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How I Evaluate & Implement Technology

I don't evaluate technology from vendor slide decks. I build with it, test it in real conditions, and make decisions based on what actually works at scale.

My Evaluation Framework

Every technology decision runs through the same framework, whether it's a connectivity overhaul across a global fleet or a new AI tool for a single workflow. The questions don't change. The scale does.

Does It Solve a Real Problem?

Not a theoretical one. Not a vendor-manufactured one. We start with what's actually breaking, what's costing too much, or what's slowing people down. No clear operational pain, no project.

What Does It Cost to Own?

Purchase price is the smallest number. We evaluate total cost: licensing, training, support burden, integration complexity, and what happens when something fails at 2 AM on a vessel with no onsite IT.

Does It Scale Without Breaking?

A fix for one location is a workaround. A standard that deploys across an entire fleet is infrastructure. We test in constrained environments first. If it can't survive limited bandwidth and remote support, it doesn't ship.

Can the Team Support It?

The best technology fails if the team can't maintain it. Supportability, documentation requirements, and training investment are part of every evaluation. Every solution needs to work without any single person in the room.

Same questions every time. The judgment is knowing when the answers are good enough to move forward.

What I'm Working On Now

The projects I take on share a common theme: find the inefficiency, build a standard, and deliver improvements with little to no net new cost.

AI-Augmented Procurement

A procurement platform that automates manual handoffs while giving every stakeholder the view they need: technicians see receiving status, FinOps tracks spending, and the CISO and PMO get a global dashboard. Built solo over a week, then finished with AI-assisted development in under an hour. Fewer people touch the process, but everyone sees the full picture.

AI as a Force Multiplier

The question for every AI tool: does this free the team to work on things that affect the business, or is it just a new thing to manage? Engineers should solve problems that impact operations and revenue, not reset passwords and chase SSO tickets. AI earns its place when it eliminates menial work.

Continuous Standardization

Not a project with an end date. An ongoing discipline. Swapping patch cables for shorter runs so racks are cleaner. Reallocating equipment between sites instead of buying new. The best improvements are low effort, low cost, and compound over time without requiring budget approval.

Where I See Technology Heading

AI is going to change the landscape of the technology field. The shift won't be sudden, but it will be fundamental.

From Skills to Judgment

The value proposition for technology leaders is shifting. It will no longer be about "my skills are." It will be about "my judgment is." When AI can execute most technical tasks, the differentiator becomes knowing which tasks to execute, when to trust the output, and when to override it. The leaders who thrive will be the ones who develop frameworks for decision-making, not just proficiency with tools.

Security as a Discipline, Not a Barrier

Every new technology introduces attack surfaces. The instinct in many organizations is to shut everything down and block what they don't understand. That's not security. That's stagnation. The real work is understanding the threat model, defending against it, and keeping the organization moving forward. You can't innovate behind a locked door.

The Evolving Technology Workforce

The skills I look for in engineers and technicians today are fundamentally different from what I looked for ten years ago. Technical ability is table stakes. What separates candidates now is adaptability, business context, communication, and the ability to learn continuously. The technology changes every few years. The ability to evaluate, adopt, and implement new tools while maintaining operational stability is the skill that endures.

The job is to explore new technology, evaluate how it integrates with the business, and understand its implications. That doesn't change. The tools do.

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