DANIEL LAFORCE
About Me
Bridging enterprise IT and modern DevOps with a builder's mindset
I'm a Systems Architect and Infrastructure Engineer based in Colorado Springs, CO with over 12 years of experience designing, deploying, and managing enterprise IT infrastructure. My career spans defense (Lockheed Martin), telecommunications (Novus), healthcare IT (COMPUTek Dental), and managed services (Anchor Point IT).
What sets me apart is the combination of deep enterprise experience with a genuine passion for building things from scratch. From deploying data centers and migrating 500+ mailboxes with zero downtime, to creating my own Linux distribution (Argo OS) and a 66-core distributed build system, I thrive at the intersection of reliability engineering and innovation.
When I'm not architecting production infrastructure, I'm running a multi-node homelab, contributing to open-source projects, and writing about the journey on ArgoBox.com.
Skills & Certifications
Technical expertise built across enterprise, cloud, and open-source environments
Industry Certifications
Experience
A career built on enterprise infrastructure, innovation, and problem-solving
Project Engineer
Anchor Point IT
Colorado Springs, CO
Lead project engineering for infrastructure deployments, cloud migrations, and network architecture across enterprise client environments.
- Architect and deliver end-to-end M365 tenant-to-tenant migrations with zero downtime
- Design and implement secure network architectures with firewall, VPN, and Zero Trust policies
- Deploy and manage security stacks including Sentinel One, ThreatLocker, and Cisco Umbrella
- Automate partner onboarding workflows and infrastructure provisioning with ImmyBot and PowerShell
- Plan and execute IT infrastructure for client office remodels and mergers
Network Engineer II
Novus Professional Services
Colorado Springs, CO
Designed network infrastructure and managed CPE firmware testing environments for telecommunications clients.
- Developed innovative wiring diagram for full-access Wi-Fi cage supporting 100+ routers
- Created three CAD models for data center rack prototypes
- Utilized Ansible to verify modem/router connectivity across multiple NOC environments
- Maintained network connectivity for 100+ routers across 2 sites (DEV, INT, PROD)
System Administrator
COMPUTek Dental Systems
Colorado
Managed IT infrastructure supporting dental practice management across multiple Southern Colorado locations.
- Administered 3,700+ workstations and 288 Windows Servers across multiple sites
- Developed VSA Deployer application leveraging Kaseya VSA for remote management
- Managed backup and disaster recovery via N-Able, Windows Server Backups, and AIS
- Assisted with IT infrastructure planning for office remodels and practice mergers
End-to-End Systems Engineer
Lockheed Martin Corporation
Schriever AFB, CO
Systems engineering for the Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN), focusing on end-to-end system integration, testing, and satellite mission support.
- Implemented Remote Tracking Station (RTS) configurations for satellite operations
- Conducted testing on AFSCN Test Bed and maintained AIMS management system
- Validated Telemetry, Tracking, and Commanding (TT&C) parameters for mission success
- Achieved 100% IRON database accuracy through rigorous verification protocols
Projects
From custom Linux distributions to enterprise data center deployments
Enterprise Data Center Deployment
Complete data center build-out from ground up, including rack design, power distribution, cooling optimization, precise cable management using CAD-designed pathways, and redundant network topology implementation. Integrated custom-fabricated components using mechanical engineering principles and 3D-printed mounting solutions.
ArgoBox.com
Full-stack engineering platform with 14 auto-discovered admin modules, 136 pages, and 96 API routes. Features real-time WebSocket infrastructure dashboards, interactive browser-based labs, knowledge graph visualization, AI-powered content pipeline with automated doc sanitization (148 regex patterns, 0 leaks), and a Galactic Identity System for OPSEC. Site blueprint generation and type-safe module manifests enable autonomous admin discovery.
ArgoBox Admin Platform
Enterprise-grade admin system powering ArgoBox.com. 14 auto-discovered modules with type-safe manifests, site blueprint generation covering 136 pages and 96 API routes, real-time WebSocket dashboards for infrastructure monitoring, and a content management pipeline with AI-assisted scoring. Module auto-discovery via import.meta.glob eliminates manual registration.
Argonaut AI Agent
Multi-modal RAG pipeline with ChromaDB indexing 85K+ document chunks from Obsidian vaults. Features Whisper STT and ElevenLabs TTS for voice interaction, a 3-tier inference fallback (local daemon → local model → cloud API), personality profile system, voice authenticity scoring (0-100), and PII sanitization layer. Serves as the AI backbone for ArgoBox.
Build Swarm — Distributed Compilation
66-core distributed Gentoo compilation system orchestrating 5 drones across 2 physical sites connected via Tailscale mesh VPN. Reduced LLVM compile time from 4 hours to 45 minutes and full @world rebuilds from 18 hours to 3 hours. Custom Python orchestrator with Flask REST API, Prometheus metrics, automatic binhost syncing, and snapshot-protected rollbacks.
Pentest Operations Suite
Dual-node security testing platform spanning 2 Proxmox sites with 7 operational modules: reconnaissance, target management, interactive console, exploit framework, web application testing, VNC-based VM access, and automated report generation. Features nmap integration with 9 tuning categories, XSS payload testing, and live terminal access via ttyd.
Applyr Job Automation Engine
Multi-platform job application automation targeting LinkedIn Easy Apply and Indeed. AI-powered form filling via Claude Haiku with 57 field selector strategies, anti-bot detection using Bezier curve mouse movement and realistic typing simulation, CAPTCHA recovery windows, and persistent session management. Automates the entire application workflow from search to submission.
TerraMappix Land Claim Mapping
Developed TerraTracer, a Python/Node.js geospatial engine powering TerraMappix.com. Converts BLM coordinates and legal metes-and-bounds into precise, GIS-ready property maps with accuracy down to 1.08 inches. Built for mining firms, prospectors, and land managers.
SharePoint & M365 Migrations
Seamless migration of enterprise data from legacy systems to Microsoft 365. Transitioned organizations from on-premises file servers, Dropbox, Google Workspace, and Egnyte to SharePoint Online and OneDrive, with minimal disruption and PowerShell automation for large-scale transfers.
TerraTracer Geospatial Engine
A Python-based geospatial mapping solution focused on lode/placer claim mapping, property delineation, and GIS integration. Leveraging powerful libraries to provide efficient mapping capabilities for mining, civil engineering, and land management applications.
Full-Stack Web Development Solutions
End-to-end web solutions for businesses of all sizes, from responsive frontend designs to robust backend systems deployed on containerized infrastructure. Interactive dashboards, e-commerce platforms, and custom web applications with seamless API integrations.
AI-Driven Used Car Price Prediction
AI-powered car price estimator combining extensive data analysis with machine learning. Features comprehensive data preprocessing, a Random Forest Regression model with over 90% accuracy, and an interactive Jupyter Notebook interface.
Infrastructure Monitoring Dashboard
Custom real-time monitoring solution for homelab infrastructure. Features metrics visualization via Grafana, service status tracking, and resource allocation management, pulling data from Prometheus and other sources.
Enterprise Ansible Automation
Comprehensive Ansible implementations with reusable roles, complex playbooks, and CI/CD integration (GitLab CI, GitHub Actions) for automated infrastructure deployment, configuration management, and application orchestration.
CPE WiFi Firmware Test Bed
Designed and built a sophisticated testing environment for customer premises equipment with full remote access capabilities. Includes thermal safeguards, optimized wiring structure (Visio diagrams), and robust equipment integration with WAN-facing accessibility.
Dedicated Server & Hypervisor Management
Expert setup, configuration, and management of dedicated servers on Hetzner, OVH, and Leaseweb. Deploying and managing hypervisors including VMware ESXi, Proxmox, Hyper-V, and XCP-ng for robust, secure virtualized environments.
High-Performance Websites & Blogs
Blazing-fast, SEO-optimized websites and blogs using modern frameworks. Expertise in Tailwind CSS, Astro, Nuxt.js, Next.js, Django, Hugo, and PHP to deliver exceptional user experiences and performance.
Argo OS
Custom Gentoo Linux distribution with Btrfs snapshot-protected rollbacks, automated binary package management via custom apkg tool, and a 66-core distributed compilation system (Build Swarm) orchestrating 5 drones across 2 networks. Purpose-built for learning Portage internals and running a production desktop.
Tendril Knowledge Graph
Open-source graph visualization library built on Cytoscape.js for mapping relationships between technical concepts, blog posts, and infrastructure documentation. Features physics-based force-directed layouts with configurable attraction, repulsion, and damping parameters.
Services
End-to-end infrastructure solutions for businesses of any scale
Infrastructure Architecture
End-to-end design and deployment of data center, server, and network infrastructure for enterprise environments.
- Data center rack design and deployment
- Server virtualization (Proxmox, VMware, Hyper-V)
- Network topology and VLAN architecture
- Redundancy and disaster recovery planning
Cloud & DevOps
Cloud migration, CI/CD pipeline implementation, and infrastructure-as-code automation for modern operations.
- Microsoft 365 & Azure administration
- CI/CD pipeline design and deployment
- Docker and Kubernetes orchestration
- Cloudflare Workers, Pages, and Tunnels
Network Security
Comprehensive security architecture including firewall management, Zero Trust implementation, and endpoint protection.
- Firewall configuration (Cisco, SonicWall, pfSense)
- Zero Trust network architecture
- Endpoint security (Sentinel One, ThreatLocker)
- VPN and secure remote access design
Systems Integration
Seamless migration and integration of enterprise systems including M365, SharePoint, and identity federation.
- M365 tenant-to-tenant migration
- SharePoint and Teams deployment
- Active Directory and Azure AD federation
- File system consolidation (Egnyte, SharePoint)
Automation Engineering
Custom automation solutions using Ansible, Python, and PowerShell to eliminate manual processes and reduce human error.
- Ansible playbook development and AWX
- Python scripting and tool development
- PowerShell automation for Windows environments
- Monitoring and alerting (Prometheus, Grafana)
Technical Consulting
Architecture reviews, technology roadmaps, and vendor evaluation to help organizations make informed infrastructure decisions.
- Infrastructure audits and assessments
- Technology roadmap development
- Vendor evaluation and selection
- IT budget planning and optimization
Case Studies
Results-driven engineering with measurable impact
Enterprise Data Center Buildout
Designed and deployed a complete data center from bare rack to production in 6 weeks, including redundant power, cooling, networking, and virtualization infrastructure.
Enterprise ClientM365 Zero-Downtime Migration
Led multiple tenant-to-tenant Microsoft 365 migrations with zero-downtime cutover, preserving all mail flow, SharePoint data, and Teams configuration.
Professional ServicesDistributed Build System
Architected a multi-node distributed compilation system that parallelizes package builds across 5 machines spanning 2 networks with Tailscale mesh VPN.
Open Source ProjectInfrastructure Monitoring
Built a unified monitoring dashboard tracking 13+ systems, 252TB+ storage, and real-time service health across multi-site infrastructure using Prometheus and Grafana.
Personal InfrastructureGet in Touch
Let's discuss how I can help with your next infrastructure challenge