So long and thanks for all the fish!
It was time to leave my current role, and apply my focus elsewhere. It’s been an interesting and satisfying career so far.
I started my IT career working on systems systems for the space sector with projects for ESA, the EU, Eumetsat and, via a stint in the US, NASA. They were fascinating “off planet” projects, although quite research focussed in nature, so I later turned to central government and criminal justice applications. From working largely onsite at government agency sites building the systems for the then nascent Electoral Commission and Independent Police Complaints Commission, to the UK’s first national sex offender register ViSOR, National Firearms and Ballistics system and the Police National Database to name just a few, and, for the last few years “back at base” with the growth of Connect from it’s (relatively) small beginnings to the significant UK (and overseas) police force product it is today; it’s been a very rewarding journey.
Some of these systems won national plaudits, I was pleased to receive a Chief Constables' Commendation for services to UK Public Protection, and all continue to operate today helping the police to keep the UK a safer place. I hope they’ve helped the frontline police teams make a positive difference.
When I reflect what made these systems and products the success that they were and are, there were no egos being pushed, no templated methodologies or “one size fits all” processes being imposed, no management by spreadsheet, but instead a focus on getting the architecture and tech largely right, a small, diverse, agile stable co-located team of people with practical experience of the technology, the business processes and importantly the end user needs - all talking daily, all pulling in the same direction with a can-do attitude and clear focus on the requirements and outcomes required, and, as importantly, flexible and pragmatic clear sighted customers and contract champions.
It was a privilege to be part of the teams on these projects and products, they were like a series of mini families, each a group of tight knit dedicated, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and committed individuals, a family it was always sad to leave when the time came. I feel very fortunate to have worked with you all. If you’re reading this, you know who you are, thank you.
As well as continuing to pursue various volunteer and trustee activities, I shall be taking some time off for the summer, and then deciding what the next steps might be and where I might focus my time.
On-Call Resources at Peraton
2moGreetings all, But your process is very slow. I am not talking about clearance process.