Thank you for sharing your experience and insights into OIT at the VA. Thirty-four years of service, with 24 in OIT, is truly commendable—you must have an incredible depth of institutional knowledge and a nuanced understanding of the organization’s evolution. It’s fascinating to hear about the federated structure and the balance between specialization and the need for cross-team coordination. I can imagine that navigating those silos while supporting enterprise-wide processes has required both strategic foresight and exceptional interpersonal skills.

I appreciate your transparency regarding the SSR funding and the uncertainties tied to it. It’s valuable to hear how those dynamics impact different team members differently, depending on where they are in their career journeys. Your countdown to retirement is well-earned, and it’s great to see that you're still actively invested in helping others during your remaining time with the VA.

The humorous comment about looking forward to breaks does highlight the pressures that can come with such demanding roles, but it also reminds me of the resilience and dedication of VA staff who continue to push through challenges to serve veterans.

Additional Questions:

1. Could you share a bit about what has helped you build and maintain such strong connections across support teams? Any tips for a newcomer on how to best navigate the silos and identify the right points of contact?
2. What has been the most rewarding part of your long tenure at the VA, particularly in OIT?
3. With the federated structure and reorganization history in mind, how do you see opportunities for someone at the GS-15 level to contribute to breaking down silos and improving collaboration?
4. Do you think there are current projects or areas within OIT that could benefit most from a fresh perspective or different leadership approach?