job buzz...
Dec. 14th, 2004 12:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jayOh, and our NASA Administrator has resigned... the leading candidate for replacement is the retired general that used to run the modern-day SDI missile defense-equivalent, earlier in Bush II. Sigh. IMO, not so good for a civilian space agency.
Otherwise... all of the civil service staff, myself included, at NASA-Ames last week received packets to the effect that our positions had been identified as likely to be affected by realignment, and thence we were being offered $25K severance if we voluntarily quit or took early retirement. That may flush out the folks who were planning to leave soon anyway, but I'm not interested. Ames used to have a permanent staff of 3000 in the Apollo days, 1900 when I arrived in the late 1980s, currently 1300 with a goal of reducing further to 800-900. This is in addition to about 2000 onsite contractors and students... some of the former used to be permanent staff positions in support roles (maintenance, sysadmins, clerical, machine shop, library, etc) that were outsourced over the past ten years.
Given the Navy's departure eight years ago and NASA's subsequent role as landlord of Moffett Field, I wonder if/when the Center will grow too small and lose critical mass and fall apart under the overhead burdens... I've thought about applying for positions at other NASA locations in Maryland and Florida, but would hate to lose my community and friends here.
Otherwise... all of the civil service staff, myself included, at NASA-Ames last week received packets to the effect that our positions had been identified as likely to be affected by realignment, and thence we were being offered $25K severance if we voluntarily quit or took early retirement. That may flush out the folks who were planning to leave soon anyway, but I'm not interested. Ames used to have a permanent staff of 3000 in the Apollo days, 1900 when I arrived in the late 1980s, currently 1300 with a goal of reducing further to 800-900. This is in addition to about 2000 onsite contractors and students... some of the former used to be permanent staff positions in support roles (maintenance, sysadmins, clerical, machine shop, library, etc) that were outsourced over the past ten years.
Given the Navy's departure eight years ago and NASA's subsequent role as landlord of Moffett Field, I wonder if/when the Center will grow too small and lose critical mass and fall apart under the overhead burdens... I've thought about applying for positions at other NASA locations in Maryland and Florida, but would hate to lose my community and friends here.
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Date: 2004-12-14 08:24 pm (UTC)And of course, there's JPL over in Pasadena, which would suck as a place to live.
Pretty much anywhere would be cheaper to live.
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Date: 2004-12-14 08:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-14 08:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-14 09:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-14 09:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-14 09:58 pm (UTC)OTOH, changing from LDR to local is a swooping challenge of its own.
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Date: 2004-12-15 05:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-14 09:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-14 09:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-14 08:41 pm (UTC)Otherwise... all of the civil service staff, myself included, at NASA-Ames last week received packets to the effect that our positions had been identified as likely to be affected by realignment, and thence we were being offered $25K severance if we voluntarily quit or took early retirement.
Heh, interesting timing. I was just reading "Faint Echoes, Distant Stars" on the plane last night and there was a bit of discussion of how Ames has been targeted in the past. Any chance you could go to JPL if need be?
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Date: 2004-12-14 08:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-14 09:36 pm (UTC)There are far worse places to live than around LA, definitely. Plus, there are some nifty people around LA.
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Date: 2004-12-14 09:56 pm (UTC)BTW, the identical house to ours (except it has a pool) literally next door went on sale last week... listed at $700K. For 1110 square feet. At least it was freshly painted... (shakes head).
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Date: 2004-12-14 10:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-15 04:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-15 04:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-14 08:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-15 04:44 am (UTC)I hope it works out to your best advantage.