Hierarchy

I support many high-profile meetings with Boeing and NASA. I have noticed that there are specific places for people to sit at the table according to their rank and status. When a launch date is approaching, there are a lot of meetings, like L minus 2 (two days before launch) and FRRs (Flight Readiness Reviews). Each meeting leading up to a launch is more important and intense than the previous meetings to update the status of the spacecraft, boosters, and cargo. The tables in these meetings are set up in U-shape at some sites and long boardroom tables at other sites. There are chairs all around the tables, where invited participants and support staff sit. Sometimes there are placards designating who will sit where, along with their title. At other sites where there are no placards, it is understood who will sit in specific places. As these meetings progress, when someone speaks, everyone knows the importance of what is being discussed because of where that person is sitting. Often, a subject can be intense when the presenter is in the hot seat. I am impressed with how most people handle the pressure; I am not sure I would do as well.

I recall one meeting with the Army that included several high-ranking officers and their support staff. In one instance, a Two-Star General was setting up his laptop at the table, and his Aide sat directly behind him. I helped the General connect his computer to the Internet so he could multitask during the meeting. I noticed that his Aide followed the instructions I gave the General to connect his laptop. There is another side story about this time, but I will not go into that here.

At this time of year, interns arrive for a few months. Last year, during one of the introductory meetings hosted by the Site Leadership, I noticed that some of the interns sat at the head of the table. When the Leadership entered the room, they sat at the long side of the table and at the other side. The Interns quickly learned that where they sat meant their status. The site leader handed the meeting over to those seated at the head of the table. It was all in fun, but at first, the Interns felt uncomfortable with the attention. One Intern started to stand to go sit somewhere else when the site leader said, “Stay where you are. How would you handle a situation brought to you about an employee….” The Intern answered the best he could based on the information provided. The site leader responded, “A Leader in the making right there.”

Another time, I recall from the years of these meetings, a person sat towards the back of the room. He looked as if he felt uncomfortable being there and would rather be back in his lab. He was invited to provide specific information on spaceflight hardware because he was the subject-matter expert. When the meeting schedule reached his topic, he walked up and sat at the main table to provide the information the leadership was seeking. When the schedule moved on to another subject, that guy exited the room as quickly as he could. I don’t blame him.

I enjoy what I do in support of these meetings, and like the guy I last wrote about, I would rather be back at my desk or in the booth keeping comms open and clear.