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Cybersecurity • IT Support • Problem Solving

Hi, I’m Alex Walker

ODU Cybersecurity Student & Information Technology Specialist I

I’m a Cybersecurity student at Old Dominion University with hands-on experience in enterprise IT support, endpoint management, and technical troubleshooting. My work at ODU has helped me grow from a student learning technical concepts into a professional applying them in real support environments.

Information Technology Specialist I Digital Transformation & Technology Intune & ServiceNow
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Portrait of Alex Walker

Current Role

Information Technology Specialist I

Digital Transformation & Technology • Old Dominion University

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About Me

My portfolio brings together academic work, technical experience, and professional growth in IT and cybersecurity.

Background

How I Got Into Tech

I was born and raised in Norfolk, Virginia, and I’ve been interested in technology for as long as I can remember. What started with curiosity around computers, gaming, and security gradually turned into a real interest in systems, networking, and cybersecurity.

Over time, that interest became more hands-on. I built and sold custom PCs, explored technical labs, and kept learning through troubleshooting and experimentation. Those experiences helped me develop both practical skills and a stronger sense of the kind of work I wanted to pursue.

Where I Am Now

Student to IT Professional

Today, I’m pursuing my Cybersecurity degree at Old Dominion University while working in IT at ODU. My experiences in support, systems, and enterprise technology have helped me grow from a student learning the field into a professional actively contributing to it.

The part of technology I enjoy most is solving real problems, understanding how systems work, and continuing to build a strong foundation for a future in cybersecurity.

Resume

A current overview of my education, technical experience, and professional development in IT support and cybersecurity.

Professional Snapshot

Experience, Education, and Technical Growth

My resume reflects both my academic progress and my growth as an IT professional. It highlights my current role at Old Dominion University, prior hands-on support experience, and the technical work that continues to strengthen my background in systems, troubleshooting, and cybersecurity.

Current Role IT Specialist I
Focus IT + Cybersecurity
Environment ODU Enterprise IT
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Skills

A mix of enterprise IT support skills, cybersecurity foundations, and the platforms I use in real environments.

Operations

IT Support & Troubleshooting

  • Windows troubleshooting and repair
  • Ticket-based user support
  • Software installation and troubleshooting
  • Remote support workflows
  • Device setup and deployment

Systems

Cybersecurity & Administration

  • Linux system administration fundamentals
  • Networking and security concepts
  • System hardening awareness
  • Risk and security mindset
  • Hands-on technical lab work

Platforms

Tools & Technologies

  • Microsoft Intune
  • ServiceNow
  • PowerShell basics
  • LogMeIn Resolve
  • VirtualBox / VMware

Core Strengths

Windows Linux ServiceNow Intune Networking Endpoint Support Troubleshooting Cybersecurity

Education

My academic path has combined technical coursework, reflective writing, and applied learning experiences.

Foundation

Tidewater Community College

Associate of Applied Science — Cybersecurity

Built my foundation in cybersecurity, networking, systems, and technical labs while strengthening my interest in both hands-on troubleshooting and digital security.

Current Program

Old Dominion University

B.S. in Cybersecurity

Expanded my skills through coursework in Linux systems, network security, cyber strategy, professional writing, and internship-based learning while also gaining real-world IT experience at ODU.

Experience

A focused overview of the technical roles and work that have shaped my growth in IT and cybersecurity.

Present

Information Technology Specialist I

Old Dominion University • Digital Transformation & Technology

Supports users and systems in a university IT environment while working with ticket workflows, troubleshooting, endpoint tools, and enterprise support processes.

Previous ODU Role

Engineering Desktop Support Technician

Old Dominion University • Past Internship

Built experience in hardware troubleshooting, device setup, lab support, imaging, and technical operations in academic spaces.

Independent Work

Freelance PC Builder

2018 – Present

Built and sold custom PCs, diagnosed hardware and software issues, and developed practical experience with technical problem solving and client communication.

Current Role

My current position reflects the next step in my professional development, moving from student internship work into a broader IT support role.

Current Position

Information Technology Specialist I

Digital Transformation & Technology • Old Dominion University

In my current role, I support users and systems in an enterprise university IT environment. This position has strengthened my technical troubleshooting, communication, and ability to manage issues in a structured support setting while continuing to build my foundation in systems and cybersecurity.

ServiceNow Intune Remote Support Troubleshooting

Role Highlights

  • Support users through structured ticket workflows
  • Troubleshoot hardware, software, and access-related issues
  • Work with endpoint and device management tools
  • Assist with software deployment and technical setup
  • Build experience in enterprise IT operations

Technical Support

User-Focused Problem Solving

Provide direct support for users experiencing system, software, and device issues, helping restore productivity and resolve technical problems efficiently.

Enterprise Tools

Structured IT Workflow

Work with platforms such as ServiceNow, Intune, and remote support tools to manage requests, devices, and support processes in a professional environment.

Professional Growth

Building Technical Maturity

This role has helped me grow in confidence, technical maturity, and professionalism by giving me direct exposure to real support operations and enterprise systems.

Career Direction

Why This Role Matters

My current position continues to strengthen the IT foundation that supports my long-term goals in cybersecurity, systems, and technical operations. It has helped me move from learning technical concepts in the classroom to applying them in a real, service-oriented environment.

Past Internship

This internship gave me the hands-on experience that helped build the foundation for my current role in university IT support.

Foundation Experience

Engineering Desktop Support Technician

Batten College of Engineering & Technology • Old Dominion University

During this internship, I supported engineering spaces through imaging, deployment, workstation setup, and hardware troubleshooting. It was one of the first experiences that showed me how technical work supports real users and real learning environments.

What It Built

  • Hands-on hardware troubleshooting experience
  • Exposure to imaging and deployment workflows
  • Stronger technical problem-solving under pressure
  • Experience supporting labs, classrooms, and user spaces
  • A direct path into my current IT role at ODU
Engineering computer lab supported during internship
Lab setup and support environment.
Cable-managed workstation from internship work
Workstation organization and setup.
Open desktop showing hands-on troubleshooting work
Hands-on hardware troubleshooting.
Equipment cart used for deployment and setup
Equipment staging and deployment.

Imaging & Deployment

Preparing Systems for Use

Assisted with configuring and deploying systems for academic spaces, helping ensure devices were ready for students, faculty, and staff.

Hardware Troubleshooting

Hands-On Technical Work

Diagnosed issues related to components, system stability, and workstation functionality, building confidence with physical troubleshooting and repair.

Support Readiness

Keeping Environments Functional

Helped make sure classrooms, labs, and support spaces stayed functional, organized, and ready for real use.

IDS 493

This section reflects the purpose of the electronic portfolio project: collecting evidence of learning, presenting work intentionally, and reflecting on growth across experiences.

Portfolio Purpose

More Than a Collection of Assignments

IDS 493 challenged me to think more intentionally about how I present my academic, technical, and professional experiences. Rather than simply collecting assignments, this portfolio helps me connect coursework, reflection, and career development in one place.

Intentional Design

Accessibility and Structure

I designed this portfolio with readability, contrast, clear navigation, and section structure in mind. My goal was to make the site visually strong while still keeping it organized, accessible, and easy to follow for different audiences.

Reflection

What This Portfolio Shows

One of the most valuable parts of this project has been seeing how my coursework, internship work, and current IT role all connect. They are not separate experiences, but parts of the same larger story of growth in cybersecurity and technical support.

Course Artifacts

These artifacts highlight key assignments that demonstrate my technical skills, problem-solving ability, and understanding of cybersecurity concepts.

IT 313 – Mobile Device Management (Intune)

This assignment explores how organizations manage and secure devices using Microsoft Intune. I analyzed real-world workflows like device enrollment, compliance enforcement, and remote management.

What I learned: Endpoint security, enterprise device management, and how IT enforces security at scale.

CS 464 – S-DES Encryption Program

This project demonstrates a working implementation of Simplified DES encryption. I built a command-line tool that performs encryption and decryption using permutations, key generation, and XOR operations.

What I learned: Cryptography fundamentals, algorithm design, and how encryption works step-by-step in real execution.

S-DES Encryption Program Output

CYSE 280 – Windows Security Research Paper

This paper analyzes major cybersecurity incidents like WannaCry, SolarWinds, and PrintNightmare. It focuses on how poor patching, weak configurations, and supply chain risks lead to real-world breaches.

What I learned: Patch management, system hardening, and how real attacks impact organizations.

CYSE 425W – Cybersecurity Policy Papers

This collection of policy analysis papers explores the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF 2.0) from multiple perspectives, including ethical, political, social, and effectiveness viewpoints. Each paper focuses on how cybersecurity decisions impact organizations and society beyond just technical controls.

Throughout these assignments, I analyzed real-world frameworks, evaluated trade-offs in security decisions, and connected technical security practices to policy, governance, and risk management.

What I learned: How cybersecurity extends beyond technical work into policy, decision-making, and organizational strategy, and how frameworks like NIST CSF guide real-world security programs.

These papers are part of a structured progression, where each assignment builds on the previous one:

  • Paper 1: Introduction to NIST CSF and its core structure
  • Paper 2: Ethical implications of cybersecurity frameworks
  • Paper 3: Social and organizational impact of cybersecurity decisions
  • Paper 4: Effectiveness and limitations of policy-based security
  • Paper 5: Final evaluation of cybersecurity frameworks in practice

CYSE 368 Final Papers

Embedded view of my internship reflection papers and final work.

Reflection Paper 1 – First 50 Hours

This reflection documents my first 50 hours as a Remote Support Specialist at ODU. During this phase, I focused on onboarding, learning enterprise tools like ServiceNow, Intune, and LogMeIn Resolve, and observing real-world troubleshooting workflows.

What I did: Shadowed live support sessions, assisted with software installations, resolved initial tickets, and learned how enterprise IT environments operate.

What I learned: How real IT problems differ from classroom scenarios, the importance of documentation, and how communication plays a critical role in technical support.

Reflection Paper 2 – First 100 Hours

This reflection highlights my transition from training into actively handling support tickets. I began working more independently, troubleshooting real user issues, and improving my ability to communicate technical solutions clearly.

What I did: Diagnosed issues without direct remote access, guided users through fixes, documented tickets, and collaborated with team members.

What I learned: Real-world troubleshooting requires adaptability, strong communication, and patience when working with users who may not be technical.

Reflection Paper 2 – First 100 Hours

This reflection highlights my transition from training into actively handling support tickets. I began working more independently, troubleshooting real user issues, and improving my ability to communicate technical solutions clearly.

What I did: Diagnosed issues without direct remote access, guided users through fixes, documented tickets, and collaborated with team members.

What I learned: Real-world troubleshooting requires adaptability, strong communication, and patience when working with users who may not be technical.

Reflection Paper 3 – 150 Hours

This reflection shows my progression into a fully independent IT support role. At this stage, I was managing tickets on my own and contributing to large-scale enterprise deployments.

What I did: Resolved 60+ tickets, deployed software using Intune across thousands of devices, and supported enterprise-level system updates.

What I learned: Enterprise IT operations, large-scale deployment processes, and how to balance efficiency with accuracy in a high-volume support environment.

Contact

Thank you for taking the time to view my portfolio. Feel free to reach out if you would like to connect or learn more about my work.

Let’s Connect

Professional Contact Information

I’m always open to connecting about IT support, cybersecurity, technical growth, and future opportunities.