Definition
A SpaceX launch site engineer and former Alaskan bush pilot who managed the water deluge system and lead pad engineering at Vandenberg’s SLC-4E.
Why It Matters
His story illustrates that in high-agency-and-proactivity organizations, failure is an asset if the person who failed leads the recovery. This radical responsibility is what allows companies to learn from mistakes that would kill a traditional firm.
Core Concepts
- Background: Alaskan bush pilot; engineering student at The Ohio State University.
- The “Drunk DDR” Interview: His unconventional on-site interview involved drinking homemade wine and playing Dance Dance Revolution at Director Lee Rosen’s house.
- The “Great Deluge”: Responsible for the water deluge system failure in 2013 that flooded the Vandenberg pad. He offered to resign, but was rebuked by Zachary Dunn and told to “hitch up your boots” and fix it.
- Extreme Grit: Worked 14+ hour shifts for months without a day off, frequently sleeping in the Vandenberg offices to maintain the launch schedule.