About

SQL Server Database Administrator based in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Experience Summary

I design, operate, and troubleshoot SQL Server environments for production business systems - from on-premises installations to cloud migrations on AWS and Azure. My work centers on keeping databases reliable and recoverable, tuning performance from measured evidence rather than guesswork, and automating the repetitive parts of database administration with PowerShell, T-SQL, and Python. Alongside the core DBA work I've built database CI/CD in Azure DevOps, stood up the monitoring layer across the estate, and moved into data-platform and AI-assisted engineering work where it supports the database side of the job.

Technology Journey

I started as a database developer working with Oracle PL/SQL, then moved into full-time SQL Server administration in 2015. Over the following years I've supported production database platforms through server builds, patching cycles, security hardening, Always On configurations, and multiple cloud migrations to AWS and Azure. Along the way I picked up ETL processes, compliance work for PCI/HIPAA-regulated systems, and cloud infrastructure skills including AWS EKS/ECS and Databricks workspace administration.

Engineering Philosophy

Reliability first: backups, recovery point objectives, and monitoring are not optional extras.
Automate the repeatable parts of the job so time can go toward harder problems.
Measure before tuning - wait statistics and execution plans over guesswork.
Keep learning: cloud platforms, automation tooling, and now AI-assisted engineering.
Document and communicate clearly so on-call handoffs and audits are painless.

Skills

SQL Server Administration

SQL Server 2012 - 2022T-SQLInstallation & ConfigurationService Packs & Cumulative UpdatesVersion Upgrades & CutoversBackup, Recovery & Point-in-Time RecoveryDBCC CHECKDBIndex & Statistics MaintenanceCapacity PlanningSQL Agent AutomationDatabase Mail & Linked ServersChange Data Capture & Change TrackingSSRS

Performance Tuning & Troubleshooting

Dynamic Management Views (DMVs)Wait Statistics AnalysisExtended EventsExecution Plan AnalysisIndexing StrategiesBlocking & Deadlock ResolutionSQL Server ProfilerWindows Performance Monitor

High Availability, DR & Security

Always On Availability Groups (HA & DR)DR Planning & Failover ReadinessSecondary-Replica Backup OffloadingCell-Level Encryption (CLE)Certificates, Master Keys & Key CustodyLeast-Privilege Logins, Roles & Object PermissionsHIPAA / PCI DSS / HITRUST

Cloud & Infrastructure

AWS EC2, RDS for SQL Server, FSxAWS EKS / ECSAWS SQS & LambdaElasticsearch / KibanaIndex Lifecycle & Rollover PoliciesAzure SQL Database / Managed InstanceCloud Database MigrationWindows Server Administration

Automation, CI/CD & Monitoring

PowerShell ScriptingT-SQL QueryingPythonShell ScriptingBCP UtilityAzure DevOps Build / Release PipelinesState-Based Database ProjectsSQL Sentry - Setup, Alert Policies & BaselinesRedgate SQL Monitor - Deployment & ConfigurationAlert Thresholds & Escalation Policy Design

Data Platforms & AI-Assisted Engineering

Databricks Workspace AdministrationUnity CatalogDatabricks Delta Sharing (Federated Data Architecture)Spark SQL & Lakeview DashboardsOracle 11g / PL/SQLMariaDB / MySQLHL7 & Mirth ConnectGitHub Copilot & Claude for Teams AdministrationMCP Connector GovernancePrompt Engineering