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Anthony Tropeano

Security Engineer | Secure Systems and Infrastructure

Ocala, FLOpen to remote or relocation

Summary

Security engineer with experience in infrastructure automation, network defense, systems programming, and full-stack development.

Technical Skills

Languages
Rust, Python, TypeScript/JavaScript, C/C++, Bash, SQL
Security Engineering
Wazuh, Suricata, Zeek, network segmentation, Linux hardening, Burp Suite, GPG code signing, NIST CSF, NIST SP 800-63B, OWASP ASVS, MITRE ATT&CK
Infrastructure / DevSecOps
Proxmox VE, OPNsense, Docker, Ansible, Caddy, WireGuard, Grafana, Prometheus, GitHub Actions
Application Development
React, Next.js, Bun, Hono, Node.js, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, REST/GraphQL

Professional Experience

Defend I.T. Solutions Founder & Security Engineer

May 2025 - Present

Ocala, FL

  • Built an Ansible-managed SOC/NOC on two Proxmox nodes: Wazuh (12 agents), Suricata, Zeek, Grafana, Prometheus.
  • Automated Proxmox appliance deployment, cutting setup time from 2+ hours to 15 minutes.
  • Deployed a two-tier OPNsense firewall with network segmentation, DDNS, Unbound DNS, Caddy, and automated CA distribution.
  • Shipped O-Tether, a closed-source inline security appliance for ARM hardware.

University of Arizona Python Course Assistant

Nov 2024 - Dec 2025

Remote

  • Mentored cybersecurity students in Python, debugging, and dev environment setup.
  • Wrote guides for recurring code and environment issues.

Self-Employed Freelance Full-Stack Developer

Mar 2025 - Apr 2025

Remote

  • Rebuilt a legacy Wix site in Next.js/TypeScript/Tailwind, improving performance and SEO.
  • Cut hosting costs to zero via Vercel deployment.

edX/2U Full-Stack Web Development Grader

Aug 2021 - Nov 2023

Remote

  • Graded student MERN apps on code quality, architecture, and best practices.
  • Verified assignment integrity and enforced grading standards through curriculum changes.

Eco-Surfacing Foils Project Manager

May 2017 - Dec 2020

Ocala, FL

  • Managed scheduling, client communication, and cost control for $1M-$1.5M in annual projects.
  • Replaced paper workflows with GPS-based scheduling.
  • Redesigned the company logo and website.

Education

Nova Southeastern University M.S., Artificial Intelligence (Data Science Concentration)

Fall 2026 | Expected 2028

University of Arizona B.A.S., Cyber Operations (Cyber Engineering Emphasis)

December 2025

Summa Cum Laude | GPA 4.0 | NSA CAE-CO Designated Program | Outstanding Senior Award Nominee | Distinguished Undergraduate Scholar | Dean's List with Distinction

Certifications

  • NSA Cyber Operations Program Certificate, University of Arizona (December 2025)
  • Full-Stack Web Development Certificate, University of Central Florida (August 2021)

Selected Projects

SIGINT

Live

TypeScript, React, Bun, Canvas 2D, Web Workers

  • Built an OSINT dashboard visualizing eight live data sources on an interactive globe.
  • Wrote a Canvas 2D rendering engine running in Web Workers.
  • Added cross-source correlation, scored alerts, watch notifications, and offline PWA support.

O-Tether

Shipped, closed source

ARM security appliance

  • Shipped an inline security appliance for low-cost ARM hardware.
  • Combined a phone-tether bridge with a default-deny firewall, threat filtering, and intrusion prevention.
  • Added signed releases and fail-closed behavior.

SAFE-PC

Completed capstone prototype

Python, Proxmox VE, OPNsense, Suricata, Unbound DNS

  • Built a framework converting end-of-life x86-64 hardware into unattended security appliances.
  • Automated firewall, IDS, and DNS filtering setup via Python and REST APIs.
  • Cut setup time from 2+ hours to 15-47 minutes.

0xDL and pveauto

Published Rust projects

Rust

  • Published 0xDL (async downloads with integrity checks) and pveauto (Proxmox VE ISO download/verify) on crates.io.

threads-kernel

CYBV 489 coursework

C

  • Implemented scheduling, synchronization, IPC, interrupts, syscalls, and disk I/O in the THREADS kernel.
  • Co-authored “Investigating Covert IPC in THREADS” for Cyber Recon '25.