Before I retired, I had the opportunity to work on a lot of very interesting and exotic aerospace projects. I worked on projects involving everything from Intercontinental Ballistic Missile systems to Airborne Multimode Radar systems to Geosynchronous Communications Satellite systems. I developed electronics for Electro-optical systems such as Forward Looking Infrared imaging, Laser Rangefinders, Target Designators and Guidance. I developed software for Automated Test Equipment, Cockpit Simulators, Global Communications Satellites and more. Hell – I even was co-inventor on the Barbie Piano project when I briefly worked at Mattel Toys.
Fewer things make me more proud than when a project I worked on gets some press for making a milestone. Although I had more to do with the avionics equipment for the Joint Strike Fighter than the flight systems, it still gives me pride to see the first flight milestone. This is a magnificent aircraft with a host of exotic systems and capabilities. I could tell you about them, but then – well – you know . . .