[CMC] CMC - Mike Kearney Retirement

Sun Dec 28 17:26:42 UTC 2014

Thanks very much for the kind expressions and thoughts, Shigeta-san.  It has been entirely my pleasure to work with my JAXA colleagues and my other CCSDS colleagues for these many years.  I especially recall the excellent hospitality that we all received when JAXA hosted our meetings in Tsukuba and Tokyo.  I regret that this retirement means I probably won't make it to the meeting in Nagano, for some more of your excellent hospitality.  

And of course I agree on the importance of CCSDS for all future spaceflight missions.  I think that Adrian gave the program enough inertia that it will continue bringing benefits to all our agencies and companies for a long time into the future.  

Thanks again, Shigeta-san and my JAXA colleagues,   

   -=- Mike

Mike Kearney
Lead Technology Manager
Mission Operations Laboratory
NASA MSFC EO-01
+1-256-544-2029

-----Original Message-----
From: T. Shigeta [mailto:shigeta.tsutomu at jaxa.jp] 
Sent: Thursday, December 25, 2014 9:33 AM
To: Kearney, Mike W. (MSFC-EO01); CCSDS Management Council (CMC at mailman.ccsds.org)
Cc: Nestor.Peccia at esa.int; Nichols, Kelvin F. (MSFC-EO50); Tai, Wallace S (JPL-9000)[Jet Propulsion Laboratory]; Afarin, James (HQ-LS00); 秋山　恭平; 鈴木　清久; 稲川　慎一; 和田　ひとみ; 大境　恵子
Subject: Re: [CMC] CMC - Mike Kearney Retirement

Dear Mike-san,

This is an extremely unexpected news for us, JAXA members, and we believe, certainly for everyone.  Probably, no wonder that your computer refused to publicly announce the news right after.

As we read through your mail, we must say that our admiration for your devotion as a CCSDS Chair even grew bigger, especially for the fact that, for the last ten years you could have chosen to retire and each time you decided not to, because of the importance of CCSDS work.

Your achievement in this field of spaceflight missions in the context of cross-support environment have created a framework within which a number of stakeholders can be positively engaged in more work to be done. This CCSDS work is/will be a basis of space communication and will gain more importance as mission architectures get more complicated.

While looking forward to working with James Afarin-san and Kelvin Nichols-san, we are also looking forward to seeing you at whatever meeting/occasion it would be.

We are to congratulate on your retirement, which would bring even more happiness to your entire family.  Happy holidays and a happy new year to you and people around you.

Sincerely ...... Shigeta, together with Osakai, Suzuki, Inagawa, Akiyama and Hitomi Wada of JAXA Space Tracking & Data Acquisition  Department

On 2014/12/23 9:42, Kearney, Mike W. (MSFC-EO01) wrote:
> Greetings to my CMC colleagues.
>
> I’m afraid I have some news.  I am retiring from NASA.  My last day
> working for NASA will be January 2.
>
> I apologize for the abrupt nature of this announcement.  In early
> December, NASA MSFC announced a Retirement Incentives program, and
> candidates had to decide on their application by December 15.  I applied
> then, but I was advised not to announce this possibility until it was
> approved.  I just received approval last Friday Dec 19, and
> inexplicably, my computer decided right then that it would crash.  I’ve
> spent this morning watching tech support work on my computer which is
> now more-or-less restored.  So my first priority was to get this message
> out.
>
> I am leaving my CCSDS work in extremely good hands.  James Afarin at
> NASA HQ will immediately assume the role of NASA delegate to CCSDS and
> the CMC.  The Secretariat day-to-day management and the MSFC lead will
> be Kelvin Nichols.
>
> As my last act as CCSDS Management Council chair, I nominate James
> Afarin to be my replacement as CMC Chairman and General Secretary.
> James has been following my role and actively participating in the CMC
> for several years now and has a great handle on the current projects and
> issues, and our long-standing processes.  NASA has traditionally held
> this role because of the tight integration that is required between the
> NASA-funded Secretariat and the CMC Chairman, and I expect that the CMC
> will recognize that such integration needs to continue.  As you know,
> this has been key to the improvements in CCSDS project management
> capabilities that we have effected over the last several years (e.g. the
> framework resources, the online strategic plan, etc.).  I will leave it
> for discussion in the CMC as to whether an online poll is needed to
> confirm the next CMC chair.
>
> I can’t express the sadness with which I leave the CCSDS teams, both
> technical and management.  I was actually eligible for full retirement
> from NASA ten years ago, and the criticality and excitement of the CCSDS
> work and the pleasure of working with my CMC and CCSDS colleagues were
> the driving factors in my annual decision to continue working for NASA.
> Even now it is a difficult decision, but the way the math works out,
> it’s obvious that retirement now is best for my family situation.
>
> While nothing is certain, it is entirely possible that I will be able to
> continue participating in some CCSDS role in my “afterlife” of NASA
> retirement.  But in case that doesn’t happen, I want to say that working
> on the CCSDS program has he most rewarding experience of my career.
> CCSDS is developing capabilities that will be needed for virtually all
> of mankind’s future spaceflight programs and international spaceflight
> ventures.  You and your CCSDS colleagues from your agencies are
> performing a function that is extremely critical and grossly
> under-recognized (ergo under-funded).  I hope that this improves for
> CCSDS in the future.  And I thank all of you as individuals for the
> collegial working relationship and the friendship that was demonstrated
> during our time together with CCSDS.
>
> All the best wishes for you and your teammates as CCSDS moves forward to
> even greater accomplishments.  And all the best wishes for you and your
> families in the upcoming holiday season.
>
> Best regards,
>
>     -=- Mike
>
> Mike Kearney
>
> CCSDS Chairman and General Secretary
>
> www.ccsds.org <http://www.ccsds.org/>
>
> ****************
>
> Mail Code EO-01
>
> NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
>
> Huntsville, Alabama  35803, USA
>
> +1-256-544-2029
>
> Mike.Kearney at nasa.gov <mailto:Mike.Kearney at nasa.gov>
>
>
>
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