Another Escapee from the Space Center Finds Life Outside of "The Order". Celebrate Devin Sudwick's Escape, the Hounds have Been Released. Telos DSC's Dr. Ryan Anderson Upsets Fortuna During Flight Director Training. The Voyager's Great Staff. Theater Imaginarium.

Devin Sudwicks Enjoying the Odyssey One Last Time Before Retirement

Admiral Devin Sudwicks Retires from the Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center After Eleven Years (off and on) of Service Protecting Earth and its Colonies from the Dangers of Deep Space (and other things)

     "He will be missed." said Fleet Admiral James Porter, Commander of the Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center.
     "What can I say, a Legend has passed."  said Admiral Jon Parker. Assistant Director CMSEC.
     "I'll miss him..... there I go getting teary eyed again." sobbed Commander Lindsey Hatch, co-worker and confident.
     "I'll miss his calm manner and great attitude." said Commander Tabitha Long. Fellow Odyssey Flight Director and certified example to all.
     "Devin who?" A random midshipman (new volunteer) said in reply to my question concerning his thoughts on Devin's retirement.  I found him wandering the halls of Central Elementary looking for the Space Center's storage room. Nathan Young sent him to fetch a gallon of blinker fluid for the Magellan.  The simulator got pulled over last week for failure to use a blinker when navigating a sharp turn near Europa when coming out of warp.  
     These are just some of the tributes pouring in for Admiral Devin Sudwicks who retired from active space service at the Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center yesterday.  I contacted Emily Paxman and asked her to send along a few thoughts on Devin's retirement. Emily was one of Devin's Odyssey flight director trainers during the Space Center's Voyager Era.  Emily is recently returned from receiving the Silver Chalice of Zod from none other than Michelle Obama for her hard work in the Romulan refugee community.

     ​Devin first caught my eye in the role of Doctor on an Odyssey overnighter. He had great instincts, connected with the crew, and coached the participants through the mission the way a flight director would. When it came time to select a new trainee he was the obvious choice; knew the controls inside and out, highly adaptable under pressure, quick learner, how could we *not* train him?Throughout his training he continued to excel, demonstrating a willingness to work hard, listen to difficult feedback, and perfect his craft. Anyone who has flown with Devin, either as crew or staff, knows that he brings his A-game to every flight. Since becoming an Odyssey flight director he has achieved so much. From being the first African-American woman in space to the success of his Broadway musical, Hamilton, he continues to prove that he can accomplish anything he sets his mind to. I know that Devin will continue to inspire those around him in all his future endeavors and I wish him all the best. 

     Thank you Emily for those kind, confused words.  Everyone please remember that Emily is an outpatient resident at the Nearly There Conveselant Home for Retired Flight Directors.   

Emily, on a good day

     
     The Home does great work with former Flight Directors requiring extraordinary help in returning to civilian life after many years at the microphone. It's the problem of separating reality from fantasy that gets them.  

     On September 1, 2007 Devin did his first observation as a young "observer" on the USS Voyager. Bracken Funk was the flight director.  He was thrilled because he got to play an Orion Pirate.  "I didn't have a clue what I was doing, but it was fun. I was hooked," he said of the experience.

     In February 2008 he became a Pioneer, an official volunteer.  His status to Pioneer was delayed due to a misunderstanding. He thought one had to be invited to work an overnight camp.  Once his neighbor, Metta Smith, set his straight, he volunteered for the overnights and the rest, as they say, is history.

Devin in full make up? Either that or what he looked like when woken up during an Overnight Mission

     Devin trained to fly the Odyssey under the watchful eye and sarcastic wing of Emily Paxman, along with the tender care given him by Christine Grosland and Adam Hall.   His hard work paid off in March 2011 when he received his Odyssey flight director wings   

Devin, a new Odyssey Flight Director

     Devin flew the Odyssey until the Voyager Era ended on August 1, 2012.  He reminded me that I had him lined up to be the Odyssey's new Set Director before the closure.  The Odyssey was demolished during the winter of 2013.  "Just my luck," he says in retrospect.  Devin served an LDS mission. Upon his return he flight directed at the CMSEC and at the Discovery Space Center when it was headquartered at Stone Gate in Pleasant Grove. He had his moment in the sun as Odyssey Set Director from January 2016 to August 2016.  Today Devin has a license to fly all four simulators at the CMSEC.  

   

Devin passing on the Odyssey's Set Director Microphone to Natalie Anderson in August 2016

     Yesterday I stopped by to say goodbye to Devin and take a few pictures of his final missions as a CMSEC employee. 

Devin directing one of his final missions.  To celebrate the occasion he wore his first flight director shirt.

The flight had the Paklid Ship Pink Bunny of Death.  I got a kick out of the name.

  

     Without cake there is no celebration, so I picked up some cupcakes from the local Smiths.  Unfortunately, I put them in my trunk while I spent an hour or two working in my classroom at Renaissance.  What were once beautiful superhero cupcakes at purchase had turned into a grotesque menagerie created by a frosting landslide - the kind that occurs on warm afternoons when one takes no care in putting cupcakes in one's trunk.  Ninety degree angles aren't good if you want to keep the frosting on the cupcakes as seen in the photo below.

I attempted to refrost the cakes with a handy Bic pen.  While not happy with the results, at least
I was able to guarantee every bite was frosted to some degree.

Lindsey and Devin doing the Waiting Game

      Lindsey and Devin waited patiently for their final crews of the day when I left at 6:20 P.M.  His last mission would be Stake Out. 

     It is always sad to see a long time volunteer and employee leave Space Center service.

It is a job that requires you to always be at your best. It is a job that demands extreme attention to detail when flying a crew because of the importance each mission has in the reputation of the many centers in Utah. Devin was one of the best.  We will all miss him, and speaking on behalf of the Space Center diaspora, wherever they may be, we wish Devin the best in his future endeavors as he pursues a career in production design and media arts.  

Mr. Williamson

P.S.  Remember Devin, your original contract signed with me has that reactivation clause just in case of planetary catastrophe or imminent invasion.           

And in Other News...
Fortuna vs. Dr. Ryan Anderson, A Man With So Many Degrees and Certificates that the Cyrillic Alphabet is Being Used for Some Abbreviations. Is the Hyperion Doomed Before its Official Launch in May? 
 

Master Flight Director Maeson Busk Giving Dr. Anderson a few Pointers in the art and science of Flight Directing.

      I found Maeson and Dr. Ryan Anderson at work in the Hyperion Control Room Wednesday afternoon. Ryan was at work learning the Hyperion's control features under the watchful eye of Master Flight Director Maeson Busk.  Sadly, one string of bridge lights blinked out during the training - a bad omen.  That's when I realized we'd forgotten to offer Fortuna, the goddess of Fortune, a proper sacrifice when the Hyperion opened for its first mission a week or so ago.  An insult she is not likely to forgive. 
     Fortuna has been the bane of my existence many a time during my tenure as CMSEC director.  She still, on occasion, pays the Voyager a visit when she's in a feisty mood (reference the Voyager lightening system's tendency to go all disco on us mid flight for no reason). 
     I'm researching ancient Greek manuscripts and scrolls looking for a proper remedy to appease her temper.  In the meantime, how cool is it to have someone like Dr. Anderson joining the Academy of Flight Directing Arts and Sciences?  Perhaps one day you'll be able to get a degree in Flight Directing from a university in Haiti or St. Kitts and Nevis!     

And in Other News....

The USS Voyager's Spencer Baird Trains to Flight Director.  He Still has the Training Wheels Firmly Attached to his Microphone but the Possibility of Going Solo is Close, Very Close.  

     Spencer Baird is one of my Voyager Supervisors at Renaissance Academy.  He's good and is getting better.  He, along with fellow supervisor Jensen Caldwell, have been a blessing this LDM season.  With 26 squadrons with 260 Young Astronauts and Voyagers, the daily grind of teaching all day, then running the Young Astronaut Club for another couple hours, isn't for the faint hearted or work challenged, but with the great staff I've got, and tremendous cadets, the job is still fun after all these months.  Thank you Isaac, Maeson, Alex Debirk, Spencer, Jensen, Chris, and our happy, dedicated, and talented volunteers.  

Mr. W.  

Theater Imaginarium
This Week's Best Gifs from Around the World Edited for a Gentler Audience