From: vere@netcom.com (Steven Vere)
Subject: Defense Cuts Trash Research Scientist
Date: Sun, 27 Sep 92 09:38:06 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Keywords: Unemployment, Defense Conversion Commission

   Following  is the  text   of a letter  I  have sent to  the Defense
Conversion  Commission  of the  Department  of Defense.   Thanks to Ed
Fremouw  of   Northwest  Research  Associates for   the earlier  post,
informing  people  of  this commission.  I am  posting  this to allert
other research scientists  who may still  be  working on DOD projects.
The same thing can happen to you.  If you have  a chance,  get  out of
DOD research while you can.  At any rate, write  to the  jerks running
this country to complain.

[begin text]

Department of Defense
Defense Conversion Commission
1825 K Street NW, Suite 310
Washington, DC 20006

Greetings:

   I have heard that you are collecting information on the economic
impact of defense spending decreases.  Let me briefly tell you my
story.
   I am a 47 year old research scientist, with a wife and six year old
daughter.  I have a PhD  in computer science and  18 years of research
experience in artificial intelligence (AI).  I have a good publication
record, and have made some significant technical contributions.  I was
chosen to write a major article  for the AI  Encyclopedia.  I am not a
hack.
   In 1987  I  joined the Lockheed  R &   D  Division  in   Palo Alto,
California to  do  research  in  artificial intelligence  relating  to
autonomous systems  such as  unmanned robot submarines.   This project
was a technical success.  It  was featured in Scientific American last
December.   Nevertheless,  in April  of this year  I  was laid off  by
Lockheed with three weeks notice, due to defense spending decreases.
   FOR THE PAST FIVE MONTHS I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND ANOTHER JOB!  I
have conducted an intensive nationwide job search.  Essentially all of
the government and industrial  research laboratories have official  or
unofficial  hiring freezes, and many  are  laying off scientists: JPL,
NASA Ames, Los Alamos, Sandia, IBM, DEC, GM, ONR, MCC, .  .  .  Nobody
is  hiring   research scientists  in  my field.   Most   aren't hiring
research  scientists  in  any  field!  I've  tried  to   find a job in
academia, but   nothing there either.  Example:   for  ONE recent open
professorship   at   Oregon State University,    there  were over  300
applicants.   I  can't even find  work  as  a programmer,  because  my
experience is   in  Lisp, and  commercial  programming    jobs require
experience   in C.  My   wife can't  find  a  job  either, due  to the
recession.
  My family and I are in a desperate situation both financially and
emotionally.  Our life savings are being consumed at a rapid rate and
in a few more months we will be destitute.  THIS is the economic
impact of decreased defense spending on one research scientist and his
family:  to be thrown away like used Kleenex and ground down into
poverty and despair.

                                      Sincerely,


                                      Steven Vere

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_____________________________________________________________________
                                                                     
  Steven Vere                                       vere@netcom.com  
  Boulder Creek, California                70571.521@compuserve.com  
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Newsgroups: sci.research.careers