Veterans Day is an annual observance to honor military veterans who have served in the United States Armed Forces. As we commemorate this day, we'd like to highlight the significant contributions of veterans at NOAA.
We talked with Andrew Lomax from the NOAA NESDIS Office of Low Earth Orbit Observations (LEO) to learn more about him and his role as a Program Grant Specialist supporting the office’s Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) program and Near Earth Orbit Network (NEON) program.
What is your job title and what do you do?
My official title is Program Grant Specialist, and I support the Office of LEO Observations by managing grant investments to advance the science and utilization of LEO data from the JPSS polar-orbiting environmental satellites Suomi-NPP, NOAA-20, and NOAA-21.
Considering your role in managing grant investments for LEO observations, what do you find most rewarding about working with LEO data from the JPSS program?
I love all things satellite remote sensing. Going all the way back to my days as an undergraduate and then through my Navy career, I have been fascinated with observing and studying the Earth system from space and how our lives can be improved by doing so. Long ago, I left behind doing the science to manage those who do the science, but it exposes you to a wider range of exciting science.
As we observe Veterans Day, how has your military experience influenced the contributions you make to your current role?
My career in the Navy influenced and prepared me for my current role in a number of ways. In a very specific example, I had a role at the Pentagon where I managed the environmental satellite research and development budget for the Oceanographer of the Navy. While the processes and terminology were different, the goal was the same as the JPSS Proving Ground Risk Reduction (now renamed LEO Innovation Program)—get money into the hands of the smart people who could squeeze as much capability as possible out of our legacy and future satellite data streams.
In a more general sense, 29 years of leading a variety of people and programs gave me the management and communications skills necessary to effectively work across organizational boundaries to achieve the Proving Ground Risk Reduction goals. Finally, the culture of the military is one of selfless service to your brothers-in-arms and to the nation, and that translates well into the civil public sector (whether contractor or government), where the goal is to serve partners, constituents, user communities, and our leaders in the Executive and Legislative branches of government.
Can you describe a project or task in your current role that you found particularly rewarding or transformative? What made it stand out for you?
I checked onboard last November and jumped right into the fray of the Fiscal Year 2024 JPSS Proving Ground Risk Reduction cycle of reviews and grant awards. While I had managed the funding of research projects for the Navy, the process with NOAA was completely foreign to me—with different financial rules, different language, and different ways of doing things. Even though I was new and made occasional missteps, I was also trusted and empowered by my team and supervisors. It is very rewarding when you are given freedom to learn and do your job without having to look over your shoulder while doing it.
Who is your biggest inspiration and how have they impacted you and your work?
My biggest influence in my life has probably been Jim Phillips. Jim was a Marine Harrier pilot, yet one of the most humble men you'd ever meet. He has taught me how to live out my worldview in every aspect of my life. In my work, this has helped me focus more on the people around me, whereas in the past I was more focused on completing tasks and accomplishing the mission. Long after tasks are completed, the impact you have on people will persist.
What advice would you give to someone starting their career in your field?
In all things, do your best. You may not always be able to control the outcome or how your effort is evaluated or received, but you will walk in integrity, and that is something no one can ever take away from you.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself!
My wife and I have lived in our 26 ft. Winnebago travel trailer since November 2023. We have 12 acres of undeveloped, wooded land just outside of Gettysburg, Pa., in apple country, from which we come and go. While the lifestyle has its upsides and simplicities, you do start to appreciate indoor plumbing and unlimited electricity. Thus, we are starting a lengthy process of building on our property—trying to keep a small footprint while preserving as much of the raw beauty and habitat of the woods as possible. I can't help but wonder every day in the woods at the flora and fauna around us.