Work

Design, test, and optimize 5G New Radio network infrastructure, with a deep focus on electromagnetic interference analysis and resolution. Came over through the Sprint acquisition when the deal closed in April 2020. The work sits at the intersection of propagation physics, protocol engineering, and real-world infrastructure — finding out why a signal isn't where it should be, understanding the mechanism, and fixing it.

Transferred to Ericsson's managed services subsidiary on July 9, 2009, when Sprint outsourced its network engineering in a $5B, 7-year deal — roughly 6,000 Sprint employees made the move. Performed RF engineering work as Engineer III for the Sprint network. When the contract partially wound back to Sprint in 2016, I chose to stay at Ericsson and moved into the Engineering Excellence team: applying Six Sigma process improvement methods to the site on-air workflow, solving a problem for one customer and making the solution repeatable and scalable across others.

Joined Alamosa PCS — a Sprint PCS affiliate — during the ground-floor build of a CDMA wireless network in Wisconsin. Helped construct the switch and bring the first cell sites on air. To Sprint customers it was new coverage; to us it was the birth of something. The company became the consolidation story of 2000s telecom in miniature: Alamosa PCS merged with Nextel Partners, became Sprint Nextel, then Sprint. I grew from Switch Technician into RF engineering along the way. Earned a Telecommunications Specialist Certificate from Fox Valley Technical College during this period.

First role out of the Marine Corps. Einstein PCS was a regional wireless carrier in the Fox Valley — technically a NOCC technician, though there was no real NOCC yet, so the job was whatever needed doing. Left as Senior Switch Tech managing two switching centers: Madison and Appleton. Bridged Y2K — ran the tests, watched the clock roll over, confirmed no major issues. The hype had done its job.

3rd Battalion, 5th Marines. Enlisted straight out of Neenah High School on January 3, 1995. Served as a Field Radio Operator — first for the line companies, then primarily in the COC (Combat Operations Center), responsible for rapid communications setup and ensuring the signal stayed up during field operations and overseas deployments. Also served as Platoon NCO, HAZMAT NCO, and managed logistics and embarkation of all communications equipment, including sensitive crypto gear. EAS: December 1998.