Christopher W Hull
LA PORTE, INDIANA | UNITED STATES
christopherwhull@hotmail.com | 219 613 3785
www.christopherwhull.com
Network Architecture & Engineering — F5 SME
Professional Summary
Senior Network Architect and F5 Subject Matter Expert with over 20 years of experience designing, deploying, and securing enterprise infrastructure. Proven expertise in F5 BIG-IP ecosystem (LTM, GTM, ASM, APM), Cisco ACI/ISE architecture, and network automation using Ansible and Terraform. Adept at bridging legacy operations with modern DevOps practices, leading cross-functional teams in high-stakes migrations, and delivering zero-downtime cutovers in regulated environments.
Core Capabilities
F5 & Load Balancing
- Expert Design & Operation: BIG-IP LTM, GTM/DNS, ASM/Advanced WAF, APM.
- Advanced Configuration: Custom iRules/iApps, SSL/TLS offload, traffic steering.
- Lifecycle Management: Migration planning (r-Series, i-Series), upgrades, and HA pair management.
- Management: BIG-IQ Centralized Management.
Network Architecture
- Cisco Data Center: ACI fabric design (Tenants, VRFs, BDs, EPGs), L3Out, EVPN/VXLAN, Multi-Site.
- Campus & Identity: Cisco ISE design/ops, 802.1X/MAB, TrustSec/SGT, pxGrid, NAC integration.
- Wireless: End-to-end implementation, RF planning, and controller/AP rollout.
Automation & DevOps
- Infrastructure as Code: Ansible and Terraform for provisioning F5 and network configs.
- CI/CD & Governance: Pipeline integration, linting, testing, drift detection, and secret management.
- Scripting: AI-assisted script development (Python, Ansible) for accelerated playbook creation.
Leadership & Standards
- Documentation: Architecture runbooks, NIST/ISO aligned baselines, As-Built diagrams.
- Project Leadership: Cross-functional coordination, vendor management, and mentorship.
- Compliance: Policy governance, audit support, and change validation.
Professional Experience
NETSCOUT SME / Consultant
CDW Enterprise Consulting | Aug 2025 – Current
- Serve as Product SME for client consulting engagements.
- Supervise creation of Statements of Work (SOW) and Bills of Materials (BOM).
Sr. Network Engineer, F5 Subject Matter Expert
Rolls-Royce North America / British Telecom (via Insight Global) | July 2024 – March 2025
- Hybrid Cloud Operations: Managed design, deployment, and operations for Cisco (Wired, Wireless, ISE), F5, and Check Point Firewall environments connected via FedRAMP network.
- F5 Modernization: Executed F5 updates and hardware/software migrations.
- Automation: Utilized AI (Claude) to accelerate code migration and improve logging techniques; developed automation bridging databases to Ansible, Python, and Perl.
- Documentation: Heavy focus on audit readiness and documentation for compliance.
Sr. Network Engineer (Contractor)
Advocate Aurora Health (via HireTalent) | June 2024 – July 2024
- Designated Platform Engineer/Architect for F5 and NetScaler platforms.
- Implemented automation for F5 BIG-IQ and AppViewX systems.
Network Engineer (Policy Engineering)
H3Technologies / Verizon | Sept 2023 – Jan 2024
- Automation: Automated legacy ticketing workflows using Python, Node.js, and FireMon Policy Management, replacing manual site visits.
- Modernization: Revised training programs to incorporate lightweight automation and prepared the enterprise for HashiCorp Terraform/Ansible adoption.
- Vendor Management: Provided expert support for F5 BIG-IQ and escalated issues with Cisco, Palo Alto, and Riverbed vendors.
Vice President – Network Applications Engineering, F5 SME
The Northern Trust | April 2015 – Aug 2023
- Enterprise Architecture: Lead Architect for F5 platform supporting 10k+ servers and 2k+ WIDEIPs in a large financial institution. Managed migration from Appliance to VIPRION to VELOS.
- Automation Strategy: Led development of full-spectrum automation standards using Ansible and Terraform, interfacing with Cisco ACI, BIG-IQ, Infoblox, and Tufin.
- Crisis Management: Served as the final technical escalation point for enterprise outages; interacted directly with CIOs regarding funding and architectural direction.
- Security & Compliance: Enforced cipher/TLS policy to PCI standards; developed and executed plans for TLS 1.0–1.1 elimination under federal mandates.
- Unified Communications: Architected VoIP systems (Cisco UC, Webex, MS Teams) and diagnosed QoS/DSCP issues for time-critical systems.
- Network Modernization: Transitioned routing architecture to iBGP/eBGP-only for security modernization; deployed Mist wireless and massive Wi-Fi networks with captive portals.
Network Design and Deployment Engineer
77energy / Chesapeake Energy (via WWT/ABT) | March 2015 – April 2015
- Architected and deployed a dual-cloud DMVPN solution integrating new MPLS with existing DIA/LTE.
- Delivered complete design and documentation within two weeks; supported turn-up and troubleshooting on Cisco 4451-X/4431 platforms.
Designated Network Engineer
Whirlpool / IBM (via APC) | May 2014 – Feb 2015
- Global Support: Provided expert troubleshooting for an international MPLS network across 200+ sites.
- Monitoring: Built a unified SolarWinds monitoring platform, integrating Visio for automated mapping and improving incident response.
- Optimization: Managed WAN acceleration (Riverbed/Cisco WAAS) and migrated load balancing from Cisco 4700 to F5.
Network Rebuild Architect
United Health / Golden Rule Insurance (via Experis) | Aug 2013 – March 2014
- Designed and rebuilt a 300-host data center (Cisco 6001 core, Nexus FEX) in under 60 days, achieving significant space/power savings.
- Redesigned F5 architecture for active/active GTM failover and implemented dynamic Layer 4/7 access control lists based on user identity.
Network Acceleration and Optimization Consultant
State Farm (via GDH Consulting) | July 2013 – Aug 2013
- Managed network acceleration (WAAS, Akamai) and F5 iApps for critical applications.
- Collaborated on SDN initiatives using F5 iControl and Cisco stacks.
F5 SME & ASA Architect
Chicago Network Services / CSC | June 2011 – May 2013
- F5 SME: Subject Matter Expert for LTM, GTM, APM, AAM, and ASM. Developed standard templates and managed high-value VIPs.
- Security: Managed entire lifecycle of ASA firewall changes, including migration from Check Point, under strict change control (DOE, DOD, HIPAA, PCI).
- Data Center Migration: Supported migration of Zurich/Farmers Insurance groups into a dedicated environment with over 4800 Nexus switch ports.
Video IP Engineering and Operations
Frontier / Verizon FiOS | July 2010 – June 2011
- Supported video head-end operations (Cisco 6500s) and multicast distribution for 200k subscribers.
- Managed transition of infrastructure during Verizon to Frontier spinoff.
Global IT Service Group: Network Team
General Electric (CompuCom) | May 2005 – June 2008
- Global Architecture: Responsible for architecture and support of 8000 Cisco devices and global circuits.
- F5 Design: Designed and deployed F5 LTM/GTM solutions for GE Appliances and GE Lighting global websites.
- Monitoring: Designed and deployed EMC Smarts for network and application performance monitoring.
- Project Lead: Led zero-downtime upgrade of DHCP environment servicing 15,000 devices.
Principal Architect & Consultant
On Site Computer Company LLC | Aug 1997 – Dec 2003
- Provided Cisco network architecture, server management, and web development for SMB clients.
- Designed wireless MAN/WAN/LAN solutions and managed large-scale mail servers.
Independent Consultant
Various Clients | 1993 – 2010
- Provided expert staff augmentation for clients including Audiotapes.com and Lafarge North America.
- Specialized in F5 support, Cisco architecture review, and VoIP/MPLS deployments.
Certifications
- Cisco Certifications: CCNP (Network Professional), CCDP (Design Professional), CCSP (Security Professional), CCSP (Sales Professional) - All currently obsolete
- F5 Certifications: F5 Certified Product Consultant (v9, v10), F5 Certified System Engineer (v9, v10, v11) - All currently obsolete
- Juniper: JNCIA Candidate (Junos OS)
- Microsoft: Microsoft Certified Engineer (1998), Microsoft Product Specialist - Windows 95, NT Workstation 4.0 (1999) - Obsolete
- Professional: Train the Trainer (Learning Tree International)
- Additional: Open Water SCUBA (YMCA, 1993 – Current), Pilot Single Engine Land (FAA, Instrument ongoing since 1999), US SAIL Keelboat Instructor (1995 – Current), CPR and First Aid (YMCA, Current)