The term, “Right Stuff” was derived from the movie of the NASA Gemini and Apollo space exploration projects.
As a young Airman in the United States Air Force, I came to Edwards AFB, Ca. in the summer of 1980, and the summers in the Mojave Desert tend to change a person…for good and or bad. My first experience with the “Wow” factor was supporting the NASA Space Shuttle landing on Rogers Dry Lake Bed on April 14, 1981. Little did I know that in 1984, I would be working at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center (now Armstrong) directly supporting the Space Shuttle program till I left in 2003.
As an IT technician/engineer, I cut my teeth on the technologies that being a part of NASA would yield. New concepts of data switching/centers, internet, fiber optics and other bleeding edge technologies I had my hands on before “John Q Public” even had any inclining of it ever existing. Yep, wow as I look back on it!!! At the time, it was just part of my job… commonplace, which is a dynamic of what I call the “Situation of the Right Stuff.”
I have seen legends of aerospace walk the halls of NASA, not strutting their stuff like a peacock tail bloom, but as normal everyday people. They come to work. Do their thing throughout the day. Mix lunch somewhere in there. Come time at the end of the day, they drive home on the same two-lane road out into the desert evening. However, the “do their thing” part is not like the normal person working at a job site. They do the “Wow” in a very unassuming manner…day-to-day.
Those that are of the “Right Stuff” population do not have to pound their chest and have to remind you that what they do for a living is extraordinary and very few can experience…let alone witness. They are humble individuals that are unassuming and one could not point out in a crowd of people. They smile more times than not and are willing to chat…even to joke around. But when it comes to getting it done, you know that they are very unique individuals…the Right Stuff.
For the peacocks/pretenders out there with the megaphones touting their own greatness…just stop. If you have risen to the level of the “Right Stuff” you don’t have to tell everyone how great you are, rather you have individuals voluntarily write about your exploits and experiences…unsolicited. To the those that I had the pleasure of providing IT services to at NASA Dryden, I salute you for being the people I associate with having the “Right Stuff!!!”
Contact Info:
Email - docejc@ashwoodrcc.com
Website - www.ashwoodrcc.com
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