Leray Smedley
Chesapeake
Summary
Results-driven IT and Cyber Operations leader with 25 years of experience leading enterprise technology operations, IT service management, communications, and mission-critical support teams in high-pressure environments. Proven expertise in ITSM, incident management, help desk operations, cybersecurity operations, cross-functional leadership, and operational process improvement. Experienced in managing technical teams, driving organizational efficiency, supporting executive-level stakeholders, and delivering secure, reliable IT services aligned with mission and business objectives.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Enlisted Leader
USAF
07.2023 - Current
- Directed daily IT operations, incident management, change management, and problem resolution across a distributed multi-national environment to ensure 24/7 availability of secure enterprise IT services supporting 2,500 joint personnel.
- Oversaw a $221M sustainment portfolio and managed $14M in contingency technical assets, transforming infrastructure capabilities to support high-stakes, fast-paced operations.
- Analyzed operational metrics and performance trends to eliminate workflow obstacles and improve customer support outcomes
- Developed, documented, and enforced standardized operational procedures (SOPs), technical documentation, and compliance controls aligned with strict security regulations.
- Led and mentored a cross-functional team of 630 professionals across multiple operational disciplines.
Cyber Operations Superintendent
USAF
04.2021 - 07.2023
- Supervised operations and maintenance of an enterprise cyber grid hosting 11,000 network devices, delivering robust IT capabilities to more than 7,000 end-users.
- Managed high-priority escalations and complex technical incidents in a fast-paced environment with strict service-level expectations, overseeing a $6M annual cybersecurity budget protecting 20,000 devices.
- Partnered with infrastructure, systems engineering, and security teams to resolve enterprise-wide technical bottlenecks, including leading a massive $7 billion domain migration that transferred 32K network resources across 16 sites.
- Coordinated cross-functional teams responsible for cybersecurity operations, endpoint management, systems support, and network reliability.
- Leveraged quantitative and qualitative service metrics to proactively identify support trends, enhance customer experience, and drive system performance efficiencies.
White House Program Manager
USAF
09.2016 - 04.2021
- Managed high-visibility IT programs and secure mission-sensitive technology support services for senior government leadership, serving as a primary liaison between technical teams, external vendors, and executive stakeholders.
- Governed project timelines, resource coordination, and lifecycle management for software and hardware assets supporting over 3,000 mobile devices.
- Administered a $75,000 training budget and directed a 27-member Executive Service Center team providing top-tier customer support for a $200 million enterprise network environment.
- Developed robust reporting mechanisms, operational documentation, and performance tracking processes to maintain exceptional customer support standards.
Help Desk Manager
USAF
08.2010 - 09.2016
- Supervised daily operations of an enterprise IT help desk team supporting end-users with a strict focus on service excellence, rapid issue resolution, and SLA/OLA compliance.
- Trained, coached, and mentored technical support personnel; conducted routine performance reviews, identified training needs, and aligned skill sets with challenging technical projects.
- Monitored ticketing systems and support trends to conduct root cause analysis for recurring technical issues; partnered with network and security teams to implement long-term structural solutions.
- Authored and maintained comprehensive knowledge base articles, technical documentation, and SOPs to standardize support consistency and reduce recurring ticket volume.
- Managed enterprise telephone call accounting software and oversaw Avaya and VoIP testing, configuration, and proactive maintenance activities.
Education
MBA - Business Administration
Trident University International
Cypress, CA05-2008
Bachelor of Science - Computer Information Systems
University of North Alabama
Florence, AL05-2001
Skills
Project Management
IT Policy Development
Budget Management
Advanced IT Principles and Practices
Comprehensive IT Knowledge
Evaluation and Impact Analysis
Policy and Planning
Acquisition and Procurement
Technical Problem Solving
Configuration Management
Certification
- Project Management Professional
- Certified Information Security Manager
- Certified Ethical Hacker
- CompTia Security+
- CompTia A+
Clearance
TS/SCI (Current)
Accomplishments
- 2001 Honor Graduate, Basic Military Training
- 2003 56th Fighter Wing Maintenance Professional of the Year
- 2004 Distinguished Graduate, Airmen Leadership School
- 2007 9th Maintenance Group Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award
- 2008 9th Reconnaissance Wing NCO of the Year
- 2010 Air Combat Command, Outstanding Client Systems Technician
- 2010 Department of Defense Spirit of Hope Award
- 2012 Distinguished Graduate, NCO Academy
- 2013 NATO Military Member of the Year
- 2017 White House Military Office SNCO of the Year
- 2018 AFDW NAACP Roy C. Wilkins Award
- 2021 John L. Levitow Leadership Award, SNCO Academy
- 2021 16 AF Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award
Timeline
Senior Enlisted Leader
USAF
07.2023 - Current
Cyber Operations Superintendent
USAF
04.2021 - 07.2023
White House Program Manager
USAF
09.2016 - 04.2021
Help Desk Manager
USAF
08.2010 - 09.2016
MBA - Business Administration
Trident University International
Bachelor of Science - Computer Information Systems
University of North Alabama