This past Friday marked the end of my first tour with the United States Digital Service (USDS). After 877 days in public service, I’ll be returning to the private sector to join some former teammates working on some familiar problems. More on that another time, but for now I‘d like to share a portion of my farewell note to the team:

For two and a half years, I’ve done my best to apply my talents to improving the lives of service members and their families. I’ve been fortunate to travel the world in support of this mission and am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to learn from those charged with defending our nation.

I’m equally humbled by each of you. It remains an honor to serve alongside such a diverse, empathetic, and mission-driven group of peers dedicated to solving government’s most-pressing technology problems. I’ve learned so much from each of you and am a better engineer, teammate, and person for it. Thank you.

During this troubling time in our history, I’m encouraged by the commitment to public service that each of you demonstrate on a daily basis. Never forget that you chose to serve in these times and never stop finding the truth and telling the truth.

While this concludes my first term in public service, I don’t intend for it to be my last. I sincerely hope our paths converge again in the future. It’d be a tremendous privilege to serve alongside each of you again.

Take care of yourself. Take care of one another.

If you work in tech and would like to use your skills in service of your fellow Americans, visit usds.gov/apply. The need has never been greater and the impact never larger. Perhaps I’ll see you there.