The Short Version

I've spent 25+ years making networks work — first in the Navy maintaining radar and communications systems, then across Sprint, T-Mobile, and Ericsson building and running carrier networks.

The Longer Version

Starting in the Navy

In 1992, I joined the US Navy as an Electronics Technician. I learned to troubleshoot radar and communications systems at the component level, maintain 100% operational readiness, and work under pressure where getting it right mattered. I graduated with honors and held a Top Secret clearance throughout my entire enlistment.

Lesson learned: The fundamentals matter. Before you can architect a network, you need to understand how the hardware actually works.

Eighteen Years at Sprint

From 1998 to 2016, I grew from an entry-level ATM/Frame Relay engineer to Technology Architect III. Along the way I:

• Led engineering teams integrating Marconi ATM switches into national Edge/Core networks
• Managed a $40M+ capital budget for hardware expansion
• Became the traffic SME for Sprint's Cable VoIP department
• Authored national engineering standards adopted by teams across the country

Lesson learned: Long careers are built on curiosity and being willing to take on what nobody else wants to.

The Ericsson Years

As a Solutions Architect at Ericsson, I worked as a strategic partner to Sprint. I architected small cell deployments, optimized VoIP peering infrastructure, and translated complex designs into operational best practices used nationally.

Lesson learned: The best engineers are translators — between technical teams and leadership, between vendors and operators, between design and operations.

The Merger and After

When Sprint and T-Mobile merged, I helped bridge two very different organizations. I created the Regional Operations Forum — an executive briefing that became the primary way network leadership tracked operational health across RAN/CORE/Transport.

After a deliberate sabbatical, I added a completely different skillset: becoming a licensed Medicare agent in 38 states. It taught me consultative selling, CMS compliance, and how to communicate complex things simply — skills that strengthened my engineering work too.

What I'm Looking For

I'm looking for roles where I can combine deep technical knowledge with leadership and problem-solving:

• Network Engineering & Architecture — RAN, CORE, Transport, small cells, backhaul
• Technical Program Management — the intersection of engineering and leadership
• Solutions Architecture — translating requirements into working systems
• Defense & Electronics — where my Navy background and clearance history shine
• Technical Sourcing & Vendor Management — vendor relationships, RFPs, capital planning

I'm based in Lee's Summit, MO and open to roles within 20 miles or fully remote.

Personal

When I'm not working, I love to travel — a recent highlight was a trip to Norway. I also keep up with AI and emerging technology, and enjoy writing about the intersection of telecom and modern tech.

What Colleagues Say

"Neil joined after the Sprint merger, was a great teammate who led many cross organizational projects to fruition. Personable and a self-starter."

— Jeremy Babb, T-Mobile

"He has an incredible ability to manage projects, workload, and people in a calm and measured way. Always working to understand new technologies."

— Doug Cooper, MISM