Conrad Bennett

Experience

• 

  Ramapo College of New Jersey

  Sept 2005 - May 2009

  Information Technology Specialist

  As an Information Technology Specialist at Ramapo College of New Jersey, I successfully managed a wide range of technical support responsibilities, ensuring seamless operations across campus. My role involved troubleshooting complex hardware and software issues, utilizing Ghost server for efficient imaging and updating of user machines, and conducting thorough testing and debugging of new software to enhance functionality. I developed and maintained multiple databases for staff, streamlined device deployment, and provided remote support for corporate devices, all while ensuring optimal performance through effective user account management via Windows Active Directory. My expertise extended to network support, where I resolved TCP/IP and wireless connectivity issues and assisted in router and switch configuration. Through my proactive approach to project management, I led initiatives to upgrade network infrastructure, ultimately improving user satisfaction and operational efficiency. Show less

• 

  Depository Trust & Clearing Corp.

  Jun 2008 - Jul 2009

  Desktop End User Support Engineer

  Provided Level 2 and 3 desktop and remote support for 4,000+ global users, ensuring high availability and seamless operations for both standard users and executive-level clients. Managed the Windows XP Terminal Replacement Project, streamlining rollout processes and minimizing disruption. Collaborated with cross-functional support teams to maintain asset management and ensure optimal hardware and software performance. Troubleshot network-related issues using SMS, Remote Desktop, and Citrix tools. Supported VMware cloud initiatives and resolved email issues for executives via the Blackberry server. Managed printer setups, break-fix support, and Lotus Notes troubleshooting, enhancing productivity and system reliability across the organization. Show less

• 

  Verizon

  Jul 2009 - now

  Lead technical and strategic efforts for Transport Security Policy & Auditing (TSPA), providing end-to-end security solutions to protect Verizon’s global network infrastructure.• Manage a 23-member technical team overseeing the lifecycle of network security, including firewalls, ACLs, and VPNs, ensuring high security standards and operational efficiency.• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align security initiatives with business objectives, driving operational efficiency and network reliability.• Implement scalable VPN architectures across global vendor networks, enabling seamless site-to-site and client-to-site connectivity.• Conduct data-driven audits and implement proactive security measures to mitigate risks across key environments.• Foster a culture of innovation, empowering engineers to automate workflows and develop scalable solutions.Key Accomplishments:• Introduced automation workflows for firewall infrastructure, cutting deployment times by 25% and increasing operational efficiency by an estimated 30%. • Developed a training curriculum which improved new member onboarding by approximately 20%. Show less Oversaw operations of the VCMP Operations, Administration, Management & Deployment (OAM&D) team that supports Verizon's Cloud Platform (VCP) by delivering monitoring-as-a-service across Core, Lite, Edge, and Far Edge infrastructures. Key responsibilities include fault management, logging, performance metrics, and auto-remediation.• Directed the design, deployment, and scaling of monitoring solutions for the Verizon Cloud Platform (VCP) core, edge, and far-edge environments.• Spearheaded the global deployment of OpenStack and Kubernetes infrastructures through CI/CD pipelines, enabling rapid service delivery.• Managed multiple large-scale projects from inception to completion, including product launch, support, and continuous improvement.• Partnered with engineering, operations, and executive teams to align infrastructure strategy with business growth.• Implemented data-driven monitoring systems, enabling predictive maintenance and reducing incident response times by 30%.Key Accomplishments:• Developed auto-remediation systems, improving operational efficiency by reducing manual intervention by 40%.• Led cross-functional initiatives, reducing deployment lead times by 20% through collaborative process improvements. Show less Managed end-to-end operations for OA&M (Operations, Administration, and Maintenance) services supporting Verizon Cloud Platform organization with primary responsibility to provide advance visibility for faults, logging, auto-remediation, and performance metrics.• Designed and implemented infrastructure as code (IaC) solutions, ensuring reliable, automated deployments across cloud environments.• Developed a Monitoring-as-a-Service strategy, enabling rapid scaling of monitoring solutions.• Partnered with product and business teams to identify and address operational bottlenecks, accelerating time-to-market.• Built and mentored high-performance engineering teams, fostering a collaborative and growth-focused culture.Key Accomplishments:• Reduced incident response time by 35% through automated monitoring and alerting systems.• Launched new monitoring frameworks, enabling faster onboarding of cloud platforms. Show less Designed and managed the virtual infrastructure underpinning Verizon’s cloud platform, ensuring performance and reliability at scale.• Engineered resilient, distributed systems using Kafka, Redis, and open-source load balancers.• Automated operations with Python and Bash scripting, increasing system efficiency.• Provided technical leadership on the OpenStack Tap-as-a-Service (TaaS) project, driving industry adoption.Key Accomplishments:• Developed geo-redundant infrastructure, improving system uptime by 30%.• Improved deployment processes, reducing setup times by 25% through automation. Show less Engineered and maintained data tapping infrastructure across 50+ Mobile Switching Centers and 5 Network Equipment Centers, ensuring seamless monitoring of LTE/3G networks. Managed Brocade router configurations, Oracle database diagnostics, and reporting tools for real-time network performance visibility. Spearheaded the design and deployment of sniffer tools and monitoring solutions, enhancing fault detection and resolution capabilities. Provided primary support for Voice Over LTE (VoLTE) alarms using Wireshark and Irisview, identifying and resolving traffic anomalies. Managed IBM blade servers, EMC SAN storage, and RedHat OS to ensure high availability. Automated configuration deployments with batch files and streamlined network traffic analysis, reducing troubleshooting time. Show less Delivered Tier II support for wide-area network technologies, resolving complex customer issues through real-time and historical data analysis. Troubleshot routers, gateways, multiplexes, and packet switches, ensuring uninterrupted services across 3G/4G networks. Leveraged Agilent, Tektronix, Access7, and PDSN traces to identify trends, isolate faults, and optimize network performance. Provided end-to-end troubleshooting for VOIP range extenders and complex call routing, collaborating with vendors to resolve hardware issues. Took leadership roles during major outages and served as a key resource for executive-level troubleshooting. Trained peers on specialized network problems and optimized processes to restore services faster. Managed legacy systems like the Alltel Movius voicemail server and ensured seamless operations in high-pressure environments. Show less

  • Assoc. Director - Security Engineering

    May 2023 - now

  • Sr. Manager – Cloud Operations & Deployment | Verizon Cloud Platform

    Jul 2019 - Apr 2023

  • Sr. Manager – Technology Operations and Automation | Verizon Cloud Platform

    Aug 2017 - Jul 2019

  • Principal Engineer – Virtual Services Integration | Verizon Cloud Platform

    Jul 2014 - Aug 2017

  • Principle Engineer - IP Multimedia Subsystems (IMS)

    May 2013 - Jul 2014

  • Systems Engineer – Network Support Systems (NSS)

    Mar 2012 - May 2013

  • Technician – Network Technical Support

    Jul 2009 - Mar 2012