So Long, and Thanks For All the Paychecks!

[ZombiePete]

Well, Fort Sam had started blocking ZA a couple months ago, which was making it hard to update. Finally an order allowing all social media sites unless specifically blocked came out so I submitted my site to have it unblocked again and, voila, I'm back on the air!

Speaking of Fort Sam, last week on Friday I turned in my two week's notice to my boss and our Director. I have accepted a job at the Installation Management Command (IMCOM) HQ as a GS-13, which is a promotion for me. Right now I am going to be the Configuration Management Lead, which is something I have some experience with as I actually created and run the Configuration Management Process where I work now. I was told today, however, that apparently the organization is in flux and that my job may change before I even get there. I guess as long as the pay is the same I can tackle anything that they can throw at me.

I'm genuinely sad to be leaving my team at the Network Enterprise Center, as I have worked hard to put together a good group of people and they are all really great guys. We have been through a lot together, and I consider most of them to be friends. I am also excited at the potential of this new environment, and I am confident that I can succeed there. It's an organization that is growing and I think that a truly motivated individual can stand out there. I hope so!

I started working at the NEC as a contractor when my friend Tony called me up and asked if I was interested in working over there. It was a substantial raise from my salary at the time, and I had enjoyed working with Tony when we were in the Air Force together, so I took the opportunity. After he had taken the GS supervision job and then left, I positioned myself to replace him. It almost didn't happen, as the NEC Director at the time had a thing about contractors getting government jobs (even if they had Veteran's preference, as I did) and didn't want to negotiate pay with me. I ended up getting the job, but not without a nearly $10k a year pay cut. It was worth it to me for the opportunity, however, as I knew that this could be a career. So for the past three years this is what I've been doing, working hard to make the Networks team the best in the NEC while having an impact on the other groups around me as well. It's been a lot of hard, mostly gratifying work.

These last two weeks are going to be full of prepping my team, my replacement, and myself for my move. I can't believe that this day has arrive and that I'm leaving. They say the only thing that's consistent in life is change, so here's to the next big change for me!