Hector continued to increase his skills in the trades and learned mechanical maintenance, welding, pipe fitting, equipment operations, and so forth. He is a key member of the mechanical crew and his extensive knowledge of the observatory facility has enhanced the entire crew's abilities. Hector also serves as a role model for many employees. He has participated in several major telescope improvement projects during his career. His crane operation skills have been critical to the removal and reinstallation of the 4-meter primary mirror for periodic maintenance.
Hector has an innate ability to get along with all people and treat everyone with respect.
He is extremely intelligent, but very humble and modest about this. Hector has a wonderful sense of humor that is never deprecating and always appreciated by his co-workers and supervisors. Additionally, Hector has been a cattle rancher on the Tohono O'odham Reservation for most of his life and is a respected member of his District. We are grateful to Hector for his many years of dedicated service to the Observatory, and congratulate him once again for this well-deserved honor.