Next Wednesday is the last day I will be working on Hanscom AFB. The day I began the job I had no idea how much I would learn about pre-Milestone A acquisitions, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance Capability Planning &Analysis, and the evolving Development Planning process.  I was very nervous to have the title “Engineer”, which is an incredibly weighty title for someone with a poli-sci, non-technical background. It turns out that the job was amazing, and the people I work with are phenomenal.

Discovering that the movie The Pentagon Wars really is a true story has been very disconcerting; I prefer to think of it as a comedy based on hyperbole. At the same time, there are a lot of very talented, intelligent people who navigate the tortuously bureaucratic acquisitions process with integrity and purpose. In the last year and a half I have heard tales of frustration and success, and experienced excitement when the process works. Everyone has their eye on the ball…let’s get good technologies out to the warfighter to make him meaner, leaner and safer.

I am a little sad to be moving on. I definitely hope to keep in contact with the many friends I have made at Hanscom. I have learned that it is possible for me to be successful in an environment that is outside of my comfort zone by figuring out how my talents fit into the team structure. I am confident that whatever the future holds I am ready for it!

Florida, here we come!