Gerard Foka

About Gerard Foka

I am a Director‑level Engineering Leader and Enterprise Architect with a proven track record delivering secure, scalable, and governance‑aligned systems for large enterprises. In my current role as Senior Manager of Systems Engineering at Charles Schwab, I lead global engineering teams responsible for modernizing platforms, strengthening security posture, and architecting cloud‑ready, high‑availability systems that support millions of users.My academic foundation spans a Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT), an MBA from ESSEC, and ongoing PhD research in AI governance, privacy‑preserving machine learning, and secure enterprise systems. This combination gives me a rare ability to connect engineering depth with governance, strategy, and responsible AI principles.I am also ITIL‑certified, bringing a strong command of service management, process maturity, and operational governance critical for enterprise environments and regulated industries. These frameworks shape how I design systems that are not only technically sound but also compliant, auditable, and aligned with organizational risk posture.As Founder & Principal Engineer at ItenGateway LLC, I deliver enterprise‑grade architecture, backend engineering, cloud modernization, and security governance for SaaS companies, global organizations, and international initiatives. My work consistently focuses on clarity, structure, and long‑term technical integrity.Core Areas of Impact• Enterprise Systems Architecture & Cloud Modernization• Security Architecture, Governance, and Compliance• DevOps Automation & Platform Engineering• AI Governance & Privacy‑Preserving ML• Backend Engineering & API Ecosystems• ITIL‑Aligned Service Management & Operational Excellence• Global Engineering Leadership & Cross‑Functional Delivery• Governance‑Aligned Decision Making & Technical StrategyI thrive in complex ecosystems where engineering, governance, and strategy must align to deliver secure, scalable, and future‑ready system

Experience

1. Senior Manager - Systems Engineering

   Charles Schwab

   Jan 2022 — Present

   Lead engineering teams responsible for secure, scalable, and governance‑aligned enterprise systems. Drive modernization initiatives across cloud, platform engineering, backend systems, and security architecture.• Architect enterprise platforms supporting high‑availability, compliance, and global operations.• Lead cross‑functional engineering initiatives across cloud, DevOps, security, and backend domains.• Implement governance‑aligned architecture frameworks ensuring auditability and long‑term system integrity.• Modernize legacy systems through automation, IaC, and cloud‑native design.• Partner with senior leadership to align engineering strategy with business, risk, and regulatory requirements.• Recognized for delivering secure, scalable systems supporting millions of users.

Education

• University of Douala

  Associate’s Degree, Mathematics and Physics

  2002 — 2004

• University of Yaoundé 1

  Bachelor Degree, Computer Science

  2004 — 2006

• ESSEC Business School

  Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Management and Marketing

  2009 — 2011

• Kennesaw State University

  Master’s Degree, College of Computing and Software Engineering - Information Technology

  2015 — 2016

• Southern Polytechnic State University

  Master's Degree, College of Computing and Software Engineering - Information Technology

  2013 — 2015

Skills

• Pmp in Progress
• Microsoft Office
• Cisco Switches
• Qos
• Routing Protocols
• IT Operations
• Cisco Devices
• Windows Server
• Hardware
• Itil V3 Foundations Certified
• Operations Management
• Voip
• Cisco Security
• Databases
• Customer Relations
• Switches
• Weblogic Administration
• Cisco Wireless
• Infrastructure
• Strategic Planning
• Network Security
• Xml
• Leadership Development
• Oracle Analytics
• Dns
• Integration
• Tcp/Ip
• Firewalls
• Vmware
• Cloud Computing
• Analitics
• Mysql
• Knowledge Management
• Java
• Security
• Cisco Technologies
• Project Management
• Networking
• Linux System Administration
• Windows