Evan Byrd

Evan Byrd

Network Specialist at Allen ISD & US Army Reserve | CCNA

Princeton, Texas, United States

 Resume

About Me

Network Specialist with 2+ years of experience managing network infrastructure for a district of 23,000+ staff and students. Expertise in Cisco/Aruba switching, Palo Alto firewall administration, wireless optimization, and network security. Proven ability to configure and deploy network switching and wireless equipment with a focus on resiliency and reliability across multiple campuses. Skilled at using network monitoring tools such as SolarWinds, Wireshark, and AirWave to quickly identify and resolve issues.

Having earned my training as an Honor Graduate from the U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence, I am passionate about using my skills to ensure systems availability and maintain data integrity across enterprise networks.

Professional Experience

Allen ISD Logo

Network Specialist – Allen ISD

Feb 2023 – Present | Allen, Texas, United States

  • Maintain and optimize network infrastructure for 20,920 students and 2,755 staff across 24 campuses.
  • Manage 1000+ Cisco/Aruba switches and 2,600+ Aruba APs, ensuring 99.9% uptime.
  • Configure and enforce firewall policies (Palo Alto) and content filtering (ContentKeeper) for 30,000+ devices.
  • Spearheaded deployment of 100+ edge switches, improving network reliability and bandwidth.
  • Upgraded district-wide fiber, improving bandwidth, redundancy, and latency by 200%.
  • Enhanced network security by implementing IPv6/DHCP snooping, reducing unauthorized access risks.
  • Saved $100K+ by repurposing equipment, including Wi-Fi upgrades, edge switching, and stadium coverage.
  • Utilize SolarWinds, Aruba Central, and StruxtureWare to monitor performance and proactively resolve issues.
  • Designed and mapped the entire district’s network in Microsoft Visio, improving troubleshooting speed by 50%.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional IT teams, vendors, and construction teams to support infrastructure projects.

Professional Experience

United States Army Reserve Logo

Network Specialist – United States Army Reserve

Feb 2021 – Present | Seagoville, TX

  • Manage and secure IP-based network systems for 300+ users in mission-critical environments.
  • Configure, maintain, and troubleshoot routers, switches, and encryption devices to ensure secure communications.
  • Perform real-time network monitoring and fault resolution, reducing downtime by 30%.
  • Trained and mentored junior IT personnel, enhancing overall unit readiness.
  • Promoted after graduating with Honors from the U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence.
  • Maintain active security clearance level of Secret. Active since: July 27th, 2021.

Education

Excelsior University Logo

Bachelor of Science in Information Technology

Excelsior University | Jan 2022 – Jul 2023

Magna Cum Laude, Upsilon Pi Epsilon Honor Society

  • Focused on network security and cloud computing.
  • Completed a capstone project on scalable network solutions.
Collin College Logo

Associate of Applied Science in Marketing

Collin College | 2013 – 2017

Studied marketing principles, consumer behavior, and strategic planning.

  • Developed strong communication and analytical skills.
  • Participated in marketing campaigns and case studies.

Certifications

CCNA Logo

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)

Expires Oct 2025

Microsoft AZ-900 Logo

Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)

Honors & Awards

Army Cyber Center of Excellence Logo

Honor Graduate

U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence – Oct 2021

Associated with United States Army Reserve

Finished in the top 10% of the graduating class after completing technical training in Network Operations. The Cyber Center of Excellence (CCoE) is the U.S. Army's force modernization proponent for Cyberspace Operations, Signal/Communications Networks and Information Services, and Electronic Warfare (EW).

About This Project

This portfolio website is designed to highlight Evan Byrd's professional journey, skills, and accomplishments in a modern and sleek interface. It serves as a digital resume and a platform for networking with potential employers, collaborators, and industry peers.

The website is built with the following technologies:

Features of this portfolio include:

You can view the source code for this project on GitHub: GitHub Repository.

Contact Me