Agency CIO's Visit Dryden!

The new Agency CIO for NASA joined us today for a walk through and overview of our unique niche in the NASA family's big picture. Lind Cureton is not just an amazingly eloquent speaker, but she is very politically correct as well. She is an expert navigator of some torrential tempest seas. Her history is as colorful and in depth and remarkable as anyone you would expect to hold down such a distinguished career position as hers, but what struck a cord with me was how down to earth she was. How she easily, and with confidence, and great poise, communicated with all of us around her... no matter what our position, our given rank, or our title. She was diligent in attending to her duties as she was shuttled to and from every venue under the blazing sun at Dryden. And yet she was humorous and lighthearted when the moments called for it. She is an amazing choice, in my humble opinion, to be the spearhead of such a vital and needed chain of leadership for the Office of the CIO.

It was truly an honor to meet all of them. Jerry Williams, Bobby German, and Linda Cureton were so classy, gracious, and kind. It is not what I had expected from Heads of NASA power positons, and the rock of the Information Technology Team. Beyond vasts amounts of knowledge, there was a current which flowed forth of excitement for the technology, for the unique missions we support here at Dryden, and childlike curiosity. These are all amazing emotions that I as a fly on a wall was blessed to see first hand in the faces of these intellectual giants. It makes me feel comforted, and secure with our leadership knowing that they too feel the same currents of pride, and excitement that we feel everyday supporting our mission directive of exploration and innovation.

They took time to speak to the people even though I know that they really did not have the time too. They answered questions, and encouraged an open dialogue with our center. They never once let on how much they were physically dragging. They got in to their hotel at 0130 in the morning, which is 0430 their time. Then they were at Dryden by 0815. I know they had to be exhausted and tired... but they never let on as such. They were diligent in their quest to do and see what makes this place so special and so unique. I am impressed that our new CIO of only 2 days would want to do this. Obviously she wanted to see first hand for herself, and she did. Change is in the air for the whole I.T. branch of the equation, and yet with an uphill battle waging in front of us, I am excited. With Cloud Computing on the horizon, I think we have strong capable leaders to guide us to new heights.

It was a honor to meet them all, to shuttle them around and play. I did not wear the right shoes for the day, and I am paying the price even today for it. I would not have changed a single moment of it though. Getting to see them truly enjoy this wonderful center, to get to physically observe them really getting the big picture of WHY we are here. That was amazing, and a once in a lifetime opportunity. We are not paper pushers here at Dryden, we are the doers of NASA. The often forgotten, unspoken workhorse of the fleet. We are small in comparison, but we are mighty in mission and accomplishment, rich in history, and grounded in the security of NASA's continued future. I am proud of our foot mark on this agency, and it was neat to see the CIO's get a sense of that pride too. That is huge.

Linda and Jerry got to fly in the F-18 simulator, and if you saw the previous entry of my personal experience in them you know how exhilarating it is. I loved watching them light up just as I did. They may be the top line, but they are still very personable and human. Grown up children reveling in joy. I loved that. Enjoyment of the silver lining to a very stressful position. A chance of a lifetime also for them.

They visited Global Hawk plane as well as the control center. Spoke technology and mission with the boys that really make it happen. I showed first hand the importance of OUR I.T. support at the center at that level. I LOVED IT! What a great job that I have, to be witness to such things. THIS is what makes my job fun. THIS is why I do what I do. THIS is why I am the way that I am. I really enjoy my life. What a wonderful blessing.

STS-128

One has to wonder if STS-128 is going to be the last shuttle to come to California before they retire the fleet. The legacy of Dryden Flight Research Center's in the history of shuttled flights to space and the moon... almost over. The new era of space travel on the cusp of a new day. A new generation of space travel..... The Aries 1 and 5. No longer will we, as a nation, be able to witness first hand, the grace and skill of these piloted decents. Their job no longer needed on reentry. I, for one, will miss this. Watching the flight of the shuttle is a patriotic blessing from this nation to me. OK, so maybe not only to me, but definitely one of the moments of majesty that make me very proud to be an American. I sit there in awe and love every millisecond of the experience.

I will never in my lifetime get to witness a launch of one of these great beauties, I will never get to sit inside one of them and witness first hand the simple grandeur of their true simplistic machinery, I will never sit and chat with an astronaut over crumpets and juice, or even get to personally meet Mr. Charles Bolden himself and shake his hand... but what I do get to do is watch. I get to watch in awe, wonderment, and exhilaration as the symbol of this great agency comes successfully back to earth, to the home of the free and the brave. An emblem of what we stand for, not just as the front runner of NASA and all of her amazing accomplishments... but as the beacon for this country as a light willing to push ahead for the greater good of the entire world. I urge all who were there to cherish the memory, remember the smells, the sights, the sounds. For this is a precious yet fleeting gift. One that should not be forgotten or taken lightly.

Few people get to witness history. I may not be an integral part of it, but the fact is I am here. And the time is now. STS-128 is home, and I got to cheer her in. I am bias in the fact that her coming here is as much of a blessing to her as it is to me. We offer a unique experience here at Dryden... When the shuttle comes here they are welcomed back as heroes. Domingo's Mexican Restaurant opens its arms and doors at all hours of the day and night to welcome the astronauts first real meal back on earth. The Mexican restaurant is as much a museum, and celebration of flight, as it is an eating establishment. This is our home. The desert... a barren, boring little place, in the middle of no where, that lives for the love Space and Flight. No where on the globe can you find the passion of these people. These people are like me... and I am home.

I for one love this place. I love NASA, and all that we do. I love the environmental impact that we are still forging ahead on. Do you know what I love the most? It is being a part of the team. It is easy for everyone to look at an astronaut and know they are a poster boy for NASA, but so is everyone behind the scenes. Those who sit behind a computer uploading images on websites shot by those of us on the ground so that everyone with such a desire to witness it can. They miss getting to take the photos of their own. They miss the chance of a lifetime to be a part of the moment. Without them many of those that share in it, never would be able to. Those who sit in the stuffy mission control room talking to the pilot, problem solving, and supporting 100%, holding their breath... or those people who make the phones work that support the hundreds of phone calls that are generated before, during, and after the flights. The nurses who stand at the ready to address any potential gravity issues of the crew... or even the safety guys who just stand at the ready... with hopes they are never even needed... but there just in case. We all have a stake in it. We all have a moment of baited breath, and a collective cheer as the double sonic boom is not just heard, but also felt. We ARE the team. I am proud to get to share in it.

I got to sit in front of the opening of the shuttle discovery. It was AWESOME. I loved it. It is amazing to me how the blessings come when you least expect it. I was wearing the wrong shoes, and Tess, a co worker of mine, had an extra pair at her desk... so I got to go on the up close and personal tour of Discovery because of her preparedness. I had secretly wanted to go see Discovery... but I had corny reasons why, and I had not uttered them to a single soul. Discovery starts with a D, just like Dryden, and Desiree. She seems to me, to be the most like me. She is the most beaten up, bumped and bruised angel of the fleet. She has had a tough road, and still finds the strength to get back up and soar again ,and again when ever, and how ever she is needed. She reaches for the stars high within our orbit and dances with them. She takes care of her crew, at all cost. And Discovery is the name that captures the mission of space flight the best. I know it is just a machine, but to me, she is a symbol. A symbol of perseverance, ...of strength, ...of achieving her dreams. It seems to me, to be the one shuttle out of the entire fleet I feel most connected to. I am so happy that I got to be so close to her, feeling her energy, and taking a piece of that memory into my heart and soul forever. Discovery is my favorite. Always has been always will be. The neat trivial part of this journey for Discovery is the simple fact that she arrived here at NASA's Dryden's Flight Research Center on September 11th, 2009, and she was going home on the 747 whose call sign is also 911. For one who remembers 9/11 was a day of sorrow and of national devastation in 2001. Terrorists attached us as a nation viciously with our own planes, killing hundreds of our people... hitting the world trade center, a Pennsylvania field, and the Pentagon. I know all of us, as a great nation, knew where we were when we first heard or watched the news unravel that horrible day. And yet at that moment I never dreamt that 8 years later I would be blessed enough to be on the roof of building 4800 of Dryden's Flight Research Center at the same moment waiting on the arrival of one of this nations most majestic jewels. I never would have dreamed I would be in such a historic place for flight, watching such a magnificent sight so close, and with such private and special access. We just never get to know where our journeys are going to take us, how far we are going to go, or what we are yet to become, what we are yet to experience, or what we are yet to witness. I never could have dreamed this big. I never could have wished a wish this large. My bubble was so much smaller then, the glass ceiling so much lower. I love how my life has evolved before me. I am where I am meant to be... and everything has led me here for this moment. Getting to watch Discovery go back to KSC with my kids at the early moments of the day was nothing better then perfect. My tummy was rumbling with flu, but I would not have missed it for the world. How do they, as my children, get the chance to soak this in? The shuttle, directly in front of them! I love being able to spark that energy and excitement within them. To let if flow freely from me to them... my next generation. I wonder as I watch them, what it is they will do, how far they will go, what will they become, what will they get to witness, and be a part of. How will they seek out their own journeys, embrace their own histories, and find their own paths. How will they be a part of this great story we call America? We are all a part of a team, a part of a national story... an American dream. These are amazing and wonderful times in which I live in today, and I am eternally grateful for all of them. I thank the Lord, for my many blessings, for my experiences, and my memories. I am truly blessed.

I.T. Waffle Bar Appreciation Breakfast

We in the Information Technology Branch at Dryden were in serious need of a little moral boosting, and appreciation for the hard jobs that drive us day in and day out. The bosses got together and created a WONDERFUL treat for all of us. A wonderful waffle bar for all of us to feast on and enjoy. Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

The food brought us together, but the laughter and the smiles came from within. It was delightful to see the light heartedness in the air, and to feel the air heavy with smells of fresh warm waffles! The toppings were ENDLESS! And the creations were extra special! It was so much fun just being in the midst of such hardworking and wonderful company.We really missed Rob on own celebration day. He was out ill, and missed yet another fun moment in the Data Analysis Facility history. I guess we will just have to do this or something even more wild and crazy next time. This was a blast none the less. What a great group. I love my job, but not just because of where I work, but rather because of who I get to work with as well. These are the best group of workers anywhere. I love Code V!

Thank you guys for making my job fun every single day I get to come to work. You have my back, look out for me, and are loyal to our department and our center. I love you guys. Thanks for all that you do behind the scenes that no one sees. YOU GUYS ROCK!!!