Dennis Clements

Linux systems administrator who keeps servers secure, automated, and running.

About me

I was introduced to Linux and IT early on, and I've been curious about how systems work under the hood ever since.

Why Linux & open source

I run Arch Linux because it lets me build a system from the ground up, tailored to exactly how I work. That same freedom is what draws me to free and open-source software. I can read the source code of the programs I use, and if I don't like how something works, I can change it myself.

I value that transparency, and I contribute back to open-source projects whenever I can.

Why sysadmin

What I enjoy most about systems administration is the problem-solving. I like learning how processes and services interact, and tracking down why something broke.

I use Python and Bash to automate repetitive work. One example is an all-in-one dashboard that checks database redundancy, confirms NAS replication, and verifies that every node is up.

Arch LinuxFree & open sourcePythonBashAutomationSystem health monitoring

Professional goals

I started out tinkering with Linux and writing scripts on my own. Now I'm backing that hands-on experience with a degree and certifications on the way to serving as a Navy officer.

  • now
    B.S. in Applied Technology & CompTIA Security+Building a strong foundation at University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) and earning my first security certification.
  • next
    U.S. Navy Communications Systems Warfare Officer (CSWO)Lead sailors who build, operate, and defend the Navy's communications networks.
  • later
    CISSP certificationGrow into senior cybersecurity leadership.

Education

University of Maryland Global Campus

Bachelor of Science in Applied Technology

Jan 2025 – Dec 2026 (expected)

Grade: 4.0

Licenses & certifications

CompTIA Linux+ ce Certification

CompTIA

Issued Feb 2026 · Expires Feb 2029

Show credential ↗

Professional experience

Aegis Computer Network Technician

US Navy · Full-time

May 2022 – Present

San Diego, California, United States

Conduct system diagnostics, troubleshooting, and routine maintenance to ensure operational readiness of the Aegis Computing Infrastructure.

Linux System AdministrationRed Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)BashNetwork TroubleshootingElectrical TroubleshootingFiber OpticsEquipment Maintenance

Projects

Things I've built, how they work, and what I learned from building them.

CyberSafe lesson player showing the Safe Website Browsing Quiz title slide, slide 1 of 6

Featured · UMGC APTC 495 capstonein progress

CyberSafe: bite-sized cybersecurity lessons

An educational website that teaches everyday internet users how to spot online threats, protect their personal information, and make safer choices online.

Role
Developer on a group capstone team. I build the website and the slide player that brings the lessons to life.
How
No database. Lessons are JSON files in a GitHub repo, and Cloudflare deploys straight from it. A JavaScript slide player parses each file and presents it as clean, step-by-step slides.
Outcome
Still in progress this term. Five lessons are already live, and the site runs with no database or server to maintain.
Stack
JavaScript, JSON, HTML/CSS, GitHub, Cloudflare
5lessons live
0databases
dpclements.com homepage with an ASCII-art header and a minimal, text-only layout

Personal

dpclements.com: a $0 static blog

My personal site for learning in public about Linux, networks, and security.

Role
Solo project.
How
I write posts in Markdown and push them to GitHub. Cloudflare rebuilds and deploys the site automatically, with no database and no server to maintain.
Takeaway
Simpler is often better. Without a database, heavy frameworks, or extra animations, every page loads instantly. Modern sites pack in so much that fast computers hide how slow they really are.
$0hosting cost
0databases
ViewMD rendering math equations and a Mermaid diagram beside the same AI lesson as raw text in the terminal

Open source

ViewMD: a live Markdown viewer

A lightweight desktop app that re-renders Markdown files as they change. I use it to view output from AI-assisted learning sessions in the Pi coding harness.

Role
Solo project.
Problem
Reading long AI responses in the terminal was hard, and math equations rendered as a mess of raw symbols.
Outcome
Equations, code, and formatting now display cleanly as I learn, which made a big difference in how well I study with AI.
Features
Live reload, quiz answer highlighting, code syntax highlighting, math, Mermaid diagrams, and light/dark themes.
Stack
TypeScript, Rust (Tauri), Vite