Mark Carpenter

About Mark Carpenter

Infrastructure Engineer | Professor | Screenwriter: Bridging Technical Truth & NarrativeI am a veteran strategist who has lived at the intersection of technology and human systems for over 30 years. From the early days of the ARPANET at Lockheed and Stanford to my current role on the California Governor’s Cybersecurity Task Force, my career has been defined by a commitment to \"Technical Truth\"—the idea that whether you are building a defense network or writing a prestige thriller, the physics and the stakes must be real.My experience spans the most critical infrastructures of our time: defense (Lockheed Missiles and Space), healthcare (Community Medical Centers), power generation, and homeland security. I have engineered telemetry for the Trident II SLBM and overseen the digital backbone of regional healthcare networks. Today, I translate that \"lived-in\" knowledge into two primary missions:Educating the Next Generation: As a Professor at Stanislaus State University, I break down complex Information Technology systems into compelling, actionable narratives for the business leaders of tomorrow.Defining Narrative Authenticity: Through FormatC Productions, I develop high-stakes screenplays and technical thrillers, including my original pilot Wasteland. I specialize in providing the technical grit and bureaucratic accuracy that modern prestige television demands.I believe that the best systems—and the best stories—are grounded in precision and integrity. Whether I am advising the U.S. Healthcare Sector Coordinating Council, volunteering with the Stanislaus Sheriff’s STARS team, or drafting a spec script for The Terminal List, I remain focused on one goal: engineering excellence that serves the community.Expertise: Infrastructure Engineering, Cybersecurity Strategy, Narrative Development (Prestige TV), Technical Consulting, and Academic Leadership.

Experience

1. Infrastructure Engineer

   Community Medical Centers

   Oct 2024 — Present · Stockton, CA, US

   Strategic Advisory: Serve as a core advisor to the CIO, steering the technical strategy for enterprise-wide digital transformation and infrastructure modernization.Security & Access Management: Directing the implementation of Single Sign-On (SSO) and Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions to fortify the organization’s cybersecurity posture and HIPAA compliance.Enterprise Systems Oversight: Managing the migration and optimization of ERP and Financial systems, ensuring seamless integration between clinical operations and corporate business logic.Financial Stewardship: Leading high-impact cost-savings initiatives through vendor consolidation, contract renegotiation, and infrastructure virtualization.Project Governance: Spearheading a diverse portfolio of Tier-1 projects, maintaining strict timelines and budget adherence for critical healthcare delivery systems.

Education

• DeVry University

  Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Electrical and Electronics Engineering

  1981 — 1984

• Western Governors University

  Master's degree, Information Technology

  2016 — 2018

• Madera High School

  Diploma, General Studies

  1975 — 1979

• Western Governors University

  BSIT, Information Technology

  2008 — 2012