• 2018 HENAAC Luminary •

As Director of Network System Performance at Verizon, Esneyder Ospina is accountable for all RF Engineering functions for wireless voice/data systems within the Central Texas market. The technical and professional managers he supervises each day are responsible for the design, optimization, and performance monitoring of the data and voice networks.  They’re also tasked with the smooth implementation of technical features and new products and services. 

During his 18-year career with Verizon, Mr. Ospina has held multiple roles within the Network Engineering team, starting as a RF Design Engineer in the New York Metro Area before advancing to become a System Performance Engineer and later an Operations Manager and System Performance Manager in the same market. He took a position as a Radio Frequency Design Manager in Philadelphia before venturing to Texas for his current role. 

Mr. Ospina faced one of the biggest challenges of his career last year when he played a key role manning Verizon’s Hurricane Harvey Emergency Operations Center (EOC).  For that critical assignment, he supervised the 24-hour daily operation of the center until the crisis was contained, ensuring that first responders had the necessary communications tools they needed.

The experience inspired him to volunteer to travel to Puerto Rico during Hurricane Maria, despite the fact that Verizon owned no networks on the island. Spending three weeks staffing the EOC, Mr. Ospina worked 12-hour days with no time off, coordinating with local wireless providers and emergency responders as teams struggled mightily to restore service.

A native of Cali, Colombia, Mr. Ospina earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from Manhattan College in New York City and completed a Master’s in Telecom Management from New York University. He graduated with honors from NYU where he received the Wall Street Journal Award for Academic Excellence.

Proud of his Hispanic heritage and passionate about STEM education, Mr. Ospina is deeply involved in Verizon’s sponsorship with the University of Puerto Rico, working with a group of students on a fifth generation (5G) radio frequency modeling project. He is also an active ambassador for Verizon’s partnership with the National Academy Foundation, engaging with students at local high schools.