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Michael Lee Dunn Jr.

MBA - Technology Leadership & Innovation

About Me

Cover notes and about sections Let's get real! They're often just a fancy way to rehash what's already glaringly obvious in the C.V., like a high school essay where the points have been made, but the words just keep piling up. So, what's the point? To tell a story, or just add fluff to an already data-packed resume? And why the hell are we still doing this? Here's the deal: I'm the kind of person who looks at every inefficient process and calls it out. Cover notes? They should be obsolete by now. A solid handshake and a conversation—remember when that meant something? We need to bring that back. Cut the paper, and let the people talk. This is why I built this site—not only to cut the BS, but to show others how they can display what’s important in a creative yet effective way.

Let me break it down—this site is more than just qualifications on paper. It showcases what I’ve witnessed: entire methodologies crash and burn, industries flip upside down, and tech evolves at lightning speed. But here's the kicker: I've been there through it all. I have the battle scars, the real-world experience, the academic foundation, and the personality to match. Some might call that "old-school," but trust me, in today's world of cookie-cutter professionals, that's becoming a rare thing. Could be "good" or "bad," depending on how you look at it. I'm a family man, a faithful man, and a product of the South. That means I go all in, whether I'm tackling anything and everything or just something simple but important like taking out the trash. And I don't do anything halfway.

My background? Operations, technology, leadership, security, networking, deployment—oh, and let's not forget Lean Six Sigma. I've worked in both government and private sectors, and no matter the space, I get the job done. I’ve surfed hurricane waves and fished quiet rivers. I've fallen in love more times than I can count, broken many hearts, and had my heart broken plenty. Why does this matter? Because all of this molds a person, it impacts their strengths, weaknesses, and shows through in everything they do. One other thing that many men and women cannot say wholeheartedly is “I am a great parent." This is evident by showing my kids that all cultures are important and by bringing them along in my wife and I’s adventures.

Here's the deal about me, though: throw whatever you've got at me. I've handled it all, from sleepless nights to the toughest challenges. When the world throws curveballs, I hit 'em out of the park. I'm not just flexible; I'm adaptable, and I thrive under pressure. There's nothing I haven't faced, and nothing I can't conquer. As the adage goes, "It’s not if he can take a punch, it’s how fast he can get back up and punch back."

Oh, and let's talk about people. No matter where you come from, no matter your background, we should all be accepting of one another. I've lived in places like Florida, California, Texas, Virginia, France, and now Ireland, each spot shaping me, each experience broadening my view. I don't care if you're from the heart of Silicon Valley, a small town in the Midwest, or Cape Town, South Africa; diversity is where the magic happens, and that's something I embrace. You can bet my perspective is wide, and my tolerance is vast, because the world's too damn small to play small.

Right now, I'm working in operations at AWS, but I'm always looking ahead. I'm exploring new adventures with my family in Ireland, France, or Australia. If you think you can handle my kind of drive, let’s talk.

Cheers, Michael
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Our Journey

The Dream That Died

The America I grew up with — where hard work bought you a home and a future — isn’t there anymore. Single-income families became relics. Houses that once cost $200K now crack a million. A dollar barely stretches far enough to buy eggs. Wages flatlined while everything else skyrocketed. The "American Dream" wasn't just broken — it was bulldozed. I wasn’t about to let my family get buried with it. We made the hardest call: we left. We left family, we left friends, because we wanted to see if acceptance and real work-life-balance still existed in the world.

Chasing Stability Across States

We packed up and hit the road. Florida, Texas, California, Virginia — we chased opportunity wherever it flickered. But each move taught the same hard truth: the system wasn’t broken; it was rigged. Built for corporations, not families. Made for those willing to sell out, not those willing to work. But we aren’t quitters. Every setback sharpened us. Every tough choice reinforced what mattered: family, dignity, and grit.

Leaping Across the Ocean

When Amazon Logistics offered a role in Montélimar, France, we didn’t blink. We packed what mattered — and boarded a plane toward a new life. We didn’t speak fluent French. We didn’t have guarantees. But we had something better: the guts to bet on ourselves. Leaving wasn’t giving up. It was choosing to fight smarter, not harder — even if it meant starting over across an ocean.

Building a Life in France

France wasn’t easy, but nothing worthwhile ever is. New systems. New culture. New battles. And still, we built a life. I led massive infrastructure projects across 27 remote sites. I navigated leadership without language barriers slowing me down. My kids thrived, picking up French faster than most adults ever could. We didn’t just survive France — we conquered it. It wasn’t perfect, but it was ours. And it proved that home isn’t a flag or a language. It’s what you build with your own two hands.

Finding Our Fight in Ireland

Ireland was another fresh start — another battleground. New roles. Bigger challenges. Same old story underneath: biases against the Southern accent, the bigger presence, the directness. I didn’t apologize for it — I leaned into it. I led global teams. I managed multimillion-euro budgets. I built operations that stood the test. And when the system tried to slow me down, I didn’t fold. I outworked, outbuilt, and outlasted.

The Next Horizon: Australia

Now, we’re aiming toward Australia — not chasing fairy tales, but chasing values that feel almost forgotten elsewhere. Hard work. Community. Respect. Australia still feels like a place where a man’s work and heart matter more than the accent in his mouth or the size of his boots. We're not chasing comfort — we’re chasing something real. And wherever we land next, it won’t be luck. It'll be earned, just like everything else.

This isn’t a story about survival. It’s a story about building. About fighting. About never backing down from what matters most.

Turning Chaos into Order—One Positively Influenced Engineer at a Time

I don't do calm. I do chaos—organized, operationalized, and optimized. My career has been a front-row seat to transformation: from scrambling infrastructure to international scale-ups, from firefights to frameworks. Here's the track record that proves it.

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Dublin, Ireland | Dec 2022 – Present

Rewrote Security Playbooks: Designed and deployed a global security solution using Lambda and API Gateway—cut incidents by 90% across EMEA.

Operational Overhaul: Launched ISO 27001-aligned operations strategy, saving over €500K annually.

Kaizen That Stuck: Built a coaching platform adopted by 4 global teams, dropping L3 escalations by a third.

Uplifted the Uplift: Developed and launched "Personal Development Day" for AWS Ireland. Result? A pipeline of promotions without fluff.

Audit Perfection: Passed ISO audit with zero findings—team, finance, and InfoSec in full sync.

Amazon Logistics

Montélimar, France | Jul 2021 – Dec 2022

Greenfield Execution: Took DLP4 from blueprint to operational in under 6 months—245 IDFs, 2 MDFs, 15 gensets, no excuses.

Service Recovery Expert: Boosted SLA adherence from 62% to 96% across 27 sites using real-time dashboards and targeted coaching.

Multi-Lingual Leadership: Navigated deployment with limited French fluency—let performance speak louder than language.

California Department of Water Resources

Sacramento, CA | Jul 2019 – Jul 2021

Digital Government Pioneer: Rebuilt Delta Conveyance data architecture using Azure, SharePoint, and Teams—5,000+ users unified across 15 agencies.

Geo-Smart Integration: Embedded ESRI GIS mapping into real-time telemetry for infrastructure and environmental planning.

City of Daytona Beach

Florida, USA | Apr 2018 – Jul 2019

Cloud-First Modernizer: Migrated entire city infrastructure to AWS and Microsoft 365—zero service interruptions.

Change Agent: Reduced support resolution time by 40% while training over 200 city employees in new systems.

GEICO

Maryland, USA | May 2014 – Apr 2018

Network Overhaul Architect: Replaced 350+ Cisco ISR routers, modernized DR capabilities, and stabilized nationwide operations.

SLA Responder: Maintained under-2hr recovery time during 13 critical outages—100% SLA compliance.

My Leadership Philosophy

If you’re not building people while building systems, you're doing it wrong. I lead with empathy, data, and resolve—and I never ask a team to go where I won’t lead first. I make teams better, processes tighter, and outcomes louder. Let’s make some noise.

My Leadership Skills

  • Technology Leadership & Strategic Operations - Driving organizational transformation through innovative technology solutions. Aligning technology strategies with long-term business goals. Leading cross-functional teams to deliver impactful IT initiatives. Managing budgets exceeding €100M and fostering team morale.
  • Cloud Transformation & Digital Innovation - Overseeing AWS and Azure cloud projects. Transitioning infrastructure to AWS and Office 365. Deploying real-time data platforms and modernizing workflows with SharePoint and Azure technologies. Implementing ITIL frameworks to enhance service delivery and team collaboration.
  • Business Strategy Alignment - Bridging technical expertise with executive decision-making. Aligning technology investments with business strategies. Providing strategic advice to senior leadership to support organizational goals. Achieving substantial cost savings by aligning technology with operational efficiency.
  • Project & Budget Management - Managing large-scale budgets and complex IT projects, with an emphasis on cost reduction and efficiency. Ensuring on-time, on-budget project completion. Improving operational efficiency through targeted process improvements.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration - Collaborating with stakeholders and senior leadership to align IT and business strategies. Building high-performing teams through leadership methodologies. Increasing team morale and engagement to improve productivity.
  • Change Management & Policy Strategy - Leveraging Ph.D.-level research to influence digital transformation. Managing change effectively across public and private sectors. Utilizing Lean Six Sigma methodologies for continuous improvement.
  • Operational Efficiency & Process Improvement - Streamlining workflows to double operational efficiency. Improving service delivery by enhancing incident resolution times. Achieving significant SLA compliance and customer satisfaction improvements.
  • Leadership & Team Development - Leading diverse, high-performing teams of engineers. Implementing training programs to ensure seamless adoption of new technologies. Enhancing team engagement, morale, and productivity.

Here's my Tech-Stack and General I.T. Skills

Microsoft

  • Microsoft Office and365
  • Excel and Pivot Tables
  • Outlook and Automations
  • OneDrive and MS Teams Integration
  • SharePoint Development

Cloud Platforms

  • Azure Exposure
  • AWS Deployment Exposure
  • Azure AD and On-Prem AD experience

Networking and Systems

  • Cisco Stack (2010-2015 Models)
  • Wire Shark, Splunk, and LanSweeper
  • VSphere and VMware Exposure
  • Cat Cable and Loopback Plug pinouts
  • Command Line Syntax

Development and Code

  • Novice HTML, CSS, JavaScript
  • Novice WIKI Code

Database and ERP

  • SQL DB Exposure
  • IBM Mainframe Exposure
  • Service Now, Command Center, Jira, SAP

Security and IAM

  • Red and Blue Facilitator Experience
  • IAM and GROUP OU experience
  • Email and Distro-List Experience

My Formal Education

  • Ph.D. Candidacy in Public Administration, Liberty University, Virginia
  • MBA in Business Administration, Liberty University, Virginia
  • B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies focused on Business and Information Systems, Liberty University, Virginia
  • A.S. in General Studies, Mid-Michigan Community College, Mount Pleasant, Michigan

My Educational Transcripts for Validation

Click here for my transcripts

My Professional Certifications

  • Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt
  • Splunk Power User (Expired)
  • Certified Social and Behavioral Researcher (CITI Group)
My Professional Development and Learning Interests
  • Udemy: French Class
  • Udemy: Spanish Class
  • Udemy: AWS CSA Cert Class
  • Udemy: PMP Cert Class
  • Udemy: CISSM Cert Class
  • Udemy: Splunk Refresher Class
  • Udemy: Lean Six Sigma Refresher Class and Green Belt Study Guide

My Faith and how it influences my leadership style

Faith isn't just some checkbox in my life—it's the damn foundation of everything I do. It's not a "separate" thing that gets pushed aside when the workday starts or ends. It's embedded in every decision, every challenge, every win, and every failure. My faith drives me, and it doesn't wait for a moment of quiet contemplation—it's the fuel that keeps me going when things get tough, when the stakes are high, and when the world's spinning too fast. It's about doing the right thing even when it's hard. It's about understanding that success isn't just measured by profit margins or KPIs but by the impact you leave behind, the way you lead with integrity, and the legacy you build through your actions. I'm not just clocking in; I'm building something that matters.

I'm a father of five, and the only single income this family has seen since the beginning of this journey. I've been grinding not just for me, but for them—every step of the way. This isn't just about "getting by" or pushing through for a paycheck; this is about creating opportunities for my kids and building a life they can look up to. I don't have the luxury of clocking out at 5 PM and leaving it all behind. Every decision I make, every risk I take, every victory, and every setback, has a ripple effect on those little lives I'm responsible for. I lead my family like I lead my teams—with strength, with discipline, and with unwavering commitment. And the truth? I wouldn't have it any other way. If you can't balance faith, family, and work, then what are you really building? You need all three to create something real.

And let's be clear: leadership isn't about power or control. It's about influence. It's about making things better for everyone around you, whether you're leading a team of engineers or guiding your kids through the ups and downs of life. My belief in faith drives my leadership, and it keeps me grounded in something that's bigger than any bottom line. I don't just talk about values; I live them every damn day. I lead with them. And I expect the same from everyone I work with. You can't just throw a bunch of words on a mission statement and call it leadership. If your faith and your values aren't showing up in your decisions, in your leadership, and in the way you treat others, then what's the point? It's not enough to just "show up." I'm here to make an impact—one that lasts. I lead with my faith, and that's what drives everything I do.

My Completed Projects

  • Global Data Platform Migration @ Amazon OTS -Upgraded Amazon's Logistics Division from using an "in-house, scrappy build" to a global powerhouse with ServiceNow. I played a key role in the pilot, custom modules, and developed the knowledge articles that over 40 sites used to ramp up and deploy the new ServiceNow ticketing system.
  • Amazon logistics Infrastructure Refresh -Successfully implemented new infrastructure across 27 remote sites and one fulfillment center in the South of France region for Amazon Logistics. This project involved a team of 36 and included the installation of 245 IDFs, 2 MDFs, and 15 building-certified generators. It also required active communication with local authorities and regular updates to C-level executives on implementation deadlines.
  • Amazon logistics OTS SLA Fix -Successfully raised the team’s SLA from an average of 63% to a consistent 98% week-over-week. This improvement also increased internal customer sentiment to 93%, compared to the previous lack of sentiment measurement. Additionally, I significantly boosted employee morale, which was evident in the noticeable rise in team spirit. Employees began actively requesting to join the team, a sharp contrast to the previously negative perceptions that existed before I took over.
  • Amazon Small-Site Launch -Successfully launched the small site “DLP4” with the support of three engineers reporting to me and two launch teams. The project required budget oversight, constant communication with local authorities, and coordination with directors and country managers. We addressed power, network, and building infrastructure before team members could begin operations within the facility.
  • AWS Profesisonal Development -Documented and shared the process for promoting individuals within the AWS SE organization annually without artificially inflating performance. Over 2.5 years, I facilitated 3 promotions and 12 lateral moves, which, according to AWS senior leadership, had the same result as promotions since the focus was on direct report professionalism and career development.
  • AWS Customer Validation Project - Led a COE (Correction of Errors) to identify a wide-reaching AWS issue, which was recognized through multiple channels. I assembled the right team and stakeholders, prepared necessary documentation, and implemented a short-term solution of an OTP (One-Time Password) for account validation. In the long term, we developed a custom API to flag unusual behavior, triggering a different security workflow to lock the account until validated by the account owner.
  • AWS CloudHSM Effeciency project -Led a Kaizen initiative to identify and address skillset gaps within the CloudHSM service space. Once the areas of improvement were identified, we engaged SMEs to facilitate global L3 (Learning Sessions), reducing knowledge gaps by 53%. We’re currently considering making this Kaizen an annual initiative to help onboard new team members and address any emerging skill gaps.
  • City of Daytona Beach Transformation -Led the transformation of the City of Daytona Beach, Florida, by guiding their transition to the cloud, establishing a robust technical foundation, and training staff, many of whom were new to cloud computing. This initiative modernized operations, significantly improved efficiency, and reduced operational costs within a challenging bureaucratic environment.
  • Delta Conveyance, DWR Project - Successfully built a multi-tiered SharePoint project platform backed by Azure and SQL DB, which managed ESRI mapping and real-time 5G equipment locations. The platform was designed to handle 5,000 logon attempts at any given time and was integrated with Teams and OneDrive.

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