NAN119: Adapting Core Automation Practices to Challenging Environments with Matt Campbell

In this episode of The Everything Feed, host Eric Cho sits down with Matt Campbell, a network engineer at Blue Origin, to explore how core automation practices adapt in high-stakes, low-margin environments like those found in aerospace. Matt shares his non-traditional path into networking—starting with a psychology degree before pivoting to a Telecommunications Systems Management program at Murray State University. He reflects on how his psychology background sharpened his analytical and interpersonal skills, especially in high-pressure situations. At Blue Origin, Matt describes a complex, multi-faceted network infrastructure supporting rocket development, testing, and launch operations, where security, redundancy, and performance are paramount. Despite the challenges of legacy systems, strict compliance (like ITAR), and limited physical space, Matt emphasizes the importance of gradual automation, mentorship, and building trust through small, safe wins. He shares personal stories of pride in contributing to historic launches like the Glenn 2, and offers practical advice: start small, use dry runs, leverage tools like Nuts for testing, and focus on vendor-agnostic services like DNS and DHCP. He also debunks myths about automation being too risky or all-or-nothing, advocating instead for a phased, intentional approach. Looking ahead, Matt is excited about AI’s potential to translate business intent into network design and implementation. The episode closes with a strong call to action: seek out informal mentorship, embrace automation as a tool for empowerment, and stay curious about how networks serve broader business goals.