[CMC] CMC - Mike Kearney Retirement

Mon Dec 29 00:26:39 UTC 2014

Thanks very much for all of your compliments and observations, Eduardo.  I must say that I am simply a part of a larger organization that is CCSDS, and I just want to do my part.  All of us are delegates or support team members from our agencies, and we must all be a bit tenacious for us to accomplish the things that enable the critical capabilities we need for spaceflight.  I’ve been happy to play a small part, and if I can work it out, I may yet play another small part.  With my tenacious colleagues and friends.

Thanks, and best 2014 wishes for you and yours, also.

   -=- Mike

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

From: Eduardo Bergamini [mailto:e.w.bergamini at uol.com.br]
Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2014 9:11 AM
To: Kearney, Mike W. (MSFC-EO01)
Cc: Nestor.Peccia at esa.int; Nichols, Kelvin F. (MSFC-EO50); Tai, Wallace S (JPL-9000)[Jet Propulsion Laboratory]; Afarin, James (HQ-LS00); CMC at mailman.ccsds.org; ca.wuensche at inpe.br
Subject: Re: [CMC] CMC - Mike Kearney Retirement

Dear Mike,

Your notice caught me by complete surprise.

Naturally, I wish you the best in your coming retirement which, I would
understand, will also be positively reflected in the further enrichment of
your already existing, most respectful and beautiful collection of
photographs. God knows the tenacious extra effort you did, doing local
local travels around the world in the "spare" time of your professional
work, just to get new, truly artistic shots of the local environment in its
many certainly interesting aspects. My renewed congratulations for this
work, as well.

But, above all, I wish to congratulate you for the also, most tenacious
and untiring work you did perform, with all the inumerious instrincacies
that are (always) pertinent to the CCSDS Secretariat work and , in
particular, in respect to the Chairmanship of CMC, as well. The same,
in respct to the secretariat of ISO TC20/SC13 Subcimmttee.

We all know, somehow, that the challenge represented by CCSDS and
related work is part of a never ending history. Most probably, due to
the advance of technology, which also gives us hope that CCSDS came
to stay. Also, thanks to the far reaching views from Bob Stephens (NASA)
and Michel Pellet (ESA).

Congratulations, Mike, for the work you performed with CCSDS and all
other related organizations, as well !!!

At the same time, I would also expect that, somehow, you may continue,
with all your experience and competence, to have some involvement with
the CCSDS, SpaceOps and other related organizatons.

Although, many times, as part of a painful and and awkwardwise process,
I do believe that we are, all of us ("like" it or not ...), part of a Godwise
evolutionary plan. And, as important part of it, experience is a timeless
and priceless asset, for all serious organizations, of all natures.

I must also say that I am happy to learn from you of the nomination of
James Afarin in your role with CMC Chairman and CCSDS Secretary and
of Kevin Nichols, as you mentioned, for the day-to-day CCSDS
Management work, besides the leading for MSFC. We have already had
the privilege to share the certainly active and value adding particpation
of James, mainly, in the CMC forum, for quite a time, now.

With my best regards and wishes for you, extended to your wife and all
of yours,
Eduardo

-----
EDUARDO W. BERGAMINI
INPE Representative to CCSDS
Information Networks in Space Missions - RME
Coordination of Technology Management - TEC
Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais - INPE
Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation - MCTI
Avenida dos Astronautas, 1758
12227-010 São José dos Campos, SP
BRAZIL
Phones : +55 12 3208 6166/6603
Fax : +55 12 3208 6150
E-mail : e.w.bergamini at uol.com.br<mailto:e.w.bergamini at uol.com.br>
-------
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed (Jo.20,29)

________________________________

De: mike.kearney at nasa.gov<mailto:mike.kearney at nasa.gov>
Enviada: Terça-feira, 23 de Dezembro de 2014 00:42
Para: CMC at mailman.ccsds.org<mailto:CMC at mailman.ccsds.org>
Assunto: [CMC] CMC - Mike Kearney Retirement
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<../undefined/compose?to=Mike.Kearney at nasa.gov>
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