I made only one New Year’s resolution: to memorize a poem entitled The Builders by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. I reflect on its wisdom for inner balance amid days of dynamic change. The first two stanzas begin:

All are architects of Fate,

Working in these walls of Time;

Some with massive deeds and great,

Some with ornaments of rhyme.

Nothing useless is, or low;

Each thing in its place is best;

And what seems but idle show

Strengthens and supports the rest.

On this note, I am delighted to share a series of updates and celebrations:

  • Finished my first year of graduate studies at Shenandoah University. My fellow students and professors were incredible. They taught me so much which I immediately put into practice.
  • Contributed to innovative research. A paper entitled “Airport Taxi Time Prediction and Alerting: A Convolutional Neural Network Approach” was recently presented at the 2022 AIAA Aviation Conference in Chicago. I am engaged in other aerospace R&D activities which are going well.
  • Organized an inaugural STEM outreach event in collaboration with Smithsonian Air & Space Museum and numerous aviation organizations.
  • Officially joined USAF Civil Air Patrol as Senior Member and Aerospace Education Officer.
  • On Capitol Hill I met members of Congress and both Senate and House Aviation Subcommittee staff to discuss aviation solutions on behalf of government managers.

On the personal side:

  • I ran my first triathlon, a 10K, and turned the wonderful age of 40. There were many celebrations with my teenagers, family, and friends.
  • Our time off has been full of visits to recently reopened libraries, art institutions, nature reserves, airports, and railfanning sites. Pictured above is The Peabody Library at John Hopkins University in Baltimore.

On the writing side:

  • I completed a new poetry collection which will be published by Atmosphere Press. Official release date soon.

Everything is a continuous work in progress. My gratitude is deep towards so many people for their loving patience and support. I will advise on whatever comes next.

Please email me at info@waynedavidhubbard.com with questions.

As always, be well and take care.

~ W.D.H.