MDREN has officially launched its search for a new Senior WAN Engineer, a key position that will help support the organization’s growing statewide network infrastructure, strategic initiatives, and commitment to delivering exceptional services to member institutions.

This search comes as MDREN seeks to fill the role previously held by Brad Bothun, whose technical expertise, leadership, dedication, and passion for serving the Maryland research and education community had a lasting impact on the organization. Brad’s contributions touched nearly every aspect of MDREN’s operations, from network engineering and member support to strategic planning and project execution. While it will be difficult to replace the depth of knowledge and experience that Brad brought to MDREN, his legacy continues to influence the organization’s commitment to excellence.

The Senior WAN Engineer will play a critical role in supporting MDREN’s statewide network, including optical transport systems, routing and switching infrastructure, member service delivery, network modernization initiatives, and future technology programs. The position is designed to help ensure MDREN remains well-positioned to meet the evolving needs of its members while continuing to deliver reliable, high-performance networking services.

A search committee composed of MDREN staff, member representatives, and stakeholders has been established to guide the recruitment process. The committee is committed to identifying highly qualified candidates who possess the technical expertise, collaborative spirit, and service-oriented mindset needed to support MDREN’s mission.

Although replacing Brad’s unique contributions will be a challenge, MDREN is confident that the search process will attract strong candidates capable of helping the organization build upon its success and continue meeting the current and future needs of Maryland’s research and education community.

MDREN looks forward to sharing updates as the search progresses and appreciates the support of its members and partners throughout this important process.