Someone Just Ended Their Dream Job At NASA

Keith’s note: This is from [email protected]. FWIW I was in the same mindset when I quit NASA civil service. It hurts. — “Almost 2 months ago when I was in CA, I wrote a letter to you. There was a day then when I walked into the resident office fully believing it was my last day at NASA. I was prepared to lose my computer access at any point, so I wanted to leave you a farewell message. I tell you this because I wanted to set the stage for how long this has been on my mind. Sorry for this being perhaps one of the longest two-week notices ever written, but I think the situation requires it.

For the last 3 months now, I have come into work everyday wondering if I would be allowed into the building, or if I could login to my computer. This has only been the struggle of a probationary employee in this environment. That is not to mention the mood of the office, the fear and anxiety, wondering if our workplace is bugged, or our communications monitored. Every day we are forced drive into 60-year-old offices (for many of us that’s hour-plus commute) so that we can sit at our computers and act like everything is normal. Everything is not normal.

Political dissidents are being disappeared off the streets and shipped to foreign prisons. Others are being turned away at the border for their beliefs or their chat histories. By the President’s own word plans are being made to remove even American citizens, to imprison or exile them. Then there’s the accomplishments of some of our most important citizens being scrubbed from government websites for the color of their skin, their gender, or their sexuality. Science, climate studies, and medical research are being defunded and hidden because their conclusions are unsettling and inconvenient. Not to mention government leadership, independent watchdogs, and (potentially) even federal judges are being removed or replaced with political loyalists. If that wasn’t enough, we’ve also threatened our nation’s most cherished allies and the entire global economy is being thrown into chaos by the random whims of a conman and a narcissist.

NASA sits at the forefront of public relations. We are an inspiration to the American people, and we are sitting here letting it all happen, we are “Embracing the Challenge”. Embracing the challenge? By failing to protect our neighbors? Failing to speak up against injustices? Failing to inspire others to motion? By kneeling and taking the beatings? At NASA we are supposed to be the best of the best, and yet it seems like most of us are unable to see what the real challenge is that we are facing. We all have a duty whether NASA or not to stand up against this. Because this is not the America I know and love. When I started at NASA I was proud. I loved my job, and I loved my country. I believed in America, and I am still fighting every day to.

Working at NASA has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. While our day-to-day work is valuable, with our engineering ensuring that our science and our missions have the greatest chance of success. I think the most valuable work we do at NASA comes when we meet others. Most people don’t really know what we do, but damn if their eyes don’t light up the moment they learn who we are. NASA brings people joy; it makes them excited and full of wonder. NASA is hope. When we join NASA, we become part of something bigger. We’ve grown beyond our work, we’ve become an idea, an inspiration. That is the true value of NASA, and we need to continue to fight for it because the world needs it now more than ever. I will always be thankful for being a part of NASA and the confidence it’s given me to step out into the world and do even more for my country.

So please don’t feel bad for my leaving, I’m going to go home having had an experience many people can only dream of. In truth, the selfish part of me is happy it turned out this way. I’ve missed my friends, I’ve missed the beauty of fresh snow and the smell of pine trees in the wind, not to mention the wildlife that won’t eat me lol. I’ve struggled to see Florida as somewhere I could stay long term, where I want to stay and raise a family. So now that my tour of duty is over, I’m happy that I get to go home.

My last day at NASA will be the 21st of this month. Thank you for taking a chance on me. I’m sorry I couldn’t stick around longer. You and the team were excellent coworkers, and even better people. I’m going to miss you all. Maybe someday something will change, and I’ll come back to NASA, you never know.

Thanks so much for everything, working alongside you has been the experience of a lifetime.