Thriving Under Pressure: Securing a Military Base Network in Afghanistan
Adapting, Leading, and Delivering in a War Zone
Working alongside the U.S. military in Afghanistan as a civilian contractor—with no prior military experience—was a challenge unlike any other. Surrounded by former and active-duty military personnel, I had to quickly adapt, earning trust while executing a high-stakes network security project. As Lead Engineer and Project Manager, I was responsible for deploying 802.1x authentication across all network switches at a military base in southern Afghanistan, enhancing security and simplifying network maintenance.
Operating in a demanding, unpredictable environment, I meticulously planned testing, authentication setup, and deployment schedules, ensuring no operational disruption. Despite the logistical challenges, the project was completed on time and met all security objectives.
Key Contributions:
✔ Successfully implemented 802.1x authentication across all switches on base, strengthening network security and access control.
✔ Coordinated deployments with military stakeholders, scheduling upgrades during low-impact windows to ensure operational continuity.
✔ Adapted and thrived in a high-pressure environment, proving my ability to execute complex IT initiatives under extreme conditions.
This experience sharpened my leadership, adaptability, and crisis management skills, reinforcing my ability to navigate and deliver mission-critical projects in any environment.🔗 Looking for a project manager who excels in high-pressure, high-stakes IT infrastructure projects? Let’s connect!
Brian Keys - IT Project Manager 