Phil E. Hale Jr.

Corpus Christi, Texas | phaleintx@gmail.com

• Accomplished Systems Administrator with over 20 years of experience managing server infrastructures and data center operations in a mixed environment (Windows, Unix, and Linux). Effectively plan, install, configure and optimize the IT infrastructure to consistently achieve high availability and performance.

• Proven ability to create and deliver complex IT solutions tied to University growth, organizational development and systems optimization. Skilled problem solver comfortable managing systems, projects and teams in a range of IT environments.

Summary of Skills:

• Extensive experience in architecting and managing complex IT projects from conception to completion. This involves coordinating with systems administrators and managers of departments across the University along with vendors to identify solutions for complex, University-wide IT related issues. Examples:

  • Deployment of centralized storage solutions for all IT on campus.

  • Deployment of centralized back-up tape library solutions for all IT on campus.

  • Deployment of server clusters for virtualization for all IT on campus.

  • Design and deployment of off-site disaster recovery data centers.

• Extensive administrative experience with the Linux Operating System:

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux

  • CentOS Linux

  • Fedora Linux

  • Debian GNU/Linux

  • Ubuntu Linux

• Extensive experience managing virtualization clusters and virtual machine environments:

  • Vmware vSphere

  • Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization

  • Microsoft Hyper-V

• Experience with managing various Database Environments:

  • MySQL

  • MariaDB

  • PostgreSQL

• Experience with managing High Performance Computing (HPC) clusters using Bright Cluster Manager and Slurm Workload Manager.

• Experience with Gluster Scalable Network Filesystem using Red Hat Gluster Storage solution.

• Experience with managing NetApp SAN/NAS storage.

• Experience with managing Quantum Scalar (i500 – i6000) tape libraries.

• Sendmail E-Mail Server

• MailScanner Spam and Virus Filtering Server

• Apache and NGINX Web Servers

• Tomcat and jBoss Java Application Servers

• DNS and DHCP Services via ISC BIND and ISC DHCP in the Unix/Linux environment.

• Network and Server monitoring and trending analysis with tools such as Xymon, Cacti, Zenoss, Zabbix, Nagios.

• RADIUS Authentication with FreeRADIUS in the Unix/Linux environment.

• SAML 2.0 compliant Federated Identification Services with Shibboleth Consortium Shibboleth IDP Server

• Enterprise Single Sign On Service with Apereo CAS Server

• PERL scripting in the Unix/Linux, Windows, and MacOS X environments.

• PHP scripting in the Unix/Linux environment.

• Shell scripting in the Unix/Linux environment.

• C and C++ in the Unix/Linux environment.

• HTML coding, JavaScript coding, CGI programming, and web page development in the Unix/Linux environment.

Professional Experience:

October 2014 – Present
Systems Administrator IV, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Information Technology - Systems Administration Department

• Systems Architect responsible for designing and guiding complex IT projects to completion.

• Lead Systems Administrator for the University Reseach Computing Initiatives, including the Tsunami High Performance Computing Cluster and Research Storage Clusters.

• Assist other Systems Administrators as needed.

September 2001 – October 2014
Systems Programmer II, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Information Technology - Systems Administration Department

• Systems Administrator for the primary campus Linux/Unix server farm; manage 50,000+ Linux/Unix accounts on 50+ Linux servers. Perform Linux/Unix systems administration tasks including installation and maintenance of operating system, hardware, vendor and third-party software, and the setup and configuration of Dell PowerEdge, HP Proliant and Sun Fire servers.

• Develop and implement specialized programs and scripts to automate repetitive administration tasks.

• Develop and implement mailfiltering solutions to protect campus e-mail systems.

• Develop and maintain the Identity and Account Management database for management all University computer accounts and passwords. Includes automated scripts for user interface and automation of password changes and account generation across varied platforms (Active Directory, OpenLDAP, Linux, etc...).

• Assist in the implementation and maintenance of a regular backup plan and other measures to ensure a robust and secure computing environment. Provide assistance in the basic operation of the campus Local Area Network.

• Maintain inventory, keep records, and prepare reports.

April 1998 - September 2001
Network Manager II, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Information Technology - MicroComputer Services

• Systems Administrator for the primary student Unix server; manage 6,500+ accounts. Perform Unix (Digital True64) systems administration tasks including installation and maintenance of operating system, hardware, vendor and third-party software, and the setup and installation of SCSI devices.

• Develop and implement specialized programs and scripts to automate repetitive administration tasks.

• Develop and maintain the Student Account Management (S.A.M.) database for management of accounts and passwords on the student servers (Unix, Novell and Dial-In system). Includes automated scripts for student interface and automation of password changes and account generation.

• Assist in the implementation and maintenance of a regular backup plan and other measures to ensure a robust and secure computing environment. Provide assistance in the basic operation of the campus computer labs.

• Maintain inventory, keep records, and prepare reports.

August 1997 - April 1998
Desktop Troubleshooter, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Information Technology - MicroComputer Services

• Installation and Configuration of DOS/Windows 3.X and Windows 95 software onto faculty and staff computers across the local area network.

• Troubleshoot hardware and software problems and develop solutions for staff computer problems.

• Develop and maintain software registration database.

• Assistant to Network Manager for the student Unix system: Help manage student accounts and print queues on the student Unix server.

• Extensive experience in the HEAT work order database.

• Special projects, including building and maintaining Department Web servers building and maintaining of Linux server for lab staff, and development of software testing platforms for troubleshooting purposes.

January 1996 - August 1997
Computer Lab Assistant, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Information Technology - MicroComputer Services

• Assist students in the creation of their network accounts; answer software specific questions for students.

• Create and maintain help sheets on the various software packages supported by the computer labs.

• Diagnose and repair computer hardware in the computer labs.

• Special Projects, including creating the disk images for the university setup computers, development of the MS DOS batch program to handle the automatic creation of the Rapport Dial-In software disks, and creation of Network boot disks and hard drive images for computers in the labs.

Additional Experience:

January 2001 – Present

Independent IT contractor working for various companies across South Texas.

• Windows and Linux workstation support.

• Linux server administration.

• Software development.

• Open Source software deployment.

Education:

December 1997           Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi - Corpus Christi, Texas
                                     Bachelors of Science: Computer Science
                                     Minor: General Business
                                     Final Accumulative G.P.A. - 3.957, 4.000 in Major
                                     Graduated Highest Honors
                                    

May 1995                   Del Mar Community College - Corpus Christi, Texas
                                    Associates in Applied Science: Computer Programming
                                    Final Accumulative G.P.A. - 3.845, 4.000 in Major
                                    Graduated Magna Cum Laude
                                    Outstanding Student: Computer Science - 1995
                                    Outstanding Student: Business Administration - 1994