Peter Merola

Experience

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  MAPE, LLC

  Jan 2009 - Jan 2013

  Customer Service Representative

  •Responded to telephone inquiries providing quality service to customers and associates inquiring about a variety of topics. •Listened attentively to caller needs to ensure a positive customer experience. •Accessed electronic and paper cataloging systems to look up product information and availability. •Strived for quick complaint resolution and excelled within a service-oriented company, demonstrating a talent for communicating effectively with customers from diverse backgrounds.

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  Marquardt Switches

  Oct 2014 - Jan 2015

  Information Technology Fall Intern

  •Supported PC hardware components, desktop operating system software, application software. •Provided end user support in various levels of technical and non-technical staff. •Configured operating systems and software for network connectivity. •Repaired computers infected with spyware, adware, and/or viruses.

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  Lockheed Martin

  Jan 2016 - Aug 2019

  • Team Leadership: Directed a team of 30 to achieve critical F35 project milestones, resulting in a 25% increase in project efficiency. Leveraged Atlassian JIRA and Confluence for Agile Scrum project management, enhancing team coordination and project tracking.• New Hire Training Process Improvement: Developed and implemented new hire documentation processes, which led to a 50% improvement in onboarding efficiency and employee readiness, significantly optimizing the training cycle and integration of new team members.• Active Directory Deployment: Implemented and managed a Microsoft Windows Active Directory server, enhancing network management and security across multiple departments. Show less

  • Computer System Analyst II

    Apr 2018 - Aug 2019

  • Systems Engineer I

    Jan 2016 - Apr 2018
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  Texas Christian University

  Aug 2019 - May 2020

  Information Security Administrator IV

  (Covid-19 Pandemic Layoff)• Network Security: Administered Palo Alto 5200 Series firewalls, enhancing network security through strategic configuration and continuous monitoring of network traffic. Improved and cleaned up firewall rules, significantly boosting operational efficiency and security posture of the university.• Forensic and Incident Response: Led forensic investigations and incident response using McAfee Nitro SIEM, effectively identifying and remediating security breaches. This proactive approach significantly reduced impact of incidents and shortened recovery times.• Endpoint Security: Utilized Sophos Intercept X with EDR Advanced for proactive prevention and remediation of endpoint security threats, enhancing defense mechanisms against advanced cyber threats.• Identity Access & Management: Established and managed robust user access controls using Okta for the university's multifactor authentication (MFA) system. This role involved configuring and maintaining secure authentication protocols, significantly enhancing security of sensitive academic and personal data. Show less

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  Northrop Grumman

  Sept 2020 - Jul 2021

  Principal Systems Administrator

  (DoD Contract Ended)• Vulnerability Management: Managed the Tenable Nessus server for conducting DISA ACAS scans, significantly enhancing network and system security across Navy/Air Force mission-critical programs.• System Security: Applied Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs) for hardening Red-Hat Enterprise Linux, Windows Server 2016-2019 systems, and Juniper Firewalls. Conducted preventive maintenance and system upgrades to ensure operational integrity in a continuous operational environment.• DevOps Automation: Improved existing PowerShell scripts to automate routine tasks, optimizing system management processes, and boosting operational efficiency.• Audit and Compliance: Managed the development and tracking of Plans of Action and Milestones (POA&M) for auditing compliance, ensuring adherence to security requirements, and facilitating continuous improvement. Show less

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  WakeMed

  May 2022 - Mar 2023

  Cyber Security Engineer

  (Left role for Enact)• Firewall & Email Security Expertise: Served as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Palo Alto Firewalls and Proofpoint PPS/POD, leading efforts to secure network boundaries and email communication channels against evolving cyber threats. Successfully implemented AI Ops and Firemon technologies to enhance operational efficiency and optimize firewall rules, reducing overhead and improving system responsiveness.• Identity and Access Management (IAM): Managed Cisco Duo, Delinea, and SailPoint solutions to enhance identity verification processes and secure user access, strengthening overall security posture.• SIEM & Vulnerability Management: Utilized LogRhythm for Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) to monitor, detect, and respond to security incidents, and employed Rapid7 tools to conduct vulnerability scans, assess risk levels, and oversee remediation efforts.• Team Development: Mentored junior cybersecurity administrators, fostering a culture of continuous learning, and enhancing team effectiveness through targeted training and development initiatives. Show less

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  Enact Mortgage Insurance

  Mar 2023 - Apr 2023

  Senior Cyber Security Engineer

  (Job Elimination due to Cutbacks)• Security Information and Event Management (SIEM): OSSEC, ELK, and Wazuh for log analysis, file integrity checking, and policy monitoring, contributing to improved threat detection and response capabilities.• Endpoint Security: Managed CrowdStrike Falcon for endpoint detection and response, strengthening the security posture against advanced persistent threats by 50% improvement.• Identity & Access Management: Managed CyberArk solutions to secure privileged accounts and manage credentials effectively reducing the risk of privilege escalation attacks by 25%.• Data Loss Protection: Managed Vormetric CipherTrust Manager to safeguard sensitive data through encryption and access controls, ensuring compliance with industry standards. Show less

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  Freelance

  Apr 2023 - now

  Cyber Security Consultant

  (NDAs with Clients)• Customized Network Security Solutions: Implemented tailored security strategies that significantly reduced cyber threats and enhanced system efficiencies for clients. Specialized in optimizing Palo Alto firewalls and Proofpoint PPS/POD solutions to bolster client defenses.• Responsive Support: Provided after-hours support, ensuring timely and effective resolution of security incidents.• Vulnerability Management: Conducted thorough security assessments to identify vulnerabilities, implementing strategic measures to mitigate risks and enhance overall security posture. Reduced clients’ potential cyber threats by 50% and increased clients’ satisfactions by 25%. Show less