We’re midway through December, and I wanted to share a quick update on my job search and professional momentum heading into 2026.
Thought leadership: I contributed a Forbes Technology Council expert panel insight on the cultural impacts of technology innovation. Two additional FTC articles are currently in editorial review, “Getting a Good Haircut: Why a Refresh Is Key to Innovation” and “The Risk of Inaction: The New ROI in Executive Leadership,” expected to be published soon.
Industry Engagement: I delivered a keynote at the Design & Simulation Summit on harnessing cloud HPC for safety science and joined two CampIT panels on Enterprise Architecture and AI. I’m also lined up for additional AI and cybersecurity discussions in early 2026 to keep expanding my network and visibility.
Podcasts & Media: I recorded two podcast interviews this quarter on emerging tech, AI in research, and leadership lessons (episodes pending release), and I’m scheduled to guest on the Innovate, Disrupt or Die podcast in the new year.
Continuing Education: I’ve been sharpening hands-on fluency in DevOps, Lean Six Sigma, AI, and cybersecurity through LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, edX, and MIT OpenCourseWare.
Selected impact highlights: In recent roles, I led multi-year IT strategy and operating model design across governance, portfolio management, budgeting, vendor management, and risk/compliance. I delivered $2.3M in cost avoidance and accelerated provisioning by 75% using infrastructure-as-code (Terraform/Azure). I also improved service performance by reducing incident resolution time from 48 hours to 8 hours through ITIL practices, and successfully led a 500+ employee IT separation with zero downtime while strengthening NIST/FedRAMP-aligned security posture.
What I’m targeting: I’m focused on senior technology and transformation roles where I can build strategy and operating models, modernize platforms and cybersecurity, and deliver measurable business outcomes. Ideal scopes include VP or Director-level leadership across research-intensive, healthcare, industrial/manufacturing, and innovation-driven organizations in the Chicago area or hybrid/remote.
Job search: Over the last 45 days, I’ve pursued several senior leadership opportunities and have seen encouraging traction, including multiple interviews.
How you can help: If you come across opportunities or leaders who are building modern cloud/data platforms, standing up security-by-design programs, scaling enterprise architecture, or transforming IT operating models, I’d be grateful for an introduction. The best referrals are to CIO/CTO/VP leaders, transformation executives, or hiring managers looking for a strategic, hands-on technology leader who can execute, communicate clearly, and build strong teams.
Wishing you and your families a very Happy Holidays and a strong start to 2026. Thank you for your continued support.
Best,
Craig Hamill