You never know how the time invested in something is going to resurface and reveal itself. For the Harvey family of Oklahoma, seeds of inspiration - working in an engineering field - have been scattered across three generations. It was Albert James "Jim" Harvey who was drafted into the Korean War in 1951, while working at Tinker Air Force Base. Upon returning from the war and going back to Tinker, he soon transferred to the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) in 1958.
Jim obtained an Instructor position at the FAA Academy. However, the agency was known back then as the CAA, and it wasn’t until 1958 when the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) was officially established. Jim worked as an engineer at the Academy and eventually transferred to the Flight Inspection area (which was AVN at the time). Jim retired from the FAA in 1988, but he returned as a contractor and worked in the beacon radar section (AOS-230) until completely retiring in 2004.
During the time that Jim worked at the FAA Academy, he would sometimes bring his son Shaun to work with him. Jim’s co-workers would encourage Shaun to become an engineer like his dad. During his senior year at Oklahoma State University (OSU) they encouraged him to consider coming to work for the FAA. Shaun had his sights set on other things like moving to California and building race car engines, and to work as an automotive engineer at a Supercharger company.
Shaun graduated from OSU, earning a Mechanical Engineering degree. He then moved to California to fulfill his dream - only to learn that the cost of living was too expensive, so he returned to Oklahoma after a year of residence. Upon his return, he took a job at an oil field machine shop as an engineer, where he previously worked as a machinist. Four years later (in 1997), a position for an engineering contractor job became available at the MMAC Logistics Center, in the antenna/machine shop. Shaun applied, was hired, and began working with the FAA, traveling to job sites, working in the field and supporting various National Airspace System (NAS) equipment.
After working at the Aeronautical Center for just 6 months, Shaun purchased a 1994 Mustang Cobra and put a Boss body kit on it, as well as a Paxton Supercharger. This investment could not have been a reality for Shaun when he lived in California, but with his new job at the FAA, he thought it was a good time to build the car of his dreams and enter it into the MMAC's Car Show. The show was a fundraiser for the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) and was held in one of the Center's hangars. Shaun's father, Jim happened to be working in the hangar as a contractor at the time and did not know that Shaun had made this expensive purchase. Additionally, Shaun's wife was 4 months pregnant and it was likely that Shaun’s father was not impressed with his decision to buy the car with a new baby on the way. Shaun realized that he would have some explaining to do with his father, but the situation worked in his favor as his souped-up up Mustang Cobra was voted Best of Show.
In 2000, Shaun became a team member of the Landing & Visual Navigation (AJW-1521) branch formerly known as (AOS-240). During the Aeronautical Center’s ’Bring Your Child to Work Day’, Shaun brought his son, David to the event. The day exposes children to what their parents do during their workday, showing them the value of education and helps them to discover the possibilities of a future in the workforce. David was excited to learn about his dad’s work, and FAA operations. All he had known about the FAA prior to this visit was that his mom dropped his dad off at the airport every Monday for most of his life. He knew that his dad was an engineer, working on radars and navigational aids (NAVAIDS) but he didn’t really know what that meant. During this annual event, one of Shaun’s co-workers (Mark Larson) put together a presentation (taking a very complex subject and converting it to content that a 15-year-old could comprehend). David, a quiet kid who did not express himself too much, watched the presentation intensely.
Shaun later learned that this presentation, combined with ’Bring Your Child to Work Day’ activities made a lasting impression on David. A few years later, David would attend Moore Norman Vo-Tech and study Electronics. He eventually transferred to Oklahoma City Community College to take Automotive Technology.
Moving full circle, David is now a contractor for ASRC Federal, working as an Engineering Technician for the FAA’s GNAS Subteam (AJW-1512). His job involves traveling to job sites to work in the field, supporting various pieces of NAS equipment. Now, it is a case of a father taking the son to the airport so that he too can support the NAS.
Jim, the grandfather, is now 90 years old and maintains his weekly lunch gathering with current and retired FAA flight inspectors who enjoy sharing aviation stories, keeping their fond career memories alive. Shaun still works as an engineer supporting the Landing & Visual Navigation Subteam. And now David is learning the ropes as a new member of the GNAS team.
Three generations from one family have shown considerable favor on the Aeronautical Center premises. It just goes to show, that seeds of STEM inspiration can be sown anywhere, even if it appears to be a casual drop off at the airport.
