Not much to tell, been a member since (2015/2016) - I had canceled & renewed my membership years ago but for some reason, Medium does not calculate that in...).

Blah, Blah, Blah - Yep, just another somewhat, "somewhat" interesting person here, on yet another social media site.... trying to live a good life. More about my work, learnings, character and ethics in various papers from over the years: https://patrick642nu.wordpress.com/ & https://patrick642.wordpress.com/

I've been in the AWS Cloud Architect/Engineer world for years. In 2023, attempted to switch over to GCP Data Engineer after gaining that cert (Sept 2023).

But.... the fall/winter tech layoffs skewed that for me.

So, I jumped back to AWS in January (2024) and got on their Data Engineer path and obtained that cert Jun 2024 (already had the AWS Data Analytics cert, Dec 2021). This year (2025), worked on my Machine Learning/AI Engineer certifications :

obtained the AWS ML Engineer Assoc cert.

then as promised, gained the AWS ML SPECIALIST cert (Sept 2025) to switch over from Data Engineer.

---- To be frank, I bit off more than I could chew here... Diving into ML & AI entails a GREAT deal more than initial endeavors for Cloud Engineering and Data Engineering, combined. I had to take off work, a very calculated risk, in order to study full-time. Otherwise, it would take far longer to attain the ML/AI certifications due to working and commuting hours per day.

Earlier: Federal employee as Sr Intelligence Analyst and then Intel Officer as one of the original Cybercommand members (a plank owner). Ran the Intel Watch Standers/Cybersecurity SMEs. Prior to that: InfoSec and Cybersecurity for years in multiple large companies/agencies. Worked with Ambassadors & DCoM one-on-one at a few embassies abroad as well as INS Regional Commanders, N.E. America.

Basically, been in the IT world for a long time - content noted above. Even earlier, worked in a: a) NOC & then the SOC at SBC Datacomm -- b) Tier III in an international Software company Tech Support -- c) REI IT Tier II Help Desk === d) earlier still, a Nationwide company and simultaneously ran the: Nationwide Tech Support Help Desk AND Voice & Data Communications network AND the PC Support team AND Mainframe Security access. (back when folks could know MOST everything about IT workings...)

Former Marine platoon Sergeant from another time.

Double grad degrees:

MBA Technology (Strategy & Innovation focus) & MSc Cybersecurity

In the past - learned to read, speak and write multiple languages: Arabic, Russian, Japanese & Chinese (High School Spanish tied for top of class). (Albeit - ALL very rusty but can still read, speak, write some Russian & Chinese) Again, just another person who has goals in life, attempting to live a good, equitable life and wanting others to be the same way - with the wishing of success for all...

Been to a lot of countries for work and for vacation. Been across America - ALL over (except Hawai'i & Alaska). It is too bad that we, people in America, cannot be better when it comes to interacting with others, regardless of race, gender, sexual preference, religion, age. What you do for yourself is what you do - as long as you are NOT harming another (i.e.: domestic abuse against women or hate crimes because the other person is a different skin color).

But, you cannot force what you like and do on others. Nor can you require others to be like you (sounds familiar eh: religious communities, neo-nazis, militia groups, etc.), except maybe require everyone living in or coming to America must learn to read, speak & write English at least the 8th grade level ...

We have to accept others for who they are (as long as they are NOT racists, sexists, homophobes or religious zealots) and what they are ---- NOT force them to be as you want or even worse:

a) force women to be of less importance without voices, just have babies and be quiet OR --- b) make people of any other race that is not white to be second rate people with NO voice or power ---

=== this is not the way the world should be. It should be full of equality, inclusion, collaboration, cognitive diversity and full of success to help EVERYONE grow and not suffer at the very bottom as many do today.

Okay, okay, I'm off the soapbox but that is me.... Ethics, Integrity and Character.