Jarod Taft

Experience

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  US Army

  Jan 2004 - Dec 2009

  • Installed and configured Windows servers in compliance with Department of Defense information assurance policies.• Established a program that was responsible for 9 team members being trained and compliant with the proper usage of eEye Retina vulnerability scanning software.• Generated monthly vulnerability compliance reports that were utilized by leadership to validate the mission readiness of the organization’s deployable communications assets.• Configured Group Policies to ensure the most restrictive rights without prohibiting users from accomplishing their assigned roles.• Performed 10 successful missions across three countries as a site lead systems administrator and help desk operator. Show less

  • System Administrator

    Jan 2007 - Dec 2009

  • Senior Information Systems Specialist

    Jan 2004 - Dec 2006
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  NATO

  Jan 2010 - Feb 2013

  System and Network Administrator

  • Utilized Windows Deployment Services to develop a remote workstation imaging solution capable of deploying a baseline workstation imaging while reducing personnel required. • Mentored a multinational team of 10 system administrators and network managers on NATO information security standards.• Administrated 3 independent local area networks comprised of 3 Cisco routers and 18 Cisco switches with zero security classification incidents occurring.• Mitigated security risks using McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator to actively monitor compliance for over 1,000 end-user workstations.• Installed and configured HP servers, ensuring they were compliant with NATO and Department of Defense policies. • Deployed and managed software packages using Group Policies to ensure compliance with software upgrade requirements.• Installed security patches to ensure servers and workstations were compliant with requirements.• Configured and implemented Hyper-V virtualization servers to minimize hardware requirements while allowing for all mission and training requirements to be met.• Trained a multinational team of 10 system administrators and network managers on NATO information security standards. Show less

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  ISAF

  Feb 2011 - Aug 2011

  System Administrator

  • Provided tier 2 support for the ISAF information systems infrastructure comprised of 88 servers and 2,500 workstations spread across 5 classified networks.• Utilized Solar Winds to monitor rapidly changing network conditions and provided timely reports to leadership.• Resolved over 135,000 network and system vulnerabilities, increasing information assurance and network defense postures.• Utilized Checkpoint to manage USB drive and DVD media privileges to mitigate potential security risks.• Implemented a security audit procedure to discover and remove stale, inactive, and expired accounts. Show less

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  Secretary of Defense Communications

  Apr 2013 - Mar 2016

  Executive Support Supervisor

  • Disseminate critical operational updates and sensitive intelligence packages to key Department of Defense officials.• Examines classified documents and ensures proper routing procedures are followed based on each individuals’ credentials.• Responsible for the proper installation and storage of encryption key material critical to facilitating secure communication.• Utilize Raytheon Defense Red Switch Network and Cisco Crisis Management Network Voice-over-IP phones to provide direct secure communication support to the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) across multiple voice networks.• Responsible for the monitoring and surveillance of SECDEF office spaces while providing security updates to Pentagon Security Forces responsible for incident response. Show less

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  Minnesota IT Services

  May 2016 - now

  • Lead engineer responsible for ensuring applications developed for Department of Human Services (DHS) modernization projects are tested for security vulnerabilities and reviewed for security control compliance.• Provided security guidance to DHS business partners to mitigate the risk of unauthorized disclosure of citizen Personally Identifiable Information (PII), Private Health Information (PHI), Federal Tax information (FTI) in compliance with federal and state guidelines.• Oversees the review of non-standard software requests for DHS business.• Works closely with the Enterprise Mobile Device Management team on ensuring DHS mobile devices are configured to be secure while continuing to meet business needs. Show less

  • Principal Information Security Engineer

    May 2023 - now

  • Principal Information Security Engineer

    Feb 2017 - May 2023

  • Information Security Engineer

    May 2016 - Feb 2017