Virginia Beach, VA 23453 / (757) 676-2125 / Liam.Benincasa@gmail.com

OBJECTIVE:  Director or Sr. Manager – RF Communications, IT Management, Security Consulting

CAREER SUMMARY

• 20 years, US Navy, Chief Warrant Officer 3, Honorable Discharge: 06/20
• 20 years, Information Systems Administrator
• 16 years, Advanced Network Analyst
• 12 years, Naval Special Warfare Communications 
• 6 years, Technical Surveillance Operator
• 5 years, Communications Officer
• 5 years, Varsity Lacrosse Head Coach
• 3 years, Operational Test Director
• Clearance: DoD, TS/SCI (last adjudicated: 06/18, expired: 06/20)

EXPERIENCE PORTFOLIO

04/17 – 06/20, 2181 Operational Test and Evaluation Officer (CWO3)

US Navy, Command Operational Test and Evaluation Force (COMOPTEVFOR), Norfolk, VA

• Managed six Navy staff and three civilian personnel responsible for C5I program operations in the SATCOM environment during testing phases
• Represented Admirals as C5I Subject Matter Expert (SME) to DoD Echelon II and Fleet Commanders
• Managed and supervised testing, evaluation, and integration of eight Command, Control, Communications, Computers, & Intelligence (C4I) Programs of Record, including Naval Multiband Terminal (NMT), Global Broadcast Service (GBS), NRO Operational Support Office, (DMR), Mobile User Objective System (MUOS), and Extremely High Frequency (EHF) terminals (for units, fleet ships, and satellite communications ground station used by the US Navy worldwide); break tests into small tasks, implement in warfighting environments, and advise on next steps go-forward
• Liaison for the MUOS program, as Lead Navy Operational Test Director (6 subordinates) and Joint Special operations, with a total cost of the program of ~$3.7B
• Supervised programs from conception to Defense Acquisition process
• Provided Subject Matter Expert (SME) advice and counsel for communications section programs within the C4I and Space Divisions
• Led seventeen Test and Evaluation (T&E) evolutions, resulting in the identification of critical operational issues prior to Full Rate Production (FRP) 
• Directed a remote team in the development of operational and cybersecurity test plans for nine critical Navy programs, resulting in testing events providing in-depth analysis to Navy Program Offices and DOD executives identifying system suitability and acceptability critical to the Defense Acquisition process integration with Navy program offices, System Operability Verification Teams, Fleet Operators, private research NGOs, and development agencies
• Managed the Defense Acquisition process and how to integrate Program Executive Office (PEOs), System Operability Verification Test (SOVT) teams, fleet operators, private research companies, and development agencies
• Managed multi-year employee support contracts to ensure the scheduled completion of deliverables
• Aligned legacy test policies with Agile framework to identify changes required to enable in-depth operational and cyber-survivability validation within Agile programs.
• Specific projects during tenure were:
  • Liaised and provided SME advice and counsel from SPECWAR background to link COMOPTEVFOR with Naval Special Warfare to ensure that testing reflected real-world applications moving the legacy Narrowband Tactical Communications System (older UHF) to implement the new MUOS with a development funding cost of ~$3B over several years
  • Spearheaded a program that integrated NSW Tactical communicators into the testing process, ensuring tactical applications and user concerns were addressed prior to full-rate production
  • Managed the final testing phase for the Navy Multiband Terminal; ensured deliverables were on schedule throughout the acquisition process, with a project development value of ~$557M

03/15 – 03/17, Communications Officer/Security Manager (CWO2)

US Navy, USS Mesa Verde (LPD-19), Norfolk Naval Base, Norfolk, VA

• Managed 28 sailors in two divisions responsible for the maintenance and operation of Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Collaboration, and Intelligence (C5I) systems, including hardware, software, platforms, and applications for secure voice, data, and tactical communication services for ~400 sailors and >800 marines, with oversight to equipment valued at ~$50M
• Facilitated, scheduled, and implemented a training program, resulting in 100% training requirement completion, 100% qualification rate, 100% divisional retention, 90% advancement, and 75% enrollment in higher education (university/college), with ‘0’ critical Naval Enlisted Classification (NEC) deficiencies
• Scheduled and managed integration, interoperability, and maintenance of Marine Expeditionary and Naval special warfare C5I equipment, including full-motion video of ISR platforms, as the SME
• Directed, managed, and facilitated 14 critical system tests required for ship sea trials and tests, including three System Operability Verification Tests (SOVTs) and four system upgrades (certifications of new systems and upgrades), resulting in fully functional systems and trained personnel to operate, repair, and conduct maintenance
• Managed, supervised, and monitored the shipboard communications center, as communications officer; reviewed, tested, and ensured thousands of computers, IP phones, and satellite systems (classified and unclassified), line of sight RF communications, and navigation systems worked during and after maintenance yard repairs
• Coordinated with three Chiefs to develop and implement training, real-life scenarios, and on-the-job (OJT) job shadowing to learn the systems and enable repair capabilities, resulting in certifications for fit for sea duty for the ship
• Managed and supervised a Senior Chief, two Chiefs, and 24 junior sailors, with a split of 14 staff on each of two divisions (RF communications and IT network, computer, helpdesk)
• Tracked security clearances of onboard personnel, as Facilities Security Manager, with zero security violations, 285 security clearances processed; coordinated clearance updates with ~100 junior sailors
• Led a 20-man team during maritime boarding actions and tactics, as Visit Board Search and Seizure Officer (VBSS)
• Facilitated, coordinated, and scheduled schools, training, and range time for mandated personnel training; ensured capabilities for using communications equipment and understanding of Rules of Engagement (actions); taught basic weapons handling, assaulting, and maneuvering, resulting in scoring higher than any other ship in the battle group during final assessment; trained and mentored junior sailors and Marines; developed a peer-led training program (train the trainer)
• Directed >300 maintenance evolutions to critical IT, cybersecurity, communications, navigation, and weapons systems, resulting in an increase in mission effectiveness by >20%

01/11 – 03/15, Information Systems Manager, Security Manager, Technical Surveillance Operator, Information Systems Chief Petty Officer (ITC)

US Navy, Naval Special Warfare Reconnaissance – Team 2, Norfolk & Virginia Beach, VA

• Managed, supervised, and monitored a 20-man deployable Technical Surveillance Element Team (two years) for eight NSW deployments (over 10 years; six combat, two operational)
• Led communications teams and technical surveillance elements during combat operations in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) during deployment to Iraq, Afghanistan
• Managed, supervised, and led 25 communicators and 30 technical surveillance operators for two divisions and four foreign allies (locations in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa) as Leading Chief Petty Officer for the communications department
• Led Network SME in network design, installation, and oversight of the installation of one unclassified and three classified networks during NSWG-10 new building move-in, installed servers, routers, switches, video-teleconferencing (VTC) suites, phones, cabling, and ensured physical security requirements, resulting in compliance and functionality
• Managed an $8.1M budget and accountability for 210 Controlled Cryptographic Items (CCI) with zero discrepancies; managed inventory for millions of dollars of C4I equipment, including >1000-line items of Controlled Cryptographic Item (CCI) gear
• Developed a full-motion video solution for the Scan Eagle platform, enhancing the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) mission capabilities with savings of ~$4M
• Led operations, as Primary Tactical Communicator, for >100 direct-action missions and >50 technical surveillance operations
• Coordinated missions within a Joint-military environment, including missions with government agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and foreign ally militaries
• Developed, integrated, and oversaw the NSW SCAN Eagle (UAV) program as lead SME; developed transcoding solutions for video backhaul of geo-rectified meta-data through deployable nodes
• n allies

11/07 – 01/11, Information Systems Manager, Tactical Communicator (IT1)         

US Navy, SEAL Team Eight, Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, Norfolk & Virginia Beach, VA

•  30 joint service communicators; maintained seven communications systems and five automated data
• Supervised 30 joint service communicators; maintained seven communications systems and five automated data processing networks as Communications Department head for a Special Operations Task Unit forward deployed to Iraq
• Responsible for deploying, setting up, and maintaining deployable Satellite network systems; maintained a Tactical Operations Center consisting of numerous network systems, SATCOM Circuits, and Line of Sight communications links critical to special operations missions; primary Communicator for over 100 Direct Action Missions over three combat deployments
• EKMS Manager in charge of 355 Line Items in multiple different countries and 750 Controlled Cryptographic Items (CCI) with zero discrepancies over four years

07/06 – 11/07, Information Systems Technician (ITSN-IT2 / E2-E5)

Systems Administrator, Advanced Network Analyst

US Navy, USS Tortuga (LSD-46), Naval Special Warfare Group 3

Server Management Division, Naval Computer & Telecommunications Station, Bahrain

• Responsible for C4I shipboard systems, server management, and user accessibility
• Managed, led, and supervised 14 junior sailors during three deployments

OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

12/18 – 09/22, Head Varsity Boys Lacrosse Coach 

Catholic High School, Virginia Beach, VA

• Coached 52 student-athletes, led six assistant coaches for athlete game/practice schedules, academic review, college recruiting, mentoring, tutoring, and equipment acquisition and inventory
• Managed, planned, and facilitated transportation, meals, and game officials (scheduled/paid)
• Coaching resulted in taking a team from a three win season record to a 12-7 record, finishing 2nd in the Tidewater Conference and ranking in top 10 (state) and 28 players committing to NCAA lacrosse at all levels
• Instituted a mandatory daily study hall and peer mentorship program, resulting in overall team GPA rising from 2.8 in 2019 to 3.6 in 2022
• Developed schedules to ensure assistants were able to maximize daily practices and participation
• Managed a limited $6K budget; coordinated and implemented fundraising, resulting in raising >$20K

FORMAL EDUCATION

2022 – present, Associate of Arts, General Education and Information Technology Excelsior College, Albany, NY; expected graduation: 02/25; GPA: 4.0; Courses: Information Literacy, Mathematics, Skills for Learning in an Info Age, and Contemporary Business 

TRAINING / CERTIFICATIONS / TECHNICAL / COMPUTER / RECOGNITION / AWARDS

• Operational Test and Evaluation Officer (NOBC-2181), US Navy
• 2015, Certification, Communications Officer (NOBC-7821), US Navy
• 2012, Security Manager, US Navy
• , Naval Special Warfare Platoon Commander Leadership, US Navy
• 2011, Certification, Basic Technical Operations, US Navy
• 2010, Certification, Combat Support Enabler (NEC-5307), US Navy
• 2010, CACO, US Navy
• 2008, Certification, Naval Special Warfare Communicator (NEC- 9613), US Navy
• 2008, Certification, Advanced Network Analyst (NEC-2781), US Navy
• 2004, Certification, ICMC and ISA (NEC-2379), US Navy
• 2003, Information Systems Administrator, US Navy
• Certification, A+
• Certification, Net+
• Certification, Sec+
• MS O365: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook
• SIPRnet / NIPRnet  

• 2009, Naval Special Warfare Group Two Sailor of the Year, US Navy
• 2008/2009, Seal Team 8, Sailor of the Year, US Navy
• 2004 & 2007, Sailor of the Quarter, US Navy, USS Tortuga, NSWG3, NCTS, Bahrain