Michael Stables

Michael Stables

Certified Scrum Master | SPC | Innovation Leader

Professional Summary

An Agile Practitioner and Change Agent with 11 years of diverse professional experience, combining a solid technical background with a deep understanding of Agile methodologies. With 5 years in software development and 4 years in the Air Force, I utilize my technical knowledge to foster an environment of intent among teams, encouraging growth and collaborative success. Dedicated to applying Agile principles effectively, I aim to enhance project efficiency and drive meaningful change in dynamic environments.

Skills

Soft Skills

  • Agile Leadership
  • Effective Leadership and Team Building
  • Strong Communication and Interpersonal Skills
  • Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking
  • Organizational Change Management (CM)
  • Motivational Skills
  • Team Management
  • Discussion Facilitation

Technical Skills

  • Agile Management
  • Scrum
  • Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)
  • Kanban Principles
  • Value Stream Mapping
  • Software Release Management
  • Lifecycle Management Tools: Atlassian Suite, Azure DevOps, ServiceNow
  • Emerging Technologies: Generative AI, Language Models, Prompt Engineering

Certifications

Work Experience

Scrum Master / Team Coach

Northrop Grumman | February 2022 – Present

  • Acts as a Scrum Master for a support group that provides Agile coaching and assistance to multiple Agile Release Trains (ARTs), rotating among various teams as needed to ensure effective Agile execution and continuous improvement.
  • Consistently improves team velocity; on average, teams under my guidance have experienced a 30% increase in velocity over time.
  • Acts as a communication facilitator, effectively minimizing disruptions caused by 'shoulder tap work', reducing context switching and increasing team productivity, thereby streamlining the work environment for team members.
  • Separately managed the Microsoft Intune MVP project, identifying the need for a Product Owner and establishing a dedicated team, successfully shifting the focus from a statement of work to a proof of concept approach.

Developer

Northrop Grumman | July 2021 – February 2022

  • Specialized in refactoring and enhancing the testing and bug-fixing processes for the IBCS embedded training software, significantly improving code quality and maintainability.
  • Actively participated as a team member within an Agile SAFe environment, contributing to software development tasks and adhering to Agile practices and principles.
  • Served as a backup Scrum Master, stepping in as needed to facilitate Agile ceremonies and ensure continuity in team processes.
  • Demonstrated a strong capability in identifying and resolving software issues efficiently, contributing to the timely delivery of software updates and meeting critical deadlines.

Developer

ASRC Federal | November 2018 – July 2021

  • Focused on bug fixing and unit testing in a complex environment, significantly enhancing code quality and reducing compilation errors. Utilized tools like CPP Unit Lite and Jenkins to automate testing processes for C++ projects.
  • Served as a team lead, particularly in the onboarding and training of new employees, facilitating their integration into the company and streamlining their communication with internal teams.
  • Implemented training strategies that fostered an open environment of communication and skill development, aligning with ASRC's goals and enhancing team performance.
  • As ISSM and Assistant Security Manager, played a pivotal role in establishing a classified workspace, enabling remote access to necessary networks. This initiative significantly reduced the need for travel and increased the efficiency and security of network access for the team.

Developer

Oasys Inc. | 2018 – November 2018

  • Contributed as an entry-level developer in the Agile development process, engaging in the planning, development, testing, and timely release of applications, thereby enhancing efficiency and productivity.
  • Instrumental in a significant project to consolidate multiple databases into a single server, effectively reducing Oracle infrastructure costs, improving data retrieval times, and extending system longevity.
  • Collaborated effectively within the Agile team, participating in various stages of the software development lifecycle and gaining valuable experience in Agile methodologies and collaborative software development.

Dispatch

United States Air Force | 2014 – 2017

  • Managed a small team and oversaw the ordering, tracking, and distribution of over $500 million in aircraft parts, demonstrating strong leadership and logistical coordination.
  • Implemented a new item tracking system, significantly reducing product loss and enhancing operational efficiency.
  • Designed an Access Database for asset management, streamlining the ordering process and enabling timely procurement of essential hardware.
  • Successfully reconfigured storage space, recovering $250,000 worth of inventory, increasing available space, and reducing asset retrieval time.

Aircraft Specialist

United States Air Force | 2013 – 2014

  • Specialized as a mechanic for the KC-135 Stratotanker, focusing on maintaining and repairing critical aircraft components to ensure operational readiness.
  • Played a key role in minimizing aircraft downtime and extending aircraft longevity through expert troubleshooting and maintenance.
  • Gained valuable experience in a structured military environment, developing skills in discipline, adherence to rigorous standards, and working effectively under pressure.

Education

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Programming, Dec. 2017 | Southwestern College
  • Associate Degree in Aviation Maintenance, Jan. 2017 | Community College of the Air Force