Jordan McGilvray

I’m Jordan McGilvray — a digital craftsman with the soul of a philosopher and the imagination of a sci-fi pioneer. By day, I wield the Linux command line like a seasoned blade, managing 65–80 support interactions daily and architecting secure, efficient infrastructures rooted in clarity, balance, and intentionality. Whether optimizing server configurations or refining personal growth frameworks, I build systems that empower both machines and minds.

By night, I shape the Middle-Way Method — turning timeless self-development concepts into clean, printable PDFs and minimalist slide decks, always with an eye for structure and thoughtful design. I practice Spencerian penmanship with a fountain pen, not for display but to reconnect with the elegance of deliberate writing. A longtime fan of classic science fiction and fantasy — Heinlein especially — I find inspiration in how systems, like stories, can shape the future.

Whether it’s a terminal prompt, a worksheet layout, or a looping lowercase “l,” I believe good design should be both useful and beautiful. I care about doing things the right way — not the flashy way — building with intention whether I’m reviving vintage tech like a telnet BBS or tuning a .htaccess file for perfect redirects.

In short: I’m a digital knight-monk — part sysadmin, part calligrapher, part time-traveling builder of better futures.

What I Do

System Architecture & Security

I design and maintain robust infrastructures, including:

HomeLab: A multi-network setup featuring OPNSense, Ubuntu, and NextCloud.
Web & Email Server: A Debian 12 stack with ISPConfig, Apache, Postfix, Dovecot, and more.

The Middle-Way Method

Creator of the Middle-Way Method, a synthesis of top-down and bottom-up planning that helps individuals discover who they are and where they want to go. This method integrates introspection with productivity, offering tools like mission statements, goal setting, journaling, and custom system creation.

Skills

I build and maintain secure digital systems while also designing clear, intentional content and tools. My skill set blends infrastructure expertise with content strategy, publishing workflows, and effective communication.

Systems Architecture & Security

Designing and maintaining multi-network environments using OPNSense, Ubuntu, and NextCloud
Building and securing web and email servers on Debian 12 with ISPConfig
Implementing firewalls, auditing tools, and system hardening policies
Familiar with Apache, Postfix, Dovecot, BIND, PureFTP, Fail2ban, Jailkit, ClamAV, and Rspamd
Experience with auditing tools like Rkhunter and log monitoring via AWStats and UFW
Automating system tasks with BASH and Perl scripting, using cron jobs and templated configs

Web Infrastructure & SEO

Static site deployment with Jekyll, including custom themes and Git version control
Technical SEO including structured data (JSON-LD), robots.txt, canonical tags, and sitemaps
Accessibility-conscious design and permalink management with .htaccess and redirects

Content Design & Publishing

Writing for both technical audiences and personal development learners
Designing educational toolkits and slide decks with a focus on clarity and usability
Publishing workflows using Markdown, Git, and OpenOffice Draw for layout and SVG editing
Creating and refining branding elements for scalable use, from logos to templates

Support & Communication

Managing 65–80 customer interactions daily with clarity and patience
Translating complex technical issues into plain language for diverse audiences
Collaborative problem solving and empathetic communication in high-pressure environments

Experience

Technical Support Engineer
Dell Technologies – DellEMC
July 2017 – Present
Dell Technologies is committed to shaping the future of innovation and driving human progress.

Analyze XtremIO All Flash Arrays for upgrade readiness and performance
Communicate with customers and internal teams regarding analysis and issue resolution
Log findings and actions during upgrades and maintenance
Remotely upgrade XtremIO All Flash Arrays, solving issues arising during processes

Server Professional
Bluehost.com
July 2012 – June 2017
Bluehost is a leading web hosting solutions provider empowering millions worldwide.

Delivered telephone, chat, and ticket-based technical support for Linux servers
Methodically analyzed and troubleshot server issues, using BASH and Perl scripting to remove malicious files and optimize performance
Used a variety of technologies to resolve complex technical problems
Provided training on DNS, HTML, JavaScript, CSS, and PHP basics to customers and team members

XML Editor
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
January 2010 – March 2012

Evaluated documents for readiness for conversion into a new XML format
Collaborated in an Agile environment with daily scrum meetings
Utilized multiple tools and wrote custom software in C# to facilitate document conversion workflows

Testimonials

“Jordan’s patience with customers while dealing with their technical issues is incredible. I was always relieved when he answered the phone because I knew he would stay with me until the issue was resolved.”
Thomas Raef
Owner, WeWatchYourWebsite

“Jordan is a skilled XML editor and industrious computer programmer. He finished his work quickly and thoroughly and dedicated whatever time remained to learning new skills and computer languages.”
Reece Hanzon
Managing Editor, Jolly Fish Press

Projects & Publications

HomeLab Infrastructure
A modular, multi-network environment designed for hands-on experimentation and system design.
Built using OPNSense firewalls, Ubuntu servers, and a self-hosted NextCloud instance.
Segmented networks for VPNs, IoT, and remote services enable secure isolation and traffic control.
Used to prototype firewall rules, auditing setups, performance monitoring tools, and custom automation.
↳ Skills demonstrated: Network architecture, system hardening, monitoring, scripting, and hands-on security testing.
Web & Email Server Stack
A self-managed Debian 12 VPS stack combining ISPConfig, Apache, Postfix, Dovecot, Rspamd, and more.
Hosts multiple domains with DNS control (BIND), SSL (Let’s Encrypt), mail filtering (Rspamd, ClamAV), and FTP access (Jailkit, PureFTP).
Hardened with Fail2ban, UFW firewall, and auditing tools like Rkhunter and AWStats.
Web stack integrates Jekyll-deployed static sites with full SEO compliance: JSON-LD structured data, sitemaps, and canonical URLs.
↳ Skills demonstrated: Linux server admin, mail hygiene and DNS, technical SEO, bash scripting, and log-based system tuning.
The Middle-Way Method
A complete self-development framework combining personal reflection, intentional planning, and printable tools.
Designed and written as a six-part article series that blends system thinking with introspection.
Includes a full PDF toolkit with custom-designed worksheets, goal maps, and journal layouts — created using OpenOffice Draw and SVGs.
Uses a Markdown + Git publishing workflow, deployed as a Jekyll site with clean accessibility-focused design.
↳ Skills demonstrated: UX writing, system design, PDF layout, branding, version-controlled publishing, and cross-platform content strategy.
→ Learn about the Method
→ Explore the Toolkit

Writing

I write regularly on two focused blogs:

Middle-Way Method
Personal development through structured introspection, goal design, journaling, and printable toolkits.
ExcaliburSheath
Deep-dive articles on Linux system administration, open-source tools, and security auditing.

Each site reflects a core part of my work — helping systems and individuals operate with clarity, balance, and integrity.

Education

MS Accountancy – University of Phoenix, 2012
BS Business Management – BYU-Idaho, 2004 (Finance & Computer Science Emphasis)
AS Computer Information Systems – Butte College, 2002
AA Business Management – Butte College, 2002
AS Social & Behavioral Studies – Butte College, 2002
AA Liberal Arts – Butte College, 2002

Interests & Hobbies

When I’m not working behind a terminal or designing systems, I reconnect with timeless crafts and imaginative worlds.

Calligraphy & Penmanship: I practice Spencerian script using a fountain pen to embrace the elegance of deliberate, analog writing.
Music: I play soprano, alto, and tenor recorder — often as a form of meditation or creative play.
Classic Science Fiction & Fantasy: A lifelong fan of stories that explore systems and society. Heinlein, in particular, has shaped how I think about structure, ethics, and possibility.
Retro & Vintage Tech: I enjoy reviving old technologies like telnet BBSes — blending nostalgia with network experimentation.
Command-Line Craftsmanship: I tinker with shell scripting, log parsing, config templating, and obscure tools just for the joy of mastery.
Writing & Publishing: I author technical and personal development articles, using Markdown, Git, and Jekyll-based workflows to keep content clean and versioned.
System Design as Philosophy: Whether designing toolkits or tuning infrastructure, I approach systems as expressions of values — seeking clarity, elegance, and purpose.

In all things, I value thoughtful design — where form follows function, and beauty follows clarity.