🌟 Introduction
After serving 13 years in the U.S. Army as a Combat Engineer, moving across Europe, Korea, and the U.S., I’ve learned a lot about discipline, leadership, and solving complex problems under pressure.
During my military career, I’ve operated in some of the most stressful and demanding environments imaginable, including real-world missions in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Kuwait. These experiences taught me how to adapt quickly, lead effectively under uncertainty, and remain calm and focused no matter the stakes. As a Staff Sergeant, I was responsible for guiding and training soldiers, safeguarding my team, and ensuring mission success in challenging and often unpredictable situations.
But behind the uniform, there has always been another passion: technology.
💡 Where it all began
My love for tech started early. At age 9, I would sit beside my father as he built old Windows 98 computers, fascinated by every component and every cable. I learned to troubleshoot, rebuild, and experiment, skills that gave me a sense of excitement and possibility.
As I got older, I also fell in love with PC video games. That curiosity quickly grew beyond just playing. I started tinkering with computers, creating little programs, and even sending funny pranks or small scripts to my friends to control their computers or make jokes. It might have been harmless mischief back then, but it sparked a deep interest in how systems work, how code controls behavior, and how powerful technology can be when you really understand it.
Despite this early passion, after high school, I chose to serve my country first. That decision shaped me into the leader I am today. But throughout my military journey, tech remained in the background, waiting for its moment.
🔥 Why cloud?
As I advanced through my military career, I found purpose in leading, protecting, and overcoming obstacles. But deep down, a part of me still felt unfulfilled. I knew I had put my true passion for technology on hold for over a decade.
The structure and camaraderie of the Army shaped me into who I am, but I started to feel a pull toward something new, a need for growth beyond the uniform. I wanted to reconnect with the curiosity and excitement I had as a kid sitting next to my dad, and to finally build a career where learning never stops and innovation thrives.
Making the decision to pivot wasn’t easy. After 13 years in a defined, secure environment, stepping into tech meant facing the unknown, starting from scratch, and challenging myself all over again. But I realized that change is necessary to grow, and the biggest rewards come from taking bold steps forward.
Choosing the cloud wasn’t just about technology. It was about creating a future where I could protect systems and data the same way I protected my team, where I could apply my discipline and problem-solving skills to an industry that is constantly evolving. It felt like finding my true mission again.
🛠️ Projects so far
I knew that to successfully transition, I couldn’t just talk about my passion. I had to prove it through action. That’s why I started building real-world projects to strengthen my technical foundation and show potential employers what I can do.
Some of the projects I’ve completed so far include:
☁️ Azure Automation Skills Project (July 2025) Developed and presented training content to help beginners understand core cloud concepts clearly. Built hands-on expertise in Azure automation, simplifying complex deployments and management tasks.
🎤 Cloud Concepts 101 Presentation (June 2025) Created and delivered an accessible, beginner-friendly presentation covering fundamental cloud concepts, service models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS), deployment types, and major providers.
💻 Azure Virtual Machines & Resource Management (June 2025) Deployed and configured Azure VMs with optimized compute settings, then used Azure Monitor and Cost Management to track performance and control resource costs.
🌐 Azure Networking & Storage (June 2025) Configured storage accounts, virtual networks (VNets), network security groups (NSGs), and routing to support secure, scalable resource access and communication.
🔐 Azure Identity & Access Management (IAM) (June 2025) Implemented role-based access control (RBAC) and managed users and groups through Azure Active Directory to ensure secure, least-privilege access.
🛡️ Windows Security & Hardening (January 2025) Conducted security audits, configured Group Policies and used malware detection tools to strengthen defenses and maintain compliance and integrity.
🔒 EFS & BitLocker Encryption (January 2025) Configured file and drive encryption to protect sensitive data, using EFS and BitLocker for robust endpoint security.
💾 Scheduled Backups & Folder Replication (January 2025) Automated system backups and folder replication using Windows Backup and Robocopy, supporting data protection and business continuity strategies.
🧑💻 Networking & Traffic Analysis (December 2024) Designed segmented networks using VLANs, subnetting, and access controls to improve security posture. Used Wireshark to analyze network traffic, detect anomalies, and troubleshoot real-world performance issues.
🎯 Goals and next steps
My immediate goal is to step into a Cloud Administrator role where I can continue gaining hands-on experience managing and optimizing cloud environments. From there, my long-term mission is to grow into a Cloud Security Engineer, combining my technical skills with my deep-rooted mindset of protection and resilience.
As part of this journey, I also plan to take on the Cloud Resume Challenge, a hands-on project that will allow me to bring together front-end and back-end skills, automate infrastructure, and showcase my resume in a truly cloud-native way. It will be another proof point of my continuous growth and commitment to learning.
💬 Final thoughts
Transitioning from the military to the cloud isn’t just a career change. It’s a return to a lifelong passion. It’s about taking the problem-solving mindset, leadership, and discipline I developed in the Army and applying them to building and protecting digital systems.
For anyone considering a similar path: start small, stay curious, and build real things. The skills you already have might be more transferable than you think, and every project is a step toward your future.
🤝 Let’s connect
If you’re navigating a similar transition or working in the cloud, I’d love to connect and learn from each other. Feel free to reach out on LinkedIn Here or check out my portfolio here. Here
Top comments (0)