James Darkins

Navy-trained IT professional with 4 years of hands-on experience supporting enterprise systems and networks — managing 100+ endpoints, hardening systems to security compliance standards, and administering Active Directory for an entire ship's crew. Reliable, detail-oriented, and quick to learn new environments, with a proven record of maintaining uptime, accuracy, and security in high-stakes operational settings. Currently pursuing a BS in Cybersecurity (WGU, in progress) and building practical skills through a self-directed home lab, while bringing that same discipline to a fast-paced retail role.

Sales Associate at Dollar General (2026-03 – Present)

• Maintain accurate, well-organized stock across the sales floor and stockroom, including receiving, unloading, and merchandising freight to company planogram standards.
• Coordinate daily task lists and shift priorities with store leadership, adapting quickly to shifting schedules and coverage needs in a fast-paced retail environment.
• Operate as a dependable team member across departments — front-end, stocking, and inventory — supporting coworkers and covering gaps to keep store operations running smoothly.
• Conduct routine inventory counts and shelf audits, identifying and correcting discrepancies to maintain accuracy and minimize shrink.
• Deliver consistent, professional customer service while balancing operational tasks, reinforcing reliability and attention to detail in a high-traffic setting.

Information Systems Technician / System Administrator at United States Navy (2021-03 – 2025-01)

• Vulnerability Management: Orchestrated monthly security compliance and patching across 100+ endpoints, achieving 100% network readiness for every inspection with zero findings.
• Identity & Access Management: Administered Active Directory for 100+ users; enforced Least Privilege via GPOs and security group audits, measurably reducing the internal attack surface.
• Incident Response: Resolved Tier 1 and Tier 2 technical escalations at a 95% first-call resolution rate; applied root cause analysis to eliminate recurring failures before they became incidents.
• Lifecycle Management: Managed full onboarding/offboarding lifecycle for 75+ personnel, automating account provisioning and ensuring same-day access revocation for separated users.
• Asset Intelligence: Optimized IT asset tracking protocols, improving inventory accuracy by 25% and reducing equipment loss in a high-turnover environment.
• Infrastructure: Supported configuration and uptime of workstations and servers backing mission-critical communication systems in an environment with no tolerance for downtime.
• Physical Security: Qualified on the M9 service pistol and stood armed security watch, securing designated areas and enforcing access control points in accordance with strict force protection protocols — reinforcing a layered approach to both physical and information security.

Independent Study & Skills Development at Self-Directed (2025-01 – 2026-05)

• Pursuing BS in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance at WGU (in progress).
• Built a hands-on home lab using UTM virtualization with Windows Server and Active Directory.
• Prepared for CompTIA Security+, Network+, and A+ certifications.

Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance – Western Governors University (WGU)

IT 'C' School - System Administration (7 months) in Training in Windows Server, Active Directory, VMware virtualization, patch management, and network security in operational environments. – U.S. Navy Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT)

IT 'A' School - Network Fundamentals (3 months) in Training in TCP/IP stack, Linux/Windows OS administration, hardware diagnostics and troubleshooting. – U.S. Navy Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT)