Portfolio

Travis Brown — professional headshot

Travis Brown

Cyber Defense Specialist | USAF | Sec+ | Linux+

Kalaheo, Hawaii, United States

7+ years of professional experience · Experience & credentials sections synced from public LinkedIn

Profile

About

I've been programming since I was a teenager, mostly because I couldn't stop thinking about things I wanted to build. What started as a hobby turned into something real in 2020 when one of my apps, Simply Journal, became a top-selling app on the U.S. App Store. That experience meant a lot to me—not just because of the success, but because it showed me that something I built on my own could actually reach and help people.

After high school, I chose to step away from everything familiar and spent two years serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in North Dakota and South Dakota. That time shaped me in ways I didn't expect. I learned how to talk to anyone, how to handle rejection, how to stay consistent when things are hard, and how to care more about people than outcomes.

Since then, my path has been anything but linear. I've worked at Southwest Airlines, I currently serve in the Air National Guard, and I've spent time working with a defense contractor. Serving has been one of the most meaningful parts of my life—I value being able to contribute to my community and my country, and I'm proud to be an American. These experiences have taught me how to be part of a team, how to take responsibility seriously, and how to operate in structured, high-trust environments.

Through all of it, programming has stayed constant. It's something I return to because I enjoy it. I like figuring things out, building ideas into something real, and improving over time. I've taken on freelance work and personal projects along the way, not just to grow professionally, but because I genuinely like the process.

Outside of work, I spend a lot of time outdoors. I enjoy being in the ocean—surfing, swimming, paddling—or getting out to hike and camp whenever I can. I'm also really into photography. I wouldn't call myself an artist, but I like capturing moments and paying attention to details I might otherwise miss. I appreciate art in general, even if I don't feel like I naturally create it myself.

I also enjoy reading, especially ideas around leadership and purpose. One author I keep coming back to is Simon Sinek and the way he talks about why we do what we do.

One thing that's important to me is commitment. If I say yes to something, I follow through. I don't back down from responsibilities, and I take pride in seeing things through to the end.

Creative

Photography

Away from the terminal, I'm usually chasing light and composition—whether it's landscapes, details, or the rhythm of a street scene. Most of my public work lives on Pixabay.

Photos from Pixabay— royalty-free content per the Pixabay license. API results cached 24h per Pixabay API guidelines.

Pixabay (public profile): 35 photos, 320+ likes, 87k+ views, 70k+ downloads.

Career

Experience

  • Jun 2024 – PresentCurrent

    Kekaha, Hawaii, United States

    Deploy and maintain Windows, Linux, and third-party applications to support critical mission operations. Implement DISA STIG and system hardening for compliance and data protection. Manage Active Directory users and groups to streamline access and reduce security issues.

  • Cyber Defense Specialist

    Air National Guard
    Aug 2023 – PresentCurrent

    Kekaha, Hawaii, United States

    Maintain security and operational efficiency for mission-critical IT. Implement logical security and DISA STIG-aligned configurations; manage Windows installs per Standard Desktop Configuration (SDC); troubleshoot and tune systems for reliability; enforce layered controls including access, antivirus, and firewalls.

  • Customer Service Agent

    Southwest Airlines
    Oct 2022 – Jul 2024

    Lihue, Hawaii, United States

    Delivered high-quality service for internal and external customers: check-in, baggage, and regulatory compliance. Collaborated during disruptions (cancellations, delays, overbooking) with clear, timely communication focused on safety and passenger experience.

  • Program Consultant

    CLLA

    Dec 2022 – Jun 2023

    Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

    Built and maintained responsive web apps with JavaScript, PHP, and Python. Managed AWS environments, applied Linux patching and hardening, optimized performance and scalability, and partnered with a distributed DevOps team on quality and delivery.

  • Product Developer

    Kailua Media
    May 2018 – Oct 2022

    Rapid City, South Dakota, United States

    Standardized hardware with MDM, operated Linux servers with ISO/IEC 27032 alignment, rolled out MFA (RSA) and SSO, led Cisco network builds, and strengthened network security and availability for mobile-focused products.

  • Software Engineer

    Kailua Media
    May 2018 – Apr 2019

    Rapid City, South Dakota, United States

    Built iOS apps with Swift, Dart, and Objective-C; improved reliability through structured troubleshooting; integrated security practices with network and IT teams; automated CI/CD with Python, Docker, and Jenkins; used AWS Glue and Lambda for scalable cloud workloads.

  • Missionary Technology Solutions Architect

    The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
    Jul 2020 – Jul 2022

    Bismarck, North Dakota, United States

    Led and trained large teams; managed Windows 10 with IBM Maa360 MDM; built cloud tooling on Google Cloud and Azure; configured firewalls, VLANs, and VPN/proxy; managed carrier contracts (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon); analyzed web metrics to improve SEO outcomes.

Learning

Education

Credentials

Licenses & certifications

Toolkit

Skills

  • Cybersecurity & DISA STIG
  • Windows & Linux administration
  • Active Directory
  • AWS / GCP / Azure
  • Network engineering (Cisco, VLANs, firewalls)
  • MDM & endpoint security
  • DevOps (Docker, Jenkins, CI/CD)
  • Swift / iOS
  • Python, JavaScript, PHP
  • IT leadership & mentoring

Builds

More projects & builds

Side projects, tooling, and work that isn't on the App Store. Shipped iOS apps are highlighted in the App Store section below.

  • ExecutiveAction

    Jan 2025 – Present

    SwiftUI app aggregating public White House information—news, briefings, and presidential actions—with a focus on memory management, network pacing, caching, and a polished UX.

  • Advanced Security Configuration and Troubleshooting

    Hardened systems per DISA STIGs and SDC, improved reliability through structured troubleshooting, and enforced layered security (access controls, AV, firewalls) with tools such as DISA STIG Viewer.

  • Network Configuration and Security Enhancement

    Led network diagramming, switch/router work, Juniper firewalls, VLAN segmentation, and STIG-aligned configurations to improve defense and performance.

iOS development

On the App Store

Swift, SwiftUI, and apps people can download on iPhone and iPad.

iPhone & iPad
  • BallisticsExpert app icon
    App Store

    BallisticsExpert

    Real-time ballistics & accuracy

    iOS utility for hunters and marksmen: trajectory math, wind and environmental adjustments, ammo customization, and clear impact visualization—built with Swift for iPhone and iPad.

    View on App StoreiOS · App Store
  • Kleira app icon
    App Store

    Kleira

    Create strong, secure passwords

    SwiftUI app for generating strong passwords fast—offline-first, no data collection, with a memorable cipher-chart workflow so you stay in control without a hosted vault.

    View on App StoreiOS · App Store

People

Recognition

Honors & awards

  • Outstanding Airman Award

    150th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron · Nov 2024

    Hawaii Air National Guard 150th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron Outstanding AMN Award (Jul – Dec 2024).

During my time serving alongside Travis in the United States Air Force he has shown that he is a hard working, motivated, and intelligent individual. He has immense knowledge in technology, policies, protocols, and much more regarding the field.
Recommendation · United States Air Force colleague