The ambition statement next to my graduation photo in the '74 Compass was in Finnish: "Aina parempi tulla joksikin koin olla." It means "To always become, rather than be." After 45 years, I'm still striving to achieve that.

Two highlights from the past five years of my work life have been attending the launches of the GOES-R (11/19/17) and GOES-S (03/01/18) satellites at Cape Canaveral, FL. These operational satellites now provide continuous coverage of the Western Hemisphere from geostationary orbit. I wrote a major report about meteorology in the 5th grade at Ridgecrest Elementary School (and still have the folder.) Being a part of the GOES-R Program team during the latter years of my Federal career has been gratifying.