My friends call me O'Bie! My full name is Harold L. O'Brien and currently I am the Deputy Branch Chief, Avionics Branch, at Dryden Flight Research Center. I am responsible for supervising 24 civil service electronics technicians and providing technical direction to 8 support service electronics technicians and providing technical direction to 8 support service contractor electronics technicians in the maintenance, modification, installation, and operation of avionics/instrumentation systems in 23 research aircraft/programs currently active at Dryden.

After graduating from high school, I entered the US Navy where I received training as an aviation electronics technician in communications and navigation. I served in Training Squadron 4 at NAS Pensacola, Florida for one year and was transferred to NAAS Meridian, Massachusetts and served for 2 years. I re-enlisted and received training in automatic flight control systems at VC3, NAS North Island, California and reported to the USS Piedmont Ad-17, where I served 3 years. I was then transferred to NAS China Lake, California for the next 3 1/2 years. I was discharged there. During my military time I rose to E6. I was hired by NASA in 1970 as a flight control systems technician. In October 1993 I was promoted to a supervisory electronics technician (GS13) in charge of an avionics shop composed of 32 technicians.

I was born and raised in New Jersey. Most of my family still lives there. I have two brothers and three sisters. My brother Robert is retired from the United States Air Force and works in supply at Edwards Air Force Base. My other brother is a detective sergeant with the Franklin Township Police Department in Franklinville, New Jersey. My sisters Cheryl and Bonnie are housewives and live in Clayton, New Jersey. My third sister Donna is a dental technician/housewife and also lives in Clayton, New Jersey.

I do not think growing up where I did had a significant bearing on my career choice. In the eighth grade I made a decision that I wanted to join the Navy and be an electronics technician. My father and the elementary school teachers that I had were the biggest influence in my career choice.

Several of my elementary teachers and high school teachers had considerable impact on me. The teachers seemed to really care about me as an individual. Academically, I was a good student. I finished high school with an 85% average and was a member of the Francis A. Uzzo Chapter of the National Honor Society. My grade point average in college was about 3.8. Socially at school I was very active and belonged to several clubs and played sports.

My schooling includes a high school degree, US Navy Aviation Electronics Technician School for 9 months, AA degree from Cerro Coso Community College, various supervisory/management courses through NASA and many schools/on-the-job training pertaining to aircraft that I have worked on in my career. If I could change my schooling I would have gone to school for a Bachelor of Science Degree in engineering.

If someone wishes to make a career in aeronautics they should have a real strong background in mathematics, chemistry, and physics to enter an engineering program. If their desire is to be an aircraft mechanic, electrician or technician they still should have some basic knowledge in those areas. When you work around aircraft as a mechanic the tasks are usually done in teams for crews. Safety is the driving factor for this. No one should ever work alone around electricity, or an aircraft.

I will definitely stay in the career that I have chosen for two reasons. First, and most importantly, I really enjoy what I do and this is the best place in the world to work if you like working on aircraft. Secondly, I shall be retiring in 25 to 37 months. I have only worked with the Navy and NASA. My career has been extremely rewarding. An aeronautic career is important to me because it has been my life for 38 years. Before I die I would like to be able to enjoy the fruits of my life long labor, namely retirement.

Aeronautics and Aerospace have had great impacts on our lives from the field of medicine, to safety devices that make our lives safer, to the advances in electronics that we now take for granted in our daily lives. Aeronautics is one of the most fulfilling things that I have ever experienced and I would recommend it to anyone that enjoys challenges.

My knowledge of aeronautic careers came when I was in the Navy. I have only worked with the Navy and NASA. When I was younger I did set goals. I have achieved all of those goals and have exceeded them by more than I ever would have imagined. My current goal is to prepare for and go into retirement. I do not see anything unique about myself. I do not have any aviation related hobbies. I enjoy doing construction work as a hobby, like remodeling, and fishing and golf.

My family is very supportive of my career. I am married and have two children. My son John is 24 and my daughter Karen is 19. We have a cat and a goldfish. My favorite foods are steak and lobster, my favorite color is blue, my favorite book is any volume by D.W. Griffin, specifically the ^SBadge of Honor^T series, my favorite airplane is the X29, and I love country and jazz guitar music. I really like all types of music.

What is your job title?
Supervisory Electronics Technician.