Hi, my name is

Josh

I like to solve problems with technology.

Systems Engineer by day, Homelabber and wannabe Software Engineer by night.

Click on blog to read about my nerd adventures.

Click on homelab to for an in-depth tour of my homelab.

Scroll down to learn more about me.

About Me

Systems Engineer | Homelabber | Tinkerer | Lifelong Learner



I am passionate about solving problems with technology.

I’m a ravenous homelabber who is dedicated to learning, practicing, and sharing new and nerdy things.

Some of my favorite areas of interest are cloud, code, and containerization.

By day, I’m a Systems Engineer; identifying and closing gaps between operational problem-sets and technical solutions.

By night, I’m a homelabber (and sometimes a wannabe software engineer). I love to tinker with new technologies and find ways to automate my homelab. I also enjoy writing about my experiences and sharing my knowledge with others.

Read my full story here

Technologies I've worked with (either at work, or in the homelab):
  • Ansible
  • PowerShell
  • Python
  • Bash
  • Azure
  • AWS
  • Kubernetes
  • Longhorn
  • Linux
  • Docker
  • Windows Server
  • VMWare
  • Proxmox

Experience

Data Systems Engineer - 3rd Special Forces Group
May 2024 - present

I currently work in Cloud and Data operations as the Group’s Data Systems Engineer. I work directly with the CTO on data-related innovation efforts. I champion major IT projects and cybersecurity efforts while managing multiple Azure-based cloud environments.

Accomplishments:

  • Championed an Azure AI Search project, allowing staff to search for documents in a more efficient manner.
  • Authored and implemented a cybersecurity compliance policy, reducing the number of violations by over 75%.
Information Systems Engineer - 1st Brigade - 101st Airborne Division
Oct 2021 - May 2024

This was my first job after graduating the Information Systems Engineer course at Ft. Gordon (now Ft. Eisenhower). Here, I got plenty of hands-on experience with VMWare, SharePoint, Active Directory and PowerShell. I spent most of my time Briefing the commander on our tactical network architecture, ensuring that our systems were highly available, secure, and meeting the needs of the brigade. I also worked on several projects to improve our network architecture and security posture.

Accomplishments:

  • Created the Bastogne Automation Tool.
  • Deployed several mission command servers in preparation for a major training exercise.
  • Built several file share servers configured with DFS repliaction.
Student - Information Systems Engineer Course - US Army Cyber Center of Excellence
January 2021 - October 2021

It was at this course that I found my passion for solving problems with technology. It all started with CCNA. I drank from a firehose and in two months, I went from asking the question “What is an IP address?” to having my CCNA. The course covered networking, Microsoft Server, VMWare, cloud, cybersecurity, RMF and more. I also began studying for my master’s degree during this time.

Accomplishments:

  • Graduated in the top 20% of my class.
  • Earned my CCNA.
  • Earned my CompTIA Network+,Security+ and Project+ certifications.
  • Earned my Microsoft Azure Fundamentals and AWS Cloud Practitioner certifications.
Aide de Camp - Untied States Army Alaska
February 2020 - Januray 2021

US Army Alaska has since been re-flagged as the 11th Airborne Division. I took over as the Deputy Commanding General’s Aide-de-Camp just in time for COVID to start. Unfortunately this meant that all of the fun travel plans never happened. I did, however get a front row seat to the making of the US Army’s Arctic strategy.

It was during this job that I took an interest in tech. Dealing with the rapid deployment of Microsoft Teams and various other teleworking solutions required this lowly infantryman to act as a tier 1 helpdesk.

Accomplishments:

  • Assisted in the development of the US Army’s Arctic strategy.
  • Acted as tier 1 support for Microsoft Teams and other teleworking solutions.
Platoon Leader - 1-40th Cavalry
March 2019 - February 2020

This was my first real job in the Army. I got to ride around in trucks with big guns, sneak around in the woods and fight pretend bad-guys at the Joint Readiness Training Center, and generate some stories that I’m sure I will tell my grandchildren in inflated detail for dramatic effect.

The Josh of this era would have never guessed that he would be doing what he does today.

Education

2021-2022
Master of Arts - Information Technology Management
Webster University
GPA: 3.9

Studied a range of topics including:

  • Project Management
  • Contract Management
  • Systems Analysis
  • Cybersecurity
2013 - 2017
Bachelor of Arts - German
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
GPA: 3.5
  • Studied German language and phonetics
  • Minored in Language Studies
  • Member of the National German Honors Society - Delta Phi Alpha

Projects

Homelab-as-Code
Kubernetes Flux Longhorn GitOps
Homelab-as-Code
Migrating my homelab to Kubernetes using GitOps
Homelab Ansible Galaxy Collection
Ansible Linux Bash
Homelab Ansible Galaxy Collection
An Ansible Galaxy collection for automating my homelab
Homelab Ansible Playbook
Ansible Linux Bash
Homelab Ansible Playbook
An Ansible playbook that uses the roles from joshrnoll.homelab
Traefik Automation Playbook
Ansible Linux Bash
Traefik Automation Playbook
An automation playbook for installing traefik and traefik-kop on tailscale
Bastogne Automation Tool
PowerShell Active Directory Automation
Bastogne Automation Tool
A custom PowerShell module for automating user creation and compliance checking