If you're building in tech and tired of polished takes, this is for that.

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

— Matthew 6:33