Taylor Higley

Taylor Higley

Technology Executive & Leader

I'm driven by solving technical challenges that deliver meaningful impact, especially through secure, resilient solutions. I thrive across a wide spectrum—from cybersecurity and cloud infrastructure to strategic IT leadership—and find genuine satisfaction mentoring and watching my team members grow. My leadership style prioritizes fairness, competence, and genuine support, values that have guided team growth and success.

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About Me

My professional journey and expertise in the technology industry

I am a technology executive with over 20 years of industry experience that includes over 18 years in leadership roles. My expertise lies in developing and leading the execution of IT strategy, building high-performance teams, and driving critical initiatives to improve services and impact business outcomes.

Throughout my career, I've specialized in IT strategy and management, cloud services, infrastructure, integration, information assurance, and oversight of the software development lifecycle. My approach combines technical expertise with business acumen to deliver solutions that drive organizational success.

Core Skills

IT Strategy Team Leadership Information Security Cloud Services Infrastructure Identity & Access Management DevSecOps Cyber Resiliency Project Management Budget Management Enterprise Architecture Data Strategy

Work Experience

A chronological overview of my professional career path

2006 - Present

Director, Information Services

American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE)

Largest federal employee union, representing over 700K government workers worldwide.

  • Lead a $4M annual IT budget, managing two deputy directors, 15 staff, and consultants, delivering secure IT services to 350+ internal users across 12 locations and applications supporting 350K+ global members.
  • Directed the successful implementation of AFGE E-Dues, a scalable membership platform currently at $2.8M MRR, designed to scale up to approximately $10M MRR.
  • Drive organizational technology strategy including architecture, cloud initiatives, software development, data management, and cybersecurity, fostering a results-oriented, service-centric culture.
  • Established a comprehensive Information Security program based on NIST 800-53 standards, including two-factor authentication, identity federation, SOC/SIEM integration, and infrastructure modernization.
  • Oversee SaaS platform architecture, operations, and security frameworks to ensure performance, scalability, and resilience.
  • Initially hired as Network Administrator (2006-07) before promotion to IT Manager (2008-10) and then Director.
2007 - Present

Chief Technology Officer (Advisory)

Empowerment Through Technology and Education (ETTE)

Providing managed IT services in the Washington, DC market, acting as a virtual CIO for clients across various industries, and playing a key role in technology and business strategy, while actively involved in all technical initiatives.

  • Managed technical projects, processes, and client relationships, serving as a strategic IT security leader for both the company and its clients.
  • Partnered with the President on staffing, business development, and logistics, working with international team members across Bolivia and Peru.
  • Advised clients on technology solutions and documented their requirements.
  • Developed and supported multi-tenant architecture, catering to diverse organizations' information processing needs.
  • Oversaw system performance and stability, proactively identifying and resolving complex issues within Windows and Linux-based environments to ensure optimal operations and minimize downtime.
  • Initially hired in a consulting capacity (2007-2013) before promotion to CTO with technical project management responsibility.
2005 - 2006

Network and Systems Engineer

Nortec Communications

Nortec is a managed services provider offering cloud services to clients in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Education

My academic background and qualifications

Master of Business Administration

University of Maryland University College

The MBA program provided comprehensive business knowledge and leadership skills essential for executive management positions.

MS in Technology Management

University of Maryland University College

Specialized studies in technology management, with an emphasis on digital strategy, online platforms, and technology-driven business transformation.

BS in Information Systems Management

University of Maryland University College

Strong foundation in information systems with emphasis on practical applications in business environments.

Professional Certifications

Industry recognition of my specialized knowledge and expertise

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional
AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate
Microsoft 365 Certified Enterprise Administrator Expert
Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Enterprise Administrator

Get In Touch

Feel free to contact me for any inquiries or opportunities

Location

Washington, DC USA

Send me a message

If you'd like to get in touch, please contact me directly via email or LinkedIn.

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