As I've written many times before, I'm a geologist by education. By professional title, I'm an environmental engineer. My career in the environmental industry began more than 25 years ago, and over the past two and a half decades, I've had the incredible opportunity to work in a chemistry lab, for the state of California as a regulator, and for private industry as a consultant. For the past 17 years, I've been a member of a technical team which manages a facet of environmental compliance, for the largest publicly traded oil company in the world.
I'm a Gen X'er, so in 1989 - my senior year in high school - I was a bright-eyed and ambitious, tree-hugging, Birkenstock wearing member of Amnesty International
and the Sierra Club. I was also on the Debate Team, parleying with my peers the criticality of having a city-wide recycling program, which to this day, and to my great dismay, still hasn't come to fruition in parts of Greenville, South Carolina. Because I was so involved with the Model United Nations, I had the privilege of meeting various delegates of the United Nations, and separately - I met Ralph Nader (twice!), who convinced me that my career trajectory should unequivocally include some component of environmental and/or political activism. Which lo and behold, it actually does.
In the spring of my graduating year, I turned on the television and with the rest of the world, watched the horrific impact of the environmental disaster that was unfolding in Alaska when the Valdez ran aground in Prince William Sound. I'll never forget the beautiful seabirds and marine life, dripping in black. The thick film of crude on the water - across the beaches - pooled on the rocks. Scores of rescue workers - in yellow suits - tending to the incredibly overwhelming cleanup efforts that result when
10.8 million gallons of oil is catastrophically spilled in to a beautifully sensitive and fiercely wild habitat. It was gut wrenching to see - and to remember.
Many people … to this day … steer clear of Exxon, because of the awful Valdez incident which happened 29 years ago tomorrow (March 24, 1989). Of course some will argue - until the end of time - that ExxonMobil is still a threat to the earth and public good; but from
my vantage point as an environmental professional that sits on the "inside" of this massive energy company, whilst still hugging trees and wearing Birkenstocks, ExxonMobil's corporate policy is one based upon integrity, we are
actively developing new technologies and products, and where necessary: employing remedial strategies that are commensurate with risk, sustainable, and most importantly: protective of human health and the environment.
Now because I've got this goal of trying to keep my blogs to under 100,000 words, I won't wax too much poetic about how that singular event in Alaska nearly 30 years ago, completely transformed ExxonMobil in to the company it is, today. They took a really bad incident - and used it to develop a really, really positive thing - which in my professional (and personal) opinion, has led to an outstandingly good company and corporate citizen. In all of the various jobs that I've held in my professional career, I'm without a doubt, the proudest of my current role
and my current employer. Not because they are the largest in this industry, but because of the corporate philosophy which is built upon an unwavering ethos of doing good. With very rare exception, each day, I'm surrounded by a culture comprised of ethically solid people who have a strong moral compass to do the right thing. And up until 15 months ago, Rex Tillerson was my boss.
Or, more specifically … he was my boss' boss' boss' boss … boss. He was quite a way up the food chain, but he was most definitely, the Top Dog of our company. El Jefe. Big Wig. Call it what you may, he was our highly respected leader. And it actually came as very little surprise to me when he was tapped to be the US Secretary of State. I'd discussed with a few of my colleagues, several months prior, how what the US Government
really needed in Washington, was someone with solid business experience, a proven track record, that was straightforward, honorable, possessed great integrity - and would cut through the bunkum of DC politics and get things done.
Someone like …
we had allowed ourselves to dream … someone like Rex Tillerson.
For a brief moment there, when Tillerson was first tapped, my view of things actually went up. See, I'd consider myself 'middle of the conservative-liberal continuum road' - and while I am very respectful of the office: I'm not a big fan of the man that is currently taking up residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue … but I had to admit that maybe,
just maybe, it wouldn't be so bad if he was surrounding himself with people as competent and morally strong as Rex Tillerson.
Because I also believed that Tillerson took the top diplomat job because he is a true patriot, and would do
whatever he could to put his experience and talents to use for the service of America. He's certainly not out to make friends - further his reputation - or earn money. No, he took the job to serve God and his country because as a life-long Boy Scout (and former President of BSA), he is actually the
living embodiment of the Boy Scout Oath.
Those very traits which made him - in my opinion - so ideal for a job in Washington, were also his downfall due to the unfathomable and incessant volatility of the current administration. And mean-spiritedness of DC. Yet despite the constant undercutting that he was subjected to in the political realm, he stuck it out, and all sources indicate he would have
continued to stick it out to fulfill his oath, in service to America. Alas, he was publicly shamed and dismissed in a public forum by one whose name I can't even write
after what he did last Tuesday. On Twitter.
Twitter.
Yesterday afternoon, Charlie sent me a link to Rex's
farewell speech to the State Department and I've got to admit, it made me cry. These words … right here.
This is what life is all about:
Never lose sight of your most valuable asset that you possess: your personal integrity. Not one of you were gifted it. You were born with it. It belongs to you, and you alone. Only you can relinquish it, or allow it to be compromised. Once you've done so, it is very, very hard to regain it - so guard it as the most precious thing you possess. I hope you'll continue to treat each other with respect. Regardless of the job title, station in life, or your role - everyone is important. We're all just human beings, trying to do our part. Please undertake one act of kindness, each day, toward another person. This can be a very mean-spirited town (I say, it can be a mean-spirited world!) but we don't have to chose to participate in that. Each of us get to chose the person we want to be, and the way we want to be treated - and the way we'll treat others. God Bless you and your loved ones, and God Bless America.
Amen. And God Bless you, Rex Tillerson.
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Because our family has been so involved in Scouts for the past several years (Girl, Cub, Boy), our kids (and several more from our troops) will be writing letters of sincere thanks to Mr. Tillerson for his "good turn" of service to our country. I've also reached out to friends and family with children in scouts - from coast to coast - asking if they'd like to join in this effort. I'm currently trying to glean a Texas address to mail the letters to, to ensure he receives them expeditiously, and I'd be happy to share that address with anyone who is also interested in sending a letter to Rex, directly. Just send me an email to: theamazingtrips@gmail.com and I'll pass it on, as soon as I receive it.
After the particularly tumultuous year he's had, I think Rex deserves a really
good turn. He's a good man - a class act - with great integrity, and a role model for so many … myself included. In the face of adversity and controversy, may we all handle ourselves with such dignity and grace.
