BRIAN PHILIP BILBREY

Bowie, Maryland 20720
bilbrey@orbdesigns.com
Updated October, 2006

OBJECTIVE

I'm currently employed in a full-time position that permits me to use and continue to develop my exceptional Systems, Networking, and User Support skills, while earning enough money to keep the mortgage paid, my wife in sewing machines and quilting supplies, and the occasional new tech toy on my desk.

SKILLSET OVERVIEW

I am an expert with Linux Server and Workstation configurations and distributions, including Red Hat, Debian, SuSE, Gentoo, and others. I have setup Sendmail, Postfix, BIND (DNS), IMAP/POP servers, Apache, mod_ssl, mod_perl, PHP, with skills in shell and Perl scripting. Additionally, I have experience in securing Linux computers using IPTables/IPChains, Portsentry, Tripwire, and Logcheck. Network monitoring tools I've used include nmap, nessus and Ethereal. On the Linux user side, I am familiar with many desktop environments and applications, including KDE, Gnome, Koffice, StarOffice, AbiWord, Gnumeric, Evolution, Nautilus and more. I currently watch over a variety of locally and remotely hosted Linux servers for clients, with installed distributions including RHEL3 and Debian.

I have experience installing and configuring OpenBSD servers for public-facing applications including mail, web, routing, and firewall applications. Specific recent experience includes configuring PF rulesets to manage access to a moderately complex DMZ/internal/VPN/Guest-worker environment.

I have extensive experience with MS Windows NT/2K/XP/2003 (Workstation and Server), managing administration of file, print and application servers including SQLbase, Mail, and BackupExec. I provide User Support of stunning quality, patience and results for many Windows-based applications and requirements, including MS Office applications like Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Access, their OpenOffice.org equivalents, as well as Mozilla Firefox and derivatives, Web apps and more. MS networking, configuration, and setup skills are also on my toolbelt.

My other skills include Web design, Technical and Computer writing (published), digital artwork, documentation, PCB (Printed Circuit Board) and product design. To accomplish these tasks, I've used a wide variety of word processors and text editors, including MS Word, WordPerfect , Bluefish, StarOffice, and Emacs. I've extensive experience with Adobe Illustrator, The GIMP, Protel, and AutoCAD along with many other applications.

EXPERIENCE

Chaos Manor Reviews July, 2006 to present (continuing)
Position: Managing Editor, site design.
I worked with Dr. Jerry Pournelle to bring his computer columns to this new venue when his long relationship with Byte ended. I preview, edit, format and publish his column and mailbag each week. A few evening hours each week, but it's fun, mostly.

Dynaxys, LLC, Silver Spring, MD May, 2007 to present
Position: Senior Linux/UNIX Administrator.
Primary duties include systems maintenance and configuration: patching and implementing software systems for both X86 and Sparc platforms (RHEL and Solaris 9 & 10). Backups, user support, documentation, and networking are also in the list of assigned tasks.

Check Point Software, Rockville, MD October, 2004 to May, 2007
(was NFR Security, Inc., until purchased by Checkpoint on 1/1/2007) Position: Senior Systems Administrator.
Duties included hardware, OS, and applications support for Sales and Execs on Windows platforms, and for the Engineering group that mostly used anything but Windows. Managed, maintained, upgraded servers for internal and external use, primarily Debian Linux and OpenBSD. Windows SBS 2003 w/Exchange Server was also in play, behind a VPN gateway. Corporate encrypted offsite backup process implemented and successful. Useful increase in computing paranoia awareness due to coworkers.

The NERDS Group, LLC, Silver Spring, MD August 2002 to October 2004
Position: ITConsultancy position, full time position.
I had responsibility for systems and networks with a number of local businesses, as well as 2 to 3 days a week providing service for a large local county department, working with a complex setup comprised of Solaris, Linux and Windows systems in an assortment of clients, servers and middleware.

Energy Transformation Systems Inc., Newark, CA September 1997 to June 2006.
Positions: IS/Web/Product Engineering, then Consulting in web design and remote administration
My duties started with administration of a small heterogeneous network including NT4.0 and Linux servers with Windows and Linux clients. My responsibilities encompassed applications, backup, connectivity, system maintenance/upgrades (HW & SW, license compliance), web design, updating, and statistics. My other jobs within the company included PCB and product design, engineering documentation, electronic and camera ready art and copy for Marketing/Sales support including brochures and advertisements, I was also a member of the management team.

A-Squared Electronics, San Jose, CA, November 1990 to September 1997.
Positions: Shop Manager, Training Coordinator
I was responsible for oversight of production personnel, training and quality control. I performed production, scheduling, sales and customer service duties. I managed a front office staff of four, production staff varying, up to 35. Also I worked on PCB design and co-engineering projects at this consignment PCB/EM assembly house. Additionally, I setup the first in-house network. Teaching new skills to people was the best part of this job.

Nellcor Inc., Hayward, CA April 1983 to August 1990.
Positions: Associate Engineer / Product Design Engineer
I worked in an engineering project matrix environment, providing PCB and product design services over several product lines. I coded a clinical evaluation software test suite as a 6-month project, written in C. I brought CAD into the engineering department, and designed sensors and associated equipment for the line of Pulse Oximeters.

ADDITIONAL PROJECTS

I authored Caldera OpenLinux Secrets with Tom Syroid, completed in December 2000 at approximately 1000 pages. The book is now available exclusively online at http://linuxbook.orbdesigns.com/. Also, I've written three tutorials for IBM DeveloperWorks.

EDUCATION

University of California, Santa Cruz campus (1979 - 1982) CS Major.
Since then I've worked full time, taking occasional courses in Mathematics, CS, Programming Languages, Physics, Anthropology, Public Speaking and more, at Chabot College in Hayward and at San Jose State University.

REFERENCES

Available upon Request.