Hi, I’m James!

I’m an IT and cybersecurity professional in Texas with 14 years in the field, currently working as a cyber/IT operations engineer. My background spans security architecture, systems administration, digital forensics, and incident response, but these days I’m most interested in the space where technology meets information preservation: how we store, protect, and keep access to the data and records that matter.

I’ve always been the type to keep learning, formally and informally, and to fix problems before they become problems. This site is where I share what I’m building, researching, and thinking about.

What I’m Working On

SquirrelWorks LLC. I’m the Lead Architect at SquirrelWorks, where I design and maintain our Kasm Workspaces infrastructure, including a custom image registry for containerized desktop and application workspaces. You can find more on the SquirrelWorks page.

Library and information science. I’m pursuing a Master of Library and Information Science with a graduate certificate in Archival Studies at Louisiana State University, with graduation expected in [December 2027]. My current research looks at the costs and access barriers that paywalls create for independent researchers who don’t have institutional database access. After the MLIS, I plan to pursue a PhD and eventually teach.

The home lab. My lab is my testing ground for everything from Windows Server domain services and PKI to virtualization, network design, and home automation. It’s currently in the middle of a rebuild onto lower-power hardware and Proxmox, and I’ll be writing about that process here.

Writing. I’m turning more of my research and notes into posts, so expect a mix of technical write-ups, research, and the occasional random thought.

My Education

I have earned multiple degrees at different colleges/universities including:

• Associate of Arts (Tarrant County College)
• Associate of Arts – General Studies (Collin College)
• Bachelors of Science in Business Computer Information Systems (University of North Texas)
• Master of Science in CyberSecurity (University of Dallas)
• Master of Science in Information Systems – Cyber Security (Dakota State University)
• Master of Library and Information Science (Louisiana State University – IN PROGRESS)
• Graduate Certificate in Archival Studies (Louisiana State University – IN PROGRESS)

Outside of my university education I have obtained several industry certifications including:

• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
• GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH)
• GIAC Certified Forensics Examiner (GCFE)
• GIAC Defensible Security Architecture (GDSA)

I regularly attend conferences and many other continuing education opportunities that align with my career and personal interests and, from time to time, teach workshops and seminars as well.

My Interests…

My career and personal interests include:

• Systems administration, virtualization, and infrastructure design
• Home and small business lab and network design
• Containerized workspaces and self-hosted services
• Home automation and IoT
• Digital archives and digital forensics
• Digitizing physical media and preserving “born digital” content, including secure transfer, metadata preservation, and secure storage
• Open access and equitable access to research
• The history of computers and computer media