8 questions with PEO EIS Deputy Cloud Director Daniel Mercado

A cloud and cybersecurity expert, Daniel Mercado is laser focused on providing the Army with cost-effective information systems that delight end users. “At PEO EIS, there are endless opportunities to do amazing things in IT,” Mercado said.  

Mercado grew up in the U.S. Virgin Islands, enlisted in the Army Reserve in high school and earned a bachelor’s degree in electronics technology from the University of Puerto Rico.

After supporting PEO EIS as a contractor, Mercado became a civilian to take advantage of the Army’s great benefits, job security and tuition assistance. He’s currently pursuing a master's degree in computer science at Johns Hopkins University.

We asked Mercado, today’s #PEOEISTeammateTuesday, eight questions about his career and life.

How do you define innovation?

Innovation is trying to improve whatever you do. You don’t have to be in IT to be innovative. If you streamline a process, you are an innovator.

How has PEO EIS changed since 2018?

We collaborate more to standardize tools and business procedures. For example, I managed the deployment of a common IT Service Management tool, which reduced our training costs and customizations.

What is something you learned the hard way?

Take care of yourself. If I put things off that help me grow, my performance and productivity declines.

Name one thing that can instantly make your day better.

Friends, especially the canine types.

 Describe your ideal industry partner.

Ideal industry partners work backwards from the customer, assuming the customer properly represents the end user.

In the Information Technology Infrastructure Library, an end user is person who will use whatever you are developing. A customer is a person who analyzes what the end user needs and works with the developer. You also have a sponsor, a person who pays the bill.

Working backwards from the customer is an Agile tenet — understand what the user wants and needs. A lot of times we get lost in requirements that hurt the user experience.

What challenges have you overcome in your career?

Early in my career, some of my so-called friends judged me for pushing myself to perform better at work. I don’t care if someone thinks I'm trying too hard.

If you could thank one person for the role they played in your life, who would it be and why?

I would thank my best friend for helping me through my toughest times and pushing me to believe in myself.

What do you consider the most valuable virtue?

Courage.