[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

I agree with that. The point I was trying to make is that these people were thought to be selected with "personality" as a factor as well. They invest a great deal of money and effort in order to select individuals who will make correct and logical choices under the most extreme circumstances.

A related personal anecdote:

I was eating lunch with some retired nuclear submarine officers currently working as civilian engineers at Lockheed Martin's nuclear submarine facility in Syracuse NY. While discussing the movie "Crimson Tide" these retired "boomers" were emphatic that the commander never would do what the movie depicted.

I chimed in and said: "you never know when one will become a loose cannon". There was stunned silence. Then one of them said very emphatically "there are no loose cannons in the nuclear navy. By the time they reach command rank they have been thoroughly vetted."

I got the distinct impression from the entire group that I had committed some kind of blasphemy.

[outofstyle]

there are no loose cannons in the nuclear navy. By the time they reach command rank they have been thoroughly vetted.

This incident shows that NASA's vetting process is not perfect. No process can be. However, I have to believe that there are at least some people who, though they may fail, will not crack under any pressure.

[cgbg]

"there are no loose cannons in the nuclear navy"

Interesting post--sounds like it is time for a psych. eval. of all nuclear navy officers. :-)

Self-confidence is good but arrogance is on the down-hill slope to stupidity.