Dark times ahead for NASA Glenn?
Here is one of many news articles proclaiming the potential loss of 700 civil servant and 400 contractor jobs at NASA Glenn Research Center, my one-time employer, because of President Bush's need to prosecute his war and tax cuts. This article was reported by Karen Schaefer of Cleveland radio station WCPN.
Ann Heyward (pictured), Vice President of Workforce Enhancement at the Ohio Aerospace Institute and once a friend of mine when I was at NASA, had this to say at the time: These are people who don't have ready replacement jobs in the region. This means these jobs leave our state, so talk about a brain drain. You're talking about the loss of 1,100 very fine brains going somewhere else in the country.But subsequent news stories showed a likelihood of more moderate cuts, as hinted by newly-crowned NASA Administrator Michael Griffin:
Glenn's not going away, and I won't let it go away. It's too valuable...So why am I going on and on about a situation I can't control at a place where I no longer work? One reason: the contractors, at least, know the risk is there for a layoff when they hire on. That's the entire reason for the contractor system -- to absorb personnel cuts so that the civil service workforce can remain more stable as the economy fluctuates. Many entrepreneurs have recognized this system over the years, and started the right contract businesses at the right times to serve NASA and other federal agencies.
I feel badly for these contractors, really I do, but they should not forget that it's we who are responsible for our own professional destinies. Not President Bush. Thank GTFW -- I don't WANT that guy deciding MY destiny.
posted by Ron @ 11:37 PM
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