The Foundations of Flight Operations

1. To instill in ourselves these qualities essential to professional excellence

  • Discipline … Being able to follow as well as lead, knowing that we must master ourselves before we can master our task.
  • Competence … There being no substitute for total preparation and complete dedication, for flight will not tolerate the careless or indifferent.
  • Confidence … Believing in ourselves as well as others, knowing that we must master fear and hesitation before we can succeed.
  • Responsibility … Realizing that it cannot be shifted to others, for it belongs to each of us; we must answer for what we do or fail to do.
  • Toughness … Taking a stand when we must; and to try again and again, even if it means following a more difficult path.
  • Teamwork … Respecting and using the ability of others. realizing that we work toward a common goal, for success depends on the efforts of all.
  • Vigilance … Being always attentive to the dangers of flight; never accepting success as a substitute for rigor in everything we do.
  • 2. To always be aware that, suddenly and unexpectedly, we may find ourselves in a role where our performance has the ultimate consequences.

    3. To recognize that the greatest error is not to have tried and failed, but that, in the trying, we do not give it our best effort.

    Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) and the Moon.

    A New Chapter

    Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): I am leaving my position at NASA to work on a commercial spacecraft. Those who know me know that one of my dream jobs since I was a young child was working at NASA. In 2015 that desire became a reality, thanks to a lot of work, and a lot of support from my family and friends. Working as an ISS Flight Controller placed the real-time operations “bug” in me Read more…

    My Personal Leadership Philosophy

    “A personal leadership philosophy is a set of beliefs and principles you use to evaluate information and respond to people and situations.” Drew Dudley, “Without a personal leadership philosophy, you don’t have a plan.” Quartz at Work. 21 Aug 2018 Recently, I had a lot of time to think about, and practice leadership. As part of this practice the opportunity arose to write down my personal leadership philosophy. Given the current world situation, leadership is Read more…

    Journey to Rocket Park – A #solobroll Adventure!

    During the furlough I started getting the itch to be creative so I started a YouTube channel. I’ve been watching a few of the popular creators and Matti Haapoja challenged people to create a video using “B-roll” that is only shot by themselves. I decided to take up this #solobroll challenge so here’s my entry: Journey to Rocket Park. And yes, all the footage was shot by me, with no assistance from anyone else  Enjoy!

    2019 is the year for Flux Labs

    I know we are already 3 weeks into 2019 but I wanted to let people know that I am starting a YouTube channel. Introducing Flux Labs – a place for me to experiment with things. Vlogs on spaceflight, running, DJing, photography, YouTube, science news, and a lot more. It’s my laboratory, hence the name 🙂 Please subscribe to the Lab so I’ll show up in your YouTube feed. Let me know what you’d like to see Read more…