james@portfolio: ~

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About James

| Deputy System Administrator @ SDSU Cyber Defense Team |
| Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate |
| Aspiring Incident Response Analyst |

Download Resume (PDF)

What I'm Doing

  • Systems Operations

    Administering UNIX systems with Docker, Proxmox, UTM, Kubernetes, and centralized logging.

  • Security & Log Analysis

    Analyzing logs and traffic with Kali Linux, Wireshark, tcpdump, Nmap, HackTheBox, and CLI tools.

  • Networking & Infrastructure

    Configuring DNS, LDAP, PKI, SMTP/IMAP, NFS, nginx, Samba, WireGuard, and iptables firewalls.

  • Scripting & Automation

    Automating system administration, security hardening, and recovery workflows with Python, Bash, and Ansible.

Resume

Education

  1. San Diego State University

    Expected May 2029

    Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, minor in Mathematics. Relevant coursework: CS470 UNIX System Administration.

  2. Computer Science

    Major

    System Administration, Networking, Security, Scripting, and Infrastructure-focused coursework.

  3. Mathematics

    Minor

    Developing practical problem-solving and quantitative reasoning skills.

Experience

  1. Deputy System Administrator

    April 2026 — Present

    SDSU Cyber Defense Team. Maintain systems during simulated attacks, monitor suspicious activity, and practice defensive operations.

  2. Security Assessments

    December 2025 — Present

    San Diego Cyber Clinic of Excellence. Conduct mock client assessments to identify misconfigurations and vulnerabilities.

  3. Linux Homelab Infrastructure

    Personal project

    Built and secured Ubuntu services with Samba, iptables, WireGuard, and CLI-based troubleshooting on Apple T2 hardware.

My skills

  • Networking & Infrastructure

    DNS, LDAP, SMTP, IMAP, NFS, SSH, VPNs, PKI, GitLab, nginx

  • Security & Log Analysis

    Wireshark, tcpdump, Nmap

  • Systems & Cloud

    Azure, Docker, Proxmox, Linux, UNIX administration, UTM, Kubernetes

  • Operating Systems

    OpenBSD, FreeBSD, AlmaLinux, Ubuntu, Solaris, AIX, Windows, macOS

  • Scripting

    Python, C++, Java, Bash

Certifications & Activities

  1. Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate

    Completed

  2. Certified Axio360 Quantification Practitioner

    Axio · Issued September 2026 · Expires September 2028 · Credential ID 21101

  3. CompTIA Security+

    Expected December 2026

  4. National Cyber League

    Fall 2025 Team & Individual Games

Projects and Competitions

  • System Administrator · Jan 2026 — May 2026

    SDSU Infrastructure Lab

    Built a multi-OS lab environment with core network services and a multi-node Kubernetes cluster running fault-tolerant web services.

    Infrastructure & Services

    Configured UNIX/Linux systems for DNS, LDAP, PKI, SMTP/IMAP, NFS, nginx, Docker, and remote access.

    Availability

    Deployed a multi-node Kubernetes cluster with fault-tolerant web services and automated failover.

    Technology

    UNIX/Linux · DNS · LDAP · PKI · SMTP/IMAP · NFS · nginx · Docker · Kubernetes

  • San Diego Yacht Club · Sept 2026 — Dec 2026

    Employee Security Systems

    Conducting a cybersecurity risk assessment of staff technology practices, systems, workflows, training, and security controls.

    Assessment

    Evaluating confidentiality, integrity, availability, access controls, and least-privilege practices.

    Recommendations

    Collaborating with a team to document observations and recommend improvements to the organization's security posture.

    Focus Areas

    Cybersecurity risk assessment · Access control · Least privilege · Security frameworks

  • Raíces Cyber · Sept 2026 — Dec 2026

    Sustainable Security Model

    Exploring a sustainable service model for supporting the cybersecurity needs of nonprofit organizations.

    Service Model

    Exploring how cybersecurity support can be delivered sustainably to nonprofit organizations with limited resources.

    Focus Areas

    Accessible cybersecurity services, nonprofit resilience, and practical risk reduction.

    Focus

    Nonprofit cybersecurity · Service design · Sustainable support models · Risk reduction

  • Laptop terminal showing iptables firewall rules and network connectivity checks

    Personal Infrastructure Project · June 2026 — August 2026

    Linux Homelab Infrastructure

    Built a multi-OS homelab on Apple T2 hardware, with a Puppy Linux WireGuard VPN and an Ubuntu Samba file server.

    Services & Access

    Ran WireGuard VPN on Puppy Linux and hosted Samba file sharing on Ubuntu.

    Security & Operations

    Used iptables firewall rules and CLI-based troubleshooting across the homelab.

    Technology

    Puppy Linux · Ubuntu · Apple T2 hardware · WireGuard · Samba · iptables · CLI

  • Cybersecurity Competition · Fall 2025 & Fall 2026

    National Cyber League (NCL)

    Participated in the National Cyber League Fall 2025 Team and Individual Games, gaining hands-on web exploitation experience and extensive practice with Git.

    Competition

    Competed in both the team and individual games during the Fall 2025 season.

    Focus Areas

    Web exploitation, SQL injection, Burp Suite, OSINT, enumeration, and version control workflows.

    Tools & Skills

    SQL injection · Burp Suite · OSINT · Enumeration · Git · Web exploitation · Cybersecurity challenges

  • Cybersecurity Competition · Fall 2025 & Fall 2026

    Western Regional Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (WRCCDC)

    Participated in WRCCDC, gaining experience in a team-based defensive cybersecurity environment.

    Competition

    Worked as part of a team to defend systems in a practical cybersecurity competition.

    Focus Areas

    System hardening, network security, incident response, and team collaboration.

    Skills

    Defensive security · System administration · Network security · Incident response