Q: What does quality control mean in your job?

A: I make sure that everything connected with the health and wellbeing of the mice meets strict standards. That includes a lot, from checking that the bedding is sterile and the feed meets expectations to regularly inspecting process equipment—bottle washers, autoclaves—to confirm it's working properly.

Q: How did you get involved in QC?

A: I've been at the Laboratory for 27 years. For the first 23 I was in maintenance and repaired some of the equipment I now inspect. I wanted a change, and when the quality control job came open, I figured that I knew the equipment inside out. I could do that. And it's worked out well. I've never been sorry I came here all those years ago.

Q: Has the Laboratory changed much since you've been here?

A: It's so much bigger, of course, with many more people and buildings. You used to know everyone, now you just can't. But a lot of people still seem to know me even if I don't know them! [Laughs]

Q: What do you like to do outside of work?

A: When my kids were growing up, my wife and I always wanted a motorcycle. Now that they're on their own we have a Honda Gold Wing—I call it the couch—and we love to ride. And I've liked to work on mechanical things my whole life.

Q: Do you have any projects going?

A: I'm restoring an old tractor. It's a garden tractor, a 1963 Allis Chalmers, so I can work on it in my basement. If all goes well, it'll be running again this summer.