Corley Efurd
IT Solutions Architect
Bridging deep technical mastery with strategic vision to transform global IT ecosystems
Experience
Each role includes queryable AI context — the real story behind the bullet points.
MetLife Insurance
IT Solutions Architect / Manager
- →Designed and implemented DevOps automation platform for Network Engineering team
- →Directed cross-vendor service coordination between local and U.S. teams
- →Led integration of Netbeez monitoring for proactive incident response
- →Closed multiple high-severity CVEs and resolved open audit findings
- →Automated R&S device backups with Python, reducing manual workload
Independent Projects
Technical Focus & AI Automation
- →Architected the world's first Sentinel-Proxy AI Firewall — a proxy-based security layer protecting AI systems from prompt injection and adversarial attacks, with 5-layer adaptive response and real-time line-rate traffic analysis
- →Built full-stack AI automation workflows using n8n, Supabase, and Python
- →Deployed React/Vite/TailwindCSS front-ends with Docker and Portainer
- →Created AI-driven automation agents for social media and data enrichment
- →Developed IoT integrations and intelligent task orchestration systems
Cisco Systems Japan
Senior Engineer / Team Lead – Customer Zero Datacenter
- →Technical lead for Cisco's global Customer Zero initiative - testing alpha technologies before release
- →Architected Cisco's first hybrid ACI Multi-Cloud Fabric (AWS, GCP, on-prem HyperFlex)
- →Drove security architecture for next-gen environments, earning full InfoSec approval
- →Built CI/CD pipelines with GitLab, Jenkins, Ansible with security reviews and rollback
- →Led red and blue team exercises simulating advanced persistent threats
Cisco Systems Japan
Project Manager – Datacenter as a Service (DCaaS)
- →Spearheaded DCaaS initiatives across APAC for rapid virtual environment deployment
- →Defined datacenter compliance and governance standards for Asia-Pacific
- →Led Business Resumption and Continuity Plans for Japan and Korea
- →Delivered 'Cisco on Cisco' technical briefings for partners and clients
Cisco Systems Japan
Global Systems Administrator
- →Secured and maintained global Unix, Linux, and Mac infrastructure
- →Developed internal tools for automated infrastructure scanning and compliance
- →Deployed Cisco UCS servers, Nexus switches, and multi-vendor storage (EMC, NetApp)
- →Engineered Cisco's first outbound 'Vavoom' VPN infrastructure
Dallas Automated Systems, Inc. (DASi)
Founder / Lead Automation Engineer
- →Founded engineering firm delivering factory automation systems
- →Clients included Dr. Pepper, Frito-Lay, and Outback Steakhouse
- →Designed industrial automation using Allen Bradley, Sixnet, Siemens
- →Custom software integration in C/C++ and Ladder Logic
Certifications
Active credentials and certifications in progress.
Palo Alto PCNSA
Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)
TryHackMe Pentesting Professional
TryHackMe Pentesting Junior
Cisco Security Ninja (Internal)
OSCP (targeting Q3 2026)
In ProgressSkills
Honest assessment of my skills — including where I'm still learning.
Strong
- Network Architecture (Cisco ACI, Nexus, Catalyst)
- Cybersecurity & Penetration Testing
- DevOps & CI/CD Pipelines
- n8n Workflow Automation
- Python Scripting & Automation
- Cloud Infrastructure (AWS, GCP, Azure)
- Linux/Unix Administration
- Security Architecture & Compliance
Moderate
- React/Tailwind Front-end Development
- AI/LLM Integration
- Docker & Container Orchestration
- IoT & Industrial Automation
Gaps (I'll Tell You)
- Kubernetes (learning)
- Terraform (in progress)
- Mobile Development
- Data Science / ML Engineering
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