Brian J Stokes

Lead Oracle Cloud SME (Infra, SecOps)

Royal Carribian Group

Consultant

May 2024 - Present

Miramar, FL, USA [Remote]

Lead operations implementer for Oracle Cloud solutions. Providing guidance and deployment oversight for all OCI PaaS and SaaS solutions. Supporting ERP, Siebel, Autonomous DB, Exascale DB and Fusion. Evaluating advanced Data Guard and AI Solutions, and implementing DR plans.

• Overseeing the provisioning essential services (compute, storage, database, networking and security) to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.
• Developing CSSAP-endorsed Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) and Policy-as-Code (PaC) solutions using Terraform and CloudGuard.
• Developed & Implemented CIS Benchmark response and mitigation plans.
• Resolved critical cross-team and divisional dependencies by identifying and addressing potential issues, collaborating with management to innovate process improvements and practical workarounds, thereby maintaining project timelines and deliverables.
• Strengthened infrastructure and application security through close collaboration with security teams. Deployed CloudGuard, Splunk, DarkTrace and Orca agents.
• Lead Engineer for ERP Fusion Project.

Senior Systems Analyst (DevOps, SRE, Cloud Eng)

Oracle Corporation (formerly Cerner)

Full-Time

Jan 2020 - Mar 2024

Kansas City, MO, USA [Remote]

Following the merger between Cerner and Oracle, I proactively stepped up to serve as the Lead Systems Engineer, spearheading the migration of over 30 customer-facing patient portal services from AWS to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI). My role involved coordinating daily scrums with senior management and the development team to design and execute a comprehensive, multi-phase full-stack Hybrid Cloud migration. This project encompassed a broad spectrum of systems, all Linux-based or leveraging cloud and self-hosted API services, demonstrating my leadership in a complex technological transition.

Oracle Cloud Migration (2023-2024)

• Successfully navigated the Corporate Security Solution Assurance Process (CSSAP), crafting comprehensive infrastructure plans that met stringent HIPAA and security standards, and secured VP-level approval. This encompassed detailed assessments of compute and network infrastructures, encryption, and risk management, ensuring full compliance and operational integrity.
• Implemented CSSAP-endorsed Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) and Policy-as-Code (PaC) solutions using Terraform and CloudFormation, facilitating the streamlined provisioning and management of new cloud resources, significantly enhancing operational agility.
• Resolved critical cross-team and divisional dependencies by identifying and addressing dozens of issues, collaborating with management to innovate process improvements and practical workarounds, thereby maintaining project timelines and deliverables.
• Overhauled legacy systems by migrating and provisioning essential services—including compute, storage, database, and security—from AWS or on-premise to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, achieving a modernized, efficient infrastructure with enhanced performance and reliability.
• Revolutionized system by migrating 15 years of mutable legacy Bash/Python/Ansible/Chef cookbooks to immutable Terraform, achieving a 90% reduction in system maintenance. This transformation, coupled with collaboration with the development team for CI/CD enhancements, led to improved deployment processes and a streamlined, code-driven infrastructure.
• Strengthened infrastructure and application security through close collaboration with security teams, upgrading encryption protocols, and instituting a robust certificate renewal process, thereby fortifying data protection measures.
• Drove technological innovation and operational efficiency by continuously exploring, evaluating, and integrating cutting-edge technologies, tools, and methodologies, positioning the organization at the forefront of industry advancements.

Cerner Achievements:

I had the privilege of collaborating with numerous exceptional teams at Cerner. During my tenure, I contributed to the deployment, maintenance, and monitoring of various custom-developed solutions across multiple environments and geographic regions. My responsibilities spanned On-Prem data centers, Edge devices, and Hybrid Cloud deployments. Additionally, my role was integral to supporting several global government contracts, including those with the Department of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA), adhering to the FedRamp process.

DevOps Associate, Specialist (SRE)

Cboe Global Markets (aquired Bats Global Markets)

Full-Time

Nov 2015 - Dec 2019

Lenexa, Kansas, USA

As part of the DevOps team post merger with Bats, I assisted in migration of four major options and futures exchanges from Cboe to the Bats technology stack. This complex transition involved shifting our configuration management from Puppet to Salt, transitioning distributions from SLES to RHEL, and upgrading our hardware from HP Gen8 to Gen10. 
The project demanded the acquisition of numerous new skills in Linux administration, capacity planning, performance tuning, PostgreSQL database management, and Python development, leading to significant improvements in system performance and reliability.

DevOps Associate, DevOps Specialist (2017-2019)

• Engineered Python wrappers for Cisco and Arisa APIs, developing a PostgreSQL schema to automate and optimize data management, which facilitated the creation of comprehensive reports and Tableau dashboards for strategic insights across multiple departments.
• Led the development and project management of customer-facing portals, enhancing user experience by providing real-time access to billing, subscription, and connectivity health data, significantly improving customer satisfaction and transparency.
• Spearheaded the transition to 24x6 operations, adopting a pivotal role in supporting pre-market trading activities, and delivering extensive training to ensure operational excellence across global markets.
• Streamlined nightly operations by managing change control, deployment processes, and collaborating with the Linux team on host migration and bootstrapping, achieving unparalleled system stability and performance.
• Proactively identified and mitigated multiple critical startup bugs, preventing potential system-wide disruptions and maintaining seamless exchange operations, underscoring a commitment to operational integrity and reliability.

NOC Associate, NOC Specialist (2015-2017)

Provided direct support for stock market connectivity and troubleshooting, spanning from internal routing cores to customer devices. This included managing configurations, multicast subscriptions, BGP routing, packet tracing, latency analysis, and switch configuration. Additionally, I offered backup support for Trade Desk operations, ensuring seamless market activities and robust client service.

• Achieved crucial FINRA Certifications (Series 7, 57, 63) and CCNA within a year, showcasing a strong foundation in financial regulations and network engineering.
• Ensured low-latency connectivity across global data centers (NY, Chicago, London), overseeing planning, monitoring, and emergency management to maintain high-performance nanosecond precision standards.
• Leveraged advanced troubleshooting tools (tcpdump, tshark, wireshark) to resolve unicast and multicast network issues, ensuring reliable network performance.
• Developed an innovative PHP web tool for automated network configuration, enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and reducing manual errors through automation and integration with IP management and billing systems.
• Implemented cloud-based SNMP v3 solutions and developed auditing tools to optimize network monitoring and identify cost-saving opportunities, improving financial efficiency.

Systems Administrator, Futures Trader & Lead Analyst

Professional Energy Group / FuelProphet.com

Full-Time

Jul 2007 - Nov 2015

Leawood, Kansas, USA

Provided education, strategy, and hedging advice to clients across the US for the management of petroleum commodities.

Notable Achievements:

• Systems Administration: Ensuring optimal operation of the full technology stack, including onsite and remote servers, desktops, network routing, domain security, and firewall management, as well as VoIP and productivity solutions, maintaining uninterrupted business operations.
•  Lead Analyst: Created advanced historical and real-time analysis tools using MS SQL, Excel, and the DTN data platform, tracking over 100k index symbols to identify risks and opportunities, providing clients with immediate access to quotes and analyses on various devices.
• Trade Desk Associate: Ensured seamless order execution, adhered to NFA compliance, facilitated FCM interactions, and resolved issues promptly. Managed new account setups and engaged in futures and options trading, alongside performing margin and hedge risk assessments, enhancing trading efficiency and client satisfaction.
• Developed an innovative PHP web tool for automated network configuration, enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and reducing manual errors through automation and integration with IP management and billing systems.
• Portfolio Manager: Strategically managed both logistical and financial risks for commodities, overseeing the procurement and transportation for over 60 clients, which accounted for an annual volume of 80 million gallons of gasoline and diesel, optimizing portfolio performance and client ROI.

FulProphet Subsidiary

Served as the primary manager for a subsidiary of Professional Energy, offering a daily fuel purchasing advice subscription service tailored to specific markets.

• Provided comprehensive systems support, encompassing sales pipeline management, customer relations, subscription services, and the network administration of hosted servers and proprietary software, ensuring seamless operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.
• Led brand development efforts, incorporating graphic and web design, SEO strategies, product development, and platform management, significantly enhancing brand visibility and market engagement.
• Spearheaded the evolution of product and business plans, successfully expanding services to include text message delivery (SMS), broadening customer reach and service accessibility.

Support Associate, Support Engineer, Network Engineer

Versent

Full-Time

Apr 2006 - Jul 2007

Kansas City, Missouri, USA

Provided systems integration and management with a focus on Microsoft Small Business server and Cisco equipment for 50+ small businesses and nonprofits in Kansas City and Lawrence.

Notable Achievements:

• Collaborated directly with clients' executive teams to strategize and deploy technology solutions, aligning IT infrastructure with business objectives for improved operational effectiveness.
• Managed hardware estimates, acquisition, installation and configuration for servers (Dell, HPE, IBM), desktops (including virtual Citrix gateways), firewalls (Cisco, PaloAlto), and custom edge devices.
• Provided comprehensive systems support, encompassing sales pipeline management, customer relations, subscription services, and the network administration of hosted servers and proprietary software, ensuring seamless operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.
• Delivered comprehensive support for Exchange Server and Windows Domain management, including hosting services, ensuring optimal system performance and user satisfaction.
• Engineered, marketed, and administered a custom Linux-based spam filtering appliance utilizing SpamAssassin, significantly reducing spam and enhancing email security for clients.
• Created an extensive knowledge base and conducted training sessions for new hires, fostering a knowledgeable and efficient workforce.