I look at technology through the lens of resilience. As a Systems Engineer in a mission-critical public safety environment, I have learned that uptime isn't just a goal; it is a requirement. This high-stakes mindset drives my work as a Digital First Responder, where I focus on architecting secure systems on the VertexOps platform. My engineering pragmatism is shaped by my experience in emergency management and community response. I prioritize clear documentation and building systems that remain stable when things get chaotic. CURRENT FOCUS AREAS: LOCAL AI AND DIGITAL SOVEREIGNTY: Scaling local inference stacks using Ollama and LiteLLM on physical hardware like the Dell T3610 to ensure privacy and accountability. INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE: Managing enterprise virtualization environments and self-hosted clouds where data ownership is non-negotiable. CYBERSECURITY AND GOVERNANCE: Hardening systems against modern threats, specifically focusing on OAuth supply chain security and AI red teaming. When I am not at a terminal, I am likely operating under my Amateur Radio license, KO6JKE. Troubleshooting a radio link and debugging a network stack require the same tinkerer soul and a commitment to keeping lines of communication open.