Retiring civilian reflects on 36-year career

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  After more than 36 years as a federal civilian, Steve Cote will retire during a ceremony July 28 at 10 a.m. in the Lundy-Garden Auditorium in Building 1614.

Cote, who is the current deputy director for Special Programs, first started working at Hanscom in 1980 as part of an engineering training program out of Western New England College in Springfield, Massachusetts, where he was a student.

"The engineering program was a pretty good deal; we got to [GS] seven, nine and 11 in three years," Cote said, who was hired with six others. "The program offered us early engineering management experience as opposed to designing circuits." 

Looking back, he admits that like so many beginning their careers, he was not looking too far beyond the role he was currently in; he was having fun and taking advantage of the opportunity.

"When I first started working here in the early 80s, there was a ton for me to learn on the job, which I did my best to do," Cote said. "I was also able to take advantage of some leadership and education opportunities that served me well later in my career."

Among his many assignments at Hanscom, his first included going to Maine for two months to work on the Over-The-Horizon Backscatter air defense radar.

Following a year on that program, Cote went on to serve throughout the 1980s and 1990s in numerous programs throughout the Electronic Systems Division and Electronic Systems Center.

"When people tell you that you need to move in order to get promoted - they're right," he said. "I was having a ball working on a number of programs."

When asked what he will miss most after his retirement, Cote said the people who accomplish the mission.

"Supporting the warfighter and being a good teammate for those around you is what I will most," he said. "I'm going to really miss the team aspects of working here."

He also offered advice to those who are in the early stages of their career.

"Volunteer for as many types of things as you can, as the breadth of experience will come in handy somewhere down the line," Cote said. "The ability to learn and to adapt to new things is something you'll be able to apply either directly or indirectly."

After retirement, Cote plans to move to Florida.

"It's a wonderful opportunity and now I get to see what I'll do with it."