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About

Focus, direction, and where this career is headed.

I'm a cybersecurity professional with a B.S. in Cloud Computing from Western Governors University, starting Georgia Tech's M.S. in Cybersecurity, policy track, in Spring 2027. My focus areas are security operations, cloud security, and identity and access management. Long term, I want to lead in security—pairing technical depth with sound judgment about risk.

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. — Proverbs 27:17

EDUCATION

Formal education and coursework that support a long-term career in cybersecurity.

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.

Georgia Institute of Technology

M.S. in Cybersecurity

Accepted into Georgia Tech's M.S. in Cybersecurity, policy track. Next step in a serious, long-term security career.

Accepted Spring 2027

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

Industry certifications I have earned across security, cloud, networking, and operations.

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

Selected Work

Independent projects in security operations, secure access, cloud and automation.

Security Operations · Python · WGU · 2025

Security Log Analysis and Incident Response Tool

Problem

Security event data arrives from several sources in inconsistent formats, which slows investigation.

Approach

A Python parser that ingests logs, normalizes timestamps into a single timeline, and extracts indicators of compromise: IP addresses, domains, file hashes and usernames.

Outcome

A chronological, SIEM-ready view of an incident, validated against sample datasets, with edge cases and limitations documented.

Python Log Parsing IOC Extraction SIEM

Secure Remote Access · AWS · Lab · 2022

AWS Client VPN with Directory Authentication

Problem

Remote users need encrypted access to private cloud resources without exposing those resources to the internet.

Approach

A Client VPN endpoint with certificate-based TLS authentication, Active Directory for identity, and scoped routes and security groups.

Outcome

A tested, encrypted remote-access path in which every connection is tied to a verified identity.

AWS Client VPN VPC Active Directory PKI

More Projects

Automation · PowerShell · WGU · 2025

PowerShell Administration Toolkit

A menu-driven tool that lets junior administrators run health checks, monitor processes and resources, and generate file reports safely, without editing scripts.

DevOps · AWS · 2022

CI/CD Pipeline on AWS

Automated build, container packaging and deployment from commit to running service, using CodeCommit, CodeBuild, ECR, ECS on Fargate and CodePipeline.

Cloud Infrastructure · AWS · WGU

Hardened Web Server on EC2

Ubuntu and Apache on EC2 with TLS, restricted security groups, an Elastic IP and a regular patching routine.

View All Code on GitHub

NOTES FROM THE CLIMB

Writing and code that document how I learn and work in cybersecurity.

Medium

Writing

Articles on cybersecurity, cloud, and professional growth—clear takeaways from study and practice.

Read on Medium

GitHub

Code & Projects

Repositories focused on Python, AWS, PowerShell, and identity & access work.

View on GitHub
Substack

NerdPioneer on Substack

Occasional notes on cybersecurity concepts, career lessons, and what I am learning along the way.

Follow on Substack

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

— Matthew 6:33