⚾️💻 The Journey Begins
My path started with the call every young athlete dreams about—getting drafted by Major League Baseball’s Houston Astros. But even while chasing fastballs on the professional diamond, another passion constantly competed for my attention: technology.
Growing up as a PC gamer, I spent nights in elementary school assembling gaming rigs, tweaking hardware, and optimizing performance. This early tech obsession evolved into roles in IT help desk support and information security, all while earning my master’s degree. Soon, I found myself at a crossroads—tech career ahead, professional baseball knocking. I chose baseball, seizing the rare opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream.
When my baseball career ended, I pivoted back to technology with renewed determination. No computer science degree, no coding bootcamp—just relentless curiosity, grit, and late nights mastering Python, data engineering, and eventually, the exciting world of AI and machine learning.
“I never learned the ‘right’ way to code—just like Hendrix couldn’t read music. I picked it up by doing.” — Chris Turner, channeling the spirit of Jimi Hendrix
🛡️📈 Professional Evolution
My tech career began at Centene, securing identity and access management systems. I quickly progressed to Citibank, leading cyber investigations, where I learned firsthand how to turn raw data into powerful insights for detecting threats and preventing fraud.
At Booz Allen Hamilton, I supported major clients such as Yahoo and the Department of Homeland Security, engineering robust analytics platforms and cyber fusion centers. My role expanded beyond cybersecurity, integrating behavioral analytics, identity data, and predictive modeling into comprehensive, data-driven architectures.
🚀 AI/ML Solutions at AWS
Today, as an AI/ML Solutions Architect Specialist at AWS, I partner with global enterprises to design scalable, high-impact solutions spanning industries from financial services to manufacturing. I’ve authored workshops for AWS re:Invent, delivered technical sessions through AWS Skill Builder PartnerCast, and guided numerous organizations toward data-driven innovation.
Whether transforming legacy systems, optimizing analytics, or deploying cutting-edge AI applications, I approach each challenge with the same passion, competitiveness, and resilience that propelled my professional baseball career.
🌎 Beyond Technology
When not immersed in AI/ML architectures or cloud platforms, you’ll find me:
- Lifting weights and staying active
- Exploring Latin America and the Caribbean
- Diving deep into emerging trends across tech and cybersecurity
- Contributing to the tech community through workshops and speaking engagements
This is just the beginning.
— Chris Turner