Change and Configuration Management

Well, I'm finishing up my 2nd month with Booz Allen Hamilton and things are still coming at me fast and furiously. But, I do think that my friends and professors were right--consulting is the right industry for me. My brain likes the information overload and collaboration across the country to identify solutions.

My first month I was able to meet with a General in the Air Force, a Principal of Booz Allen, and helped shape some of the basic and "super high-level" processes that may shape the future-state of the Chief Technology Office at one of the Agencies in the USAF. Pretty cool stuff in month one.

Month two had me learning more about X.509 standards for the Public Key Infrastructure used to certify users for secure networks. If you're interested in getting more information or direction on X.509 standards I can definitely point you at some RFCs and other documents that will help explain what OIDs are and their general numbering convention. I've also been trying to identify an education model that will support not only educating the members of the Chief Technology Office--but also the agency it supports and the greater CTO community in the AF. Additionally, I've been configuring an Apache HTTP server (with Virtual Hosts and SSL) to employ a Subversion, Tortoise SVN, and ViewVC suite of products to create a software configuration management process in a Testing and Interoperability Facility. But, this is just a small piece to the overarching change management process that has to manage the hardware, data, and additional assets.

So, process, policy, and governance. Lots of fun stuff...and pretty cool to be working on so quickly at a company. I see big things happening in this company.

If you have any questions, comments, or thoughts, please post them and I will make certain to respond shortly. I know I'm behind on my postings for the Harvard Business Review cases...but work has me pulling a number of late night researching efforts to meet client deadlines and expectations. Sorry. I'll try harder.