I laughed out loud when I read the last line of your post. It could have been written by my father. Thanks for the memories.
My dad was a chemist with the Department of the Navy for 35 years. In addition to being the author of numerous inventions in the field of organic chemistry and one of the prime movers on scientific exchange with the Russians in the '60's, his research in inorganic chemistry essentially led to the creation of a whole new branch of science. His reward: 4 hours at 15 years, the occasional small cash recognition at awards ceremonies, and a huge amount of personal satisfaction. In 35 years he watched people he hired moving through and up into the SES, but never wanted to leave the front lines for administration himself. Shortly before he retired, though, he received a very rare promotion: a Presidential appointment into the "super-grades", to GS-18. I don't even know if they do that anymore, I've never heard of it. I don't think it meant a financial raise, either.
I followed my dad into government, not as a chemist but as a lawyer. I'm at the 4-hour point myself now. During my first 15 years, spent primarily as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, I had plenty of experience watching huge victories in litigation translate into no cash, no promotion, nothing more than the personal satisfaction of knocking a case out of my too-large caseload. I loved it for a long time, but no more. It's time now to move on to something else that I can love. I thank my dad for that lesson.
Congrats on a great career so far, Brian -- and kudos for doing what you love.
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Date: 2002-12-08 01:44 pm (UTC)My dad was a chemist with the Department of the Navy for 35 years. In addition to being the author of numerous inventions in the field of organic chemistry and one of the prime movers on scientific exchange with the Russians in the '60's, his research in inorganic chemistry essentially led to the creation of a whole new branch of science. His reward: 4 hours at 15 years, the occasional small cash recognition at awards ceremonies, and a huge amount of personal satisfaction. In 35 years he watched people he hired moving through and up into the
SES, but never wanted to leave the front lines for administration himself. Shortly before he retired, though, he received a very rare promotion: a Presidential appointment into the "super-grades", to GS-18. I don't even know if they do that anymore, I've never heard of it. I don't think it meant a financial raise, either.
I followed my dad into government, not as a chemist but as a lawyer. I'm at the 4-hour point myself now. During my first 15 years, spent primarily as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, I had plenty of experience watching huge victories in litigation translate into no cash, no promotion, nothing more than the personal satisfaction of knocking a case out of my too-large caseload. I loved it for a long time, but no more. It's time now to move on to something else that I can love. I thank my dad for that lesson.
Congrats on a great career so far, Brian -- and kudos for doing what you love.