Owed to Computer Operations team

today a persons life was changed, several people actually.  a team i manage finished up their last day at work, some had been on board 20 plus years.  the work they performed moved to an outsource firm in india

the team was a 24X7 computer operations monitoring and alerting NOC in IT operations terms and consisted of 7 to 8 people at various times.  responsible for monitoring the health of a $12M IT infrastructure for a $4B global company as well as executing a number of "off peak" processes that run when the rest of the world is in slumber land. 30K processes each night to be exact

during their tenure they participated in every significant event as the first line of defense when things went array.  they operated consistently and effectively like a fine tuned machine. calm in times of hurry, as was their nature executing a methodical processes tried and true until systems restored back to normal.  what they new more often then not restored peace and what they didn't know, they learned and added to their portfolio

during the years there were ups and downs, arguments like any family.  on one night shift a child was nearly born at work but for the team supervisor driving his employee to the hospital

in the end they walked out one by one to their exit interviews heads held high, after which they each turned in their badges to me and left the building.  some cried, some were angry, one shook my hand and said what the hell it was a good run

as the last man walked out i noticed a gathering in the parking lot.  there they stood in a circled embrace for some 10min or so.  a humbling experience for me, a terrifying experience for them

today a persons life was changed

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