Hi, I'm Kaleb👋|
Military discipline meets cybersecurity expertise -- solving complex IT challenges with precision.
About Me
Hi There!
I'm Kaleb Mekonnen, an IT and Data Analytics professional and proud U.S. Army Veteran with over seven years of leadership experience. I bring military discipline and a methodical approach to solving complex technical challenges -- from cybersecurity and network administration to data analysis and cloud computing.
With a Bachelor's in Computer & Information Science (GPA: 3.94) and an active CompTIA Security+ CE certification, I'm passionate about building secure systems and delivering reliable IT solutions. Most recently, I served as a Business Data Analyst at the Defense Logistics Agency, where I analyzed large datasets using SQL, Toad for Oracle, and Excel to drive operational improvements.
Projects
Showcasing my technical expertise through real-world cybersecurity and data analytics projects.
DDoS Simulation
Network Defense
Designed and executed controlled DDoS attack simulations to test network resilience and mitigation strategies, identifying vulnerabilities and implementing effective countermeasures.
Honeypot Setup
Threat Intelligence
Deployed and configured sophisticated honeypot systems to attract and analyze attacker behavior, gathering valuable threat intelligence and enhancing overall security posture.
Phishing Campaign
Security Awareness
Conducted ethical phishing campaigns to assess organizational vulnerability to social engineering attacks, followed by targeted security awareness training to strengthen human firewall.
Job Market Trends Analysis
Data Analytics
Analyzed 10,000+ job postings using SQL to uncover hiring trends, in-demand skills, and salary patterns across the data analytics field, turning raw scraped data into career-guiding insights.
IT Certifications and Security Clearance
CompTIA Security+ CE
Active
Industry-standard certification validating baseline skills needed to perform core security functions and pursue an IT security career.
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
In Progress
Comprehensive certification covering networking fundamentals, IP services, security, automation and programmability.
Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104)
In Progress
Validates expertise in implementing, managing, and monitoring an organization's Microsoft Azure environment.
Security Clearance
Active
Active DoD National Security Clearance — Secret. Enables access to classified information and secure facilities requiring security credentials.
Skills and Expertise
Cybersecurity
Expertise in network security, threat detection, and security auditing
Network Administration
Advanced knowledge of network infrastructure, protocols, and administration
Cloud & Data Analytics
Proficient in cloud platforms, SQL, and data analysis tools
IT Support & Service Management
Dedicated to providing exceptional technical support and enterprise IT solutions
Education
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
Bachelor of Science
Computer & Information Science - Cybersecurity
Summa Cum Laude
Community College of Philadelphia
Associate in Applied Science
Computer Information Systems
Dean's List
Work Experience
A track record of delivering IT solutions across defense, education, finance, and startup environments.
Business Data Analyst II
JUL 2025 - FEB 2026Stellar Innovations & Solutions - Contracted to Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)
Philadelphia, PA - Remote
- Supported the Defense Logistics Agency's Automated Logistics Cataloging Workload (ALCW) by analyzing, processing, and interpreting large datasets to improve cataloging accuracy and logistics readiness
- Collaborated with government stakeholders and cross-functional teams to define data requirements and deliver actionable insights aligned with DLA's mission
- Utilized tools such as Toad for Oracle, SQL, and Microsoft Excel to develop reports, clean data, and generate visualizations that support decision-making
- Identified trends, inconsistencies, and performance issues within cataloging systems, and recommended solutions for operational improvements
IT Specialist
JUL 2023 - JUN 2025DLA / Stellar Innovation & Solutions (SIS) Inc.
Philadelphia, PA
- Responding to user inquiries and issues via phone, email, or in-person
- Diagnosing and troubleshooting network connectivity issues and hardware components
- Assisting users with installation, configuration, and troubleshooting of software applications
- Ensuring compliance with security policies related to user authentication
- Monitoring and updating open tickets using ServiceNow for timely resolution
- Utilizing Active Directory for User/Machine Account Management, Group Policy, Password Management, and Certificate Mapping
- Collaborating with other IT teams to escalate and resolve complex technical issues
IT Specialist - Intern
JAN 2021 - APR 2021Harrisburg University
Harrisburg, PA
- Acquired practical experience using Wireshark for network analysis and troubleshooting
- Helped monitor and analyze network traffic for startup projects
- Aided in developing and implementing network solutions to enhance business operations
- Collaborated with the IT team to identify and fix network performance problems
- Took part in team meetings to discuss and improve network security strategies
IT Support - Intern
JUN 2020 - AUG 2020Philly Startup Sprint
Philadelphia, PA
- Operated across multiple operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux) and managed hardware components
- Applied TCP/IP, DHCP, DNS, and other networking concepts to maintain network functionality
- Ensured compliance with network security and compliance frameworks
- Rapidly learned and implemented new technologies to improve system performance
Customer IT Support / Software Tester
JAN 2016 - NOV 2016Bank of America - Contract
Agoura Hills, CA
- Provided frontline customer support, serving as a direct liaison between customers and technical teams
- Diagnosed software issues and provided clear, step-by-step resolutions to maximize customer satisfaction
- Leveraged strong understanding of banking systems to troubleshoot and resolve technical problems
- Coordinated with cross-functional teams to escalate and resolve critical customer issues
- Handled regression and performance testing in high-volume transactional environments
- Logged and tracked all defects and issues in JIRA and ServiceNow
National Guard Reserve Member
8 YearsU.S. Pennsylvania National Guard
Serving with distinction in the Pennsylvania National Guard for 8 years, developing leadership, discipline, and teamwork skills while supporting both state and federal missions.
Get in Touch
I'm always interested in hearing about new opportunities and collaborations. Feel free to reach out!