Army IT Specialist → Cloud & AI Engineer in Progress
I'm Elijah Little, an active-duty U.S. Army 25B focused on
cybersecurity, cloud, and AI. I build hands-on projects in AWS and Kubernetes to turn
my day-to-day IT work into deployable, production-style experience.
I'm an Information Technology Specialist (25B) in the U.S. Army,
currently supporting communications and IT operations while I build a
transition-ready career in cloud engineering, cybersecurity, and AI-driven automation.
This portfolio is my lab: I deploy real infrastructure on AWS, run a
Kubernetes-based Internal Developer Platform with GitOps, automate tasks
with Python and APIs, and document everything so it translates directly into
resume-ready experience for civilian roles.
Skills snapshot
Growing cloud & security toolkit
Hands-on with these tools today, actively leveling them up through projects.
An isolated lab where I attack my own machines and practice catching it. Three
virtual machines on a host-only network: Kali Linux as the attacker, Ubuntu as the
future Splunk server, and Windows Server as the future domain controller.
Status: Hardening and detection · Splunk and Active Directory next.
Built a platform where developers deploy by pushing to Git — Argo CD reconciles
the cluster automatically, with self-healing that reverts manual drift. Enforced
security policy-as-code with Kyverno: workloads without CPU/memory limits are
rejected at admission, not flagged after. Rolled the policy out Audit→Enforce and
scoped it to application namespaces.
Deployed this portfolio as a static site on S3 fronted by CloudFront with HTTPS.
Implemented a visitor counter using Lambda, DynamoDB, and API Gateway to simulate
a production-style serverless app.
Status: In progress · Expanding CI/CD and monitoring next.
Built a REST API endpoint that increments and returns a page view count stored in
DynamoDB. Designed for idempotency and security-focused defaults as I learn more
about API design and IAM permissions.
Status: Wiring front-end → API.
Contact Form with SES (Planned)
SES · Security · Spam-safe
Next iteration: move my contact form off basic email and into AWS SES, improving
deliverability, monitoring, and security so messages land where they should.
Status: Design phase · To be integrated into this site.
AI & automation projects
Using AI to work smarter
AI-Assisted Study & Lab Notes
Python · Prompting
Used AI tools to generate, organize, and refine study notes for cybersecurity,
math, and cloud topics. Focused on building repeatable workflows, not shortcuts,
so I actually understand what I deploy.
Status: Ongoing · Forms the backbone of my documentation habits.
How the Developer Platform Works
Kubernetes · GitOps · policy-as-code
An Internal Developer Platform (IDP) I built to practice production-style platform
engineering: developers ship by committing to Git, and the platform handles delivery
and enforces standards automatically.
GitOps Delivery
Git is the source of truth — a git push is the deployment.
Argo CD watches the repos and reconciles the cluster to match.
No manual kubectl apply in the normal workflow.
Runs on Kubernetes (kind, v1.32).
Self-Healing
Manual changes to live resources are auto-reverted to match Git.
Prevents configuration drift between cluster and repo.
Verified by scaling a workload by hand and watching it snap back.
Security Guardrails
Kyverno enforces policy-as-code at admission.
Workloads without CPU/memory limits are rejected before creation.
Rolled out Audit → Enforce; scoped to application namespaces.
Golden-path service template keeps new services compliant by default.
How This Portfolio Is Built
Real AWS infrastructure behind the UI
This isn’t just a template site — it’s a hands-on cloud project that I use to practice real AWS skills.
Frontend & Hosting
Static site built with HTML, CSS, and vanilla JavaScript.
Hosted on Amazon S3 as a static website.
Served globally through Amazon CloudFront for low-latency access.
Custom domain: www.elijahlittle.com.
Visitor Counter
Frontend calls an endpoint on API Gateway.
AWS Lambda handles the request.
Visit counts stored and updated in Amazon DynamoDB.
Returns the latest visitor total to the UI.
AI Portfolio Assistant
Floating chat UI built with JavaScript and custom styling.
Designed to answer questions about skills, projects, and Army IT background.
Currently powered by keyword logic (no external API dependency).
Future-ready for secure serverless AI integration.
Supported the design and buildout of conference rooms and collaboration spaces within a headquarters environment,
enabling reliable network connectivity and modern meeting capabilities for senior leadership. Work included structured
cabling, network stack installation, and integration of Cisco collaboration systems.
Built and supported structured network stacks for conference room environments.
Routed and terminated Ethernet cabling through floors and walls for clean, secure installations.
Integrated conference room systems with Cisco Touch 10 controllers.
Tested connectivity, validated configurations, and supported end-user operations.
Improved reliability and usability of command-level collaboration spaces.
Before & After
Before: Limited infrastructure and unstructured cabling.
After: Structured cabling, network stack installed, and collaboration systems integrated.
Before: No dedicated network stack or cable management.
After: Completed network stack with routed cabling and validated connectivity.
Experience
Army IT · Real responsibility
Information Technology Specialist (25B)U.S. Army · Nov 2021 – Present · Fort Eustis, VA and Camp Humphreys, South Korea
The internal help desk, systems, and network support team for a 500-person
organization, working across unclassified (NIPRNet) and classified (SIPRNet) networks.
Identity & access
Certified DoD Purebred agent: provision PKI derived credentials to government iPhones enrolled in Microsoft Intune (AUDS), so users can sign and encrypt without a smart card.
Process DD Form 2875 (SAAR) access requests: validate authorizations, create Active Directory accounts at the approved access level, and troubleshoot CAC certificate logins and MFA, enforcing least privilege.
Endpoint security & incident response
Contain and remediate infected and vulnerable machines: isolate them from the network, reimage, and apply Trellix endpoint security policies before returning them to service.
Image and provision workstations on NIPRNet and SIPRNet: PXE-deploy the OS, verify network access control (MAB), place computers in the correct Active Directory OU, force Group Policy, run SCCM actions, and enforce Trellix policies.
Removed and physically destroyed hard drives and SSDs from decommissioned computers per DoDI 8500.01 and DoDM 4160.21 media sanitization requirements.
Support & operations
Full-stack IT support by phone and in person for about 280 computers and 500 personnel in a 24/7 environment.
Support Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive) and Adobe Acrobat; install printer, network, and peripheral drivers; explain fixes clearly to non-technical users.
Document, triage, and escalate incidents in ServiceNow (AESMP); track hardware assets.
Maintain satellite and field connectivity (VSAT) for teams in remote locations.
Leadership & compliance
Track and enforce annual Cyber Awareness training and IT policy compliance for all 500 personnel.
Supervise and train junior IT personnel on troubleshooting, account provisioning, and ticketing.
Education & Certifications
Stacking credentials over time
B.S. Cybersecurity Technology (in progress)University of Maryland Global Campus · 47 credits completed
Associate of Arts, General Studies – Computer Studies (in progress)UMGC · 32 credits completed
Certifications
CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701)
Certified June 2026 · Valid through June 2029
Validates hands-on skills in threats & vulnerabilities, secure
architecture, IAM, and incident response — formalizing the
security-first practices demonstrated throughout this portfolio.
IBM Cybersecurity Fundamentals
Issued by IBM · Verified on Credly
Foundational credential covering core cybersecurity concepts, common
threats, and defensive practices.
Contact
Let’s talk cloud, security, or transition
If you’re a recruiter, hiring manager, or mentor in cloud / cybersecurity, I’m always open to:
Feedback on this portfolio
Advice on breaking into cloud / security roles
Potential internships, apprenticeships, or junior roles
You can also reach me directly via email or LinkedIn if that’s easier for you.
