New Job

In a completely unexpected change of plans, I have decided to take a new job with a government telecommunications company. Why you ask? Well it is complicated and simple. Simple because, I was commuting nearly 80 miles everyday to work. I really kind of got used to it, but thinking about it now, I spent 6-7 hours a week in the car and lost all kinds of time with my family. And not just “being there” time, but quality time. I would get home at a reasonable hour, but I would be so fatigued from traffic that I really wasn’t fun to be around. Now I have a 10 mile commute and it opens up a whole new world of possibilities. From being able to see my kids in the morning to being able to exercise on a regular basis again without feeling guilty that I am sacrificing time with my family. Other simple reasons, more money, more benefits, more future potential for the business itself.

The complicated reason is simply described by saying aerospace has sucked the life out of me. I have spent 10+ years in this industry and, while I have seen some incredible things, I don’t feel that I have been very productive. I have spent years writing proposals and working with unreasonable customers with promises of amazing missions, but, in my humble opinion, the industry has been unable to doing anything very exciting in many years. And anything newsworthy that has been done in recent years is the product of something that probably started decades ago. Space is cool and saying I am a rocket scientist is fun, but I don’t feel the passion for it anymore and hope fore the sake of science and engineering, the industry fails under its own weight so it is forced to re-emerge as a lean mean frontier exploring machine. And I do think it is heading that way, but I think Caden or Molly have a better chance of being part of that than I do. No exaggeration. Sorry for the rant, again this blog serves as a memory book for us. And I want to be to look back and remember why I made such a rash and very quick decision about my future.

As for the new job, I never saw it coming. I wasn’t looking for it and didn’t realize any of the above topics until I had the option in front of me. A friend and previous Ball colleague of mine had been encouraging me to look into his new company, LGS Innovations. I had put him off for awhile thinking I had no interest in the mobile telecom industry (which, still, I don’t think I do), until he finally convinced me to meet with his boss for lunch. It was a compelling lunch followed by an unexpected and equally compelling interview. I still really don’t have much an idea what I will be doing other than being the project manager for several programs (inspires confidence, I know). But, I do know the company is successful, works very efficiently with its customers, delivers products quickly and often, and the people there are happy and not overworked. It is my first step outside of aerospace and am excited to see how it pans out.

The very best part, I am taking a month off between jobs (on day 6 right now)!!! I’ve never had that kind of time off. Even better, never had time off without the responsibility of a job looming over me. Look for a big posting at the end of this period to hear all about it. Unless Katy kicks me out of the house before that....

Leaving Space for Earth