Khary A. Mendez

Khary A. Mendez

Technical Leader • Team Multiplier • Problem Solver

|
📅
0
Years Experience
🏆
0
Certifications
👥
0
Teams Enabled
🚀
0
Projects Delivered

How I Create Impact

Click each card to discover the methodology behind technical excellence

🎯

UNDERSTAND
DEEPLY

Click to explore

Deep Understanding

Joined a troubled engagement midway through with a frustrated government contractor. Did a complete reset—built their architecture diagram in real-time, asked probing questions that forced clarity, and uncovered the true need: optimizing their enterprise middleware for diverse deployment scenarios.
📊 40+ page tuning guide with optimization rubric
🔄 Complete customer turnaround in 2 weeks
"Khary was phenomenal to work with"
👥

MULTIPLY
THROUGH PEOPLE

Click to explore

Team Multiplication

When onboarding customer teams, I have them do the work while I teach—building self-sufficiency so we can expand our footprint. Internally, I encouraged colleagues to present at our annual conference, submitted proposals on their behalf, and coached them through it. I mentor consultants and am a go-to resource for solving difficult problems.
🎤 Helped colleagues become conference speakers
🚀 New team members now leading migrations
🤝 Teams become self-sufficient, not dependent

DELIVER
RESULTS

Click to explore

Production Results

When a customer literally laughed at OpenShift installation requirements, we plowed through—found champions, and now run successfully with a backlog of demand. On another engagement, discovered developers were .NET, not Java. Created learning resources, ran intensive sessions, and they delivered the middleware migration on a strict deadline.
OpenShift running for years with growing demand
🎓 Upskilled entire team from zero to delivery
🏆 First successful engagement with that customer

Professional Journey

Building expertise through challenging problems and exceptional teams

Senior Principal Consultant

Red Hat, Inc.
2015 - Present
Architecting cloud-native transformations for federal agencies and Fortune 500 enterprises
  • Led 15+ enterprise engagements across federal agencies, defense contractors, and Fortune 500 companies
  • Specialized in OpenShift/Kubernetes architecture, CI/CD automation, and cloud-native transformation
  • Trusted advisor and mentor to customer teams and Red Hat consultants alike
  • Delivered middleware integration solutions and established DevOps best practices
OpenShift Kubernetes Ansible Java ArgoCD Jenkins AWS Middleware
Click for details

Staff Software Engineer

Lockheed Martin
1998 - 2011
Mission-critical software for satellite systems and space-based defense programs
  • 13-year tenure across satellite systems, tactical networks, and space-based defense programs
  • Progressed from Software Engineer to Staff Engineer and Architect, leading services and mentoring teams
  • Recognized C++ expert with additional expertise in Java, SOA, and real-time systems
  • Delivered software for international customers including on-site support in Japan and UK
C++ Java SOA JBoss Linux CORBA System Integration Database
Click for details

Adjunct Professor

Montgomery College
2011
Shaping future software engineers through hands-on curriculum and mentorship
  • Taught introductory programming course covering C++ fundamentals and problem-solving
  • Developed curriculum materials and provided extensive student mentorship
C++ Visual Studio Teaching
Click for details

M.S. Computer Science

Johns Hopkins University
2002

B.S. Computer Science

Carnegie Mellon University
1998
  • Minor in Mathematics

Trusted by Teams

What colleagues say about working together

"Deep technical expertise across virtually all subject areas in Computer Science. His breadth and depth are impressive—Application Development, Infrastructure, Networking, Artificial Intelligence, DevOps. The go-to expert in all domains. His calm tone and humble attitude make him a pleasure to work with."

Senior Technical Leader
Enterprise Cloud Migration

"In a project with misaligned scope and tight deadlines, he stepped in with less than two weeks remaining. Within a day, he was leading customer meetings with a calm demeanor that immediately put everyone at ease. We delivered a comprehensive solution that exceeded expectations."

Project Lead
Complex Enterprise Engagement

"He finds a way to support many people without overstepping. Always makes himself available while letting us complete our work. When a blocker comes up, we know he'll dive into difficult technical solutions."

Senior Consultant
Platform Team

"Technically very strong and always willing to help. When I took on a new technology I had little experience with, he encouraged me to take the additional responsibility and supported me every step of the way."

Consultant
Application Migration

"Has the complete trust of the customer because of his focus on their success and ability to build relationships. When we presented the plan for him to step into the architect role, the customer expressed no concerns whatsoever."

Engagement Manager
Federal Agency

"Seamlessly stepped into a larger role, picked up leadership of critical workstreams, and proactively comes up with solutions. He exceeded expectations in every way."

Team Lead
Application Services

Industry Certifications

17 professional certifications across architecture, cloud, and container platforms

Cloud & Professional Certifications

Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)
Cloud Native Computing Foundation
Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD)
Cloud Native Computing Foundation
Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS)
Cloud Native Computing Foundation
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
Amazon Web Services
Certified Scrum Master
Scrum Alliance

Architect Certifications

Red Hat Certifications

Red Hat Certified Specialist in OpenShift AI
November 2024
Red Hat Certified Cloud-native Developer
November 2024
Red Hat Certified OpenShift Application Developer
October 2024
Red Hat Certified Specialist in OpenShift Virtualization
August 2024
Red Hat Certified Specialist in API Management
August 2024
Red Hat Certified Specialist in MultiCluster Management
September 2023
Red Hat Certified Specialist in Service Mesh
August 2023
Red Hat Certified Specialist in Enterprise Application Server Administration
August 2023
Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE)
June 2019
Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA)
October 2015

Verify Active Certifications

Open Source Projects

Personal projects and contributions to the developer community

~/projects/litra-driver

Litra Driver

Linux CLI and GUI for controlling Logitech Litra Glow & Beam lighting devices. Reverse-engineered USB protocols enable brightness and color temperature control without proprietary software. Originally built in Python, then rewritten in Go for improved performance.

195+ stars Python Go
USB Control CLI + GUI Reverse Engineering Cross-Platform
~/projects/openshift-networking

OpenShift Networking Presentation

Interactive, web-based technical presentation on OpenShift networking. Features 20 animated slides, 12 interactive SVG diagrams with zoom/pan, presenter mode with speaker notes, and embedded live demos. Built with pure HTML5—no frameworks, no dependencies.

HTML5 / SVG 20 slides 12 diagrams
Interactive Diagrams Presenter Mode Live Demos AI-Assisted

Publications

Technical content, tutorials, and collaborative works

Let's Connect

Reach out for networking or collaboration