About me
I build and run networks, at work and at home.
I'm Keith Rockhill, a senior network engineer in Hudson, Michigan. I've spent more than 20 years in telecommunications, most of it keeping carrier networks running for people who only notice them when they stop.
How I Got Here
It started in 1995 with an FCC Technician-class amateur radio license. That was my first real time with circuits, signal theory and the physics of getting information from one place to another. I took coursework at Ohio State University, Rhodes State College and Penn State University, then went to work in the field.
I installed high-speed data and VoIP service for ACI Communications, then spent four years at Sidney Electric as a journeyman tele/data technician and instructor. In 2009 I joined Verizon Wireless, and I've been there since.
I kept at the radio side, too. In 2013 I upgraded to General class by passing a second, harder exam covering propagation, impedance and power calculations, and antenna and feedline theory. It's the same physics behind the microwave links and fiber I work with now.
What I Do Now
I'm a senior network engineer on the network performance team at Verizon Wireless, and I lead router and node configuration across a national wireless network. Most days that means performance monitoring, capacity planning, troubleshooting and outage restoration. I also interview and train new engineers, and I fill in for management when they're out.
Where I want to go next is leadership where technology and business meet, including how AI and automation fit into network operations. At home I run a small two-cluster lab, covered on the Rocknet Lab page. It hosts this site.
Career
Senior Network Engineer, Network Performance
Verizon Wireless, Ohio · 2009 to present
- Lead engineer for router and node configuration deployment across a national wireless network.
- Monitor network performance and resource use to spot problems and trend them before they turn into outages.
- Run outage restoration and capital projects with cross-functional teams.
- Serve as the substitute point of contact for management.
- Interview, onboard and review network engineers, and write their development plans.
- Support 24/7 on-call network operations.
Journeyman Tele/Data Technician and Instructor
Sidney Electric Co., Ohio · 2005 to 2009
- Installed and maintained telephone and data infrastructure for commercial and residential customers.
- Trained incoming technicians on installation standards and field practice.
HSD/VoIP Installer
ACI Communications · 2004 to 2005
- Installed high-speed data and VoIP service for homes and businesses.
Skills
Network Engineering
- Router Installation & Configuration
- Multiple Vendor Networks
- Radio Frequency Systems
- Copper & Fiber Data Links
- C/D WDM Fiber Multiplexing
- Inside & Outside Plant Design
- Network Monitoring
- KPI Analysis
- Troubleshooting & Root Cause Analysis
- AI/ML Integration
Operations and Leadership
- Outage Restoration Management
- Capacity Planning
- Capital Project Management
- Project Management & CI/CD
- SLA/TRoS/Ticketing
- Implementation
- Vendor Management
- Resource Allocation
- Blueprint & As-Built Documentation
- Business Development Planning
- Team Development
- Interviewing & Onboarding
- Performance Reviews
Platforms and Equipment
- Cisco ASR9K, ASR1K, CCNA
- Ciena SAOS, Management Console, 1600 Series
- Nokia 9926 eNodeB, NSP, FSM-4
- Samsung USM
- Nortel Digital BTS
- Ericsson Microwave Link Systems
- Fujitsu NetSmart 1500, 8300 Series CWDM
- Westell
- Asentria
- Adtran 2800
- DragonWave
- ALU 9500
- Ubiquiti
- Anritsu 5800 Fiber/Copper, 750 Series Spectrum
- Corning
- Viavi
In the Home Lab
- Proxmox VE
- Proxmox Backup Server
- ZFS Replication & HA
- Ubiquiti EdgeOS
- VLAN Design
- Cloudflare Tunnel
- Terraform
- Ansible
- FRRouting (BGP, IS-IS, BFD)
- Debian Linux
- nginx
- Prometheus & Grafana