Harvey Tokunaga
About Harvey Tokunaga
Harvey Tokunaga is a seasoned database engineering manager currently leading global database operations at Turnitin. With extensive experience across various companies, he has developed innovative database monitoring tools and managed complex database migrations.
Current Role at Turnitin
Harvey Tokunaga serves as the Manager of Global Database Engineering and Operations at Turnitin since 2019. In this role, he oversees the management of database systems and engineering operations on a global scale. His responsibilities include ensuring the performance and uptime of data stores, both on-premises and in the cloud. He actively participates in the Management/Executive Incident Commander on-call rotation, demonstrating his commitment to operational excellence.
Previous Experience in Database Management
Prior to his current position, Tokunaga held several significant roles in database management. He worked at Amdocs as Database Manager from 2010 to 2019, where he managed database operations for nearly a decade. Before that, he served as Manager of Database Administration at Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics from 2003 to 2008. His experience also includes leadership roles at ChippingWedge, Inc. and WhoWhere?/Lycos, where he contributed to database services and administration.
Education and Academic Background
Harvey Tokunaga studied at San Jose State University. His educational background provided a foundation for his extensive career in database engineering and operations. The knowledge and skills acquired during his studies have been instrumental in his professional development and success in various roles within the technology sector.
Technical Skills and Expertise
Tokunaga possesses extensive technical expertise in database technologies and engineering practices. He has experience with a wide range of databases, including Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Cassandra. His proficiency extends to utilizing modern technologies such as Kubernetes, Puppet, and Terraform. He has developed low-footprint database monitoring tools and has successfully migrated complex database systems, showcasing his technical capabilities.
Notable Projects and Contributions
Throughout his career, Harvey Tokunaga has been involved in several notable projects. He architected real-time replication between Oracle and MySQL/PostgreSQL databases and migrated a global Oracle SAAS Database to PostgreSQL with a switchover time of just 8 minutes. His contributions to database engineering have enhanced operational efficiency and data management practices in the organizations he has worked with.