A Day in the Life – Jonathan
What is your title? Describe what you do.
I am the JSF Team Leader and a Functional Analyst for F-35. I provide tactical aviation subject matter expertise to our F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) with specific focus on combat data systems and the mission planning enterprise.
What drew you to CSCI? Why did you choose to work here? How was the switch for you?
During my active-duty Marine Corps career, I worked with many CSCI team members on various projects focused on F-35 mission planning and employment. The professionalism of the staff and their tangible support of the warfighter were instant draws.
Choosing to accept employment with CSCI after leaving active-duty was a great decision for my family. I certainly miss some aspects of active-duty military life, but the CSCI staff made the transition seamless. They are extremely supportive of my reserve career and family time is highly valued.
What makes CSCI different than your previous workplaces?
There is a broad spectrum of professionals at CSCI with expertise in fields that I had left previously unexplored. This cross-pollination of diverse experience is a breeding ground for innovative ideas. It is a big part of what makes the job so much fun!
What do you like best about working at CSCI?
I love the people! The company is small enough that you can get to know one another. I thought for sure that the typical squadron banter that is the hallmark of a fighter squadron would be lacking. This is not the case. Our team has developed a camaraderie that rivals my time in the Marine Corps.
What is an example of a success story you have had at CSCI? How did you achieve success on that project or endeavor?
In January of 2020, I attended the first Naval User Advisory Group (UAG) for Next-Generation Open Mission Services (NOMS), the future replacement for the antiquated Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS). At that time F-35 JPO integration in the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) software development process for NOMS was only an idea. Today, F-35 JPO is integrated at every level of SAFe. The CSCI JSF Team is leading the charge with Functional Analysts providing Solution Management and user interface/experience expertise while our Systems Engineers are pathing the way with model based system engineering and roadmap development.
What advice would you give to someone looking to pursue a role like yours? Are there specific character traits or skills/certifications you should possess?
Someone looking to succeed in this environment needs to be a team player that thrives with little direction. Initiative is key. The team is often leading the way, creating new processes for the JPO customer and beyond.
What’s on your playlist when you’re focusing on a project at work and when you travel?
I’m likely listening to podcasts. Bible Project Podcast is one of my favorites. If I’m listening to music, it could literally be almost anything, though Christian music and Country are my favorites.
What has helped you stay focused during this pandemic remote work situation? How have you adapted professionally?
The JSF Team is mostly remote, so the situation hasn’t really changed much for us. The introduction to advanced remote work tools required some thought as a team on how to integrate tools into our daily/weekly/monthly processes. We developed invaluable experience in using these tools, improving our remote work as well as our collaborative capabilities as a distributed high-performing team of professionals.
When things get closer to normal, what is the first thing you want to do that you cannot do right now?
I currently live in Arkansas and our rules have been relaxed for some time. The removal of the mask mandate was what I looked forward to the most.
How will this unprecedented time change your perspective?
The biggest change in perspective was the perception of remote work tools. When I first joined the team, we used email and phone for team collaborative work. In the last year we have transitioned to remote tools that allow video conferencing with screen share and real time collaboration with the entire team on nearly all file types. I can’t imagine going back to how we operated before.