Well, I guess as the first song on my blog states, "I am coming home." At least it looks like it is going to happen. About a week ago, I got preliminary news that the 2 year contract that Lockheed Martin had submitted to continue maintaining the aircraft (pictured to the right), was awarded to a different company. That means I am leaving here, as of right now, that may change, not sure when, or if, but it might happening. It is very frustrating doing this contract work, but I love my job and my company. I have been wanting to work for Lockheed Martin for many years. My boss has given me some options and has shared my resume with some other parts of the company. I put in for a Field Representative position at Hill AFB, Utah, so I may go home. My boss submitted me for a Deputy Director job in UAE, and says that there is work for me to head up a bid for Inspection work in Portugal. Eventually I am being tapped for the Program Manager job for Romania when that comes around late 2009.

Anyway, it is freakin' hot here. I went down to Salalah to do some errands and stopped over to in Al Mughsail and saw the huge waves and blow holes in the rocks. Kaylynn will get to see that when she gets here next week. The sky is foggy and you think it is cool outside. Nope. You are wrong it is just as hot, but humid to the point you can taste the salt in the air. Kaylynn won't be happy about that, so good thing we are only here for 2 days before we head back up to Muscat. Our whirlwind tour starts in 6 days, and I can't wait.

Today is a rest day. I am going to watch movies, eat lunch and chill out today. I have some of my guys coming back from vacation and I have a couple heading out. We have a good-bye party set for the 6th of August. This whole thing is bittersweet because I do like the team I have, unfortunately I have to send them elsewhere in the company.

Sunday in Thumrait

Another Sunday rolls by. Today I met the new F-16 Maintenance officer, who is supposed to be very much in tune with what we, as Lockheed, have been trying to do. It will be a breath of fresh air to have someone on the same page as us. I hope he will work out. I found out that the Omani dropped a screw in the cockpit, and I had DJ, ground the jet, till it was found. I hope that the Omani will really look for it. I doubt it, but I hope they do.

My first blog

Well, since everyone is doing this I thought I would give it a try. I have been very off and on about keeping a journal and maybe this is a way to do it so my kids and grand kids can see what I did while I was in Oman. I have been in the Sultanate for 9 months. I work for the aerospace defense contractor Lockheed Martin as a Program Manager. I work with the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) on the F-16 fighters that they bought three years ago. After 3 years of training it comes down to this, they require more training. I supervise a team of F-16 experts who train Omani to maintain the aircraft, so that the planes will fly safely. This is my charge and so far we have been diligent in making sure that they are flying safely. Through the next few weeks there will be several rants and raves and discussions about the goings on in the middle east. I will have some first hand knowledge by moving around the area in the next two weeks. My wife is coming over for a visit, and we will be touring Jordan, Isreal and Egypt. I hope you look forward to the pictures as much as I do.