God at Work - Cat the Air Traffic Controller

Many of us have been on some difficult mission trips but sometimes our jobs can be harder than them all. Its a different mission altogether. You are there long term. Your coworkers see your failures and are watching how you deal with stress. They see if you give dignity to the people around you and if you get puffed up when receiving praise. And in a post-Christian society it is even harder to openly share Christ in the comings and goings. The following individuals are Christians who daily bring Christ to work. Their focus is doing their job well but leading people into eternity in the process.

Cat Lovetro works as an Air Traffic Controller in Houston, Texas. Along with being an ATC, Cat is a former Brooklynite who somehow became a Texan. She's an over-caffeinated avid traveler and struggling polyglot, amateur baseball statistician, who loves reading obscure Wikipedia articles and spending time with Amelia, her Labrador Retriever.


What does a normal work day involve?
A "normal" work day depends on the day. It usually starts VERY early or late in the afternoon. Thursday and Friday nights are very busy, with everyone trying to get away for the weekend. We have "pushes" through the day, which is just like rush hour, everyone is trying to get to the same place at the same time, so you have to take a pile of airplanes and put them in a straight line. Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's quite difficult if the weather is acting up. We also have departure pushes where everyone wants to leave at the same time. Weekend mornings are usually pretty quiet, save for college football games which can make small airports get VERY busy for a few hours.

Why do you feel called to work in aviation?
When I was 7, I saw my first space shuttle launch in Florida that's when I knew. I devoured everything I could possibly get my hands on on the topic, and not just space flight, aviation, adventure, and exploration. I can still get lost in an atlas for hours. Anyway, I've been endlessly fascinated by how it keeps the world (and beyond) spinning. I take absolute joy in my job, and the while the hours can be hard, and you miss out on a lot of holidays, family time, etc, I have yet to "work" a day here.

How do you bring Christ into your work?
Its hard. It’s not really something we’re supposed to talk about, not blatantly at least. After a while you get a feel for who else is a Christian and opportunities do present themselves with people who aren’t Christians.

Do you have a specific instance where God used you to minister to someone in some way?
Honestly, sometimes its something as simple as being trustworthy. There can be quite a bit of downtime, which can lead to A LOT of gossip. The ability to keep a secret someone has trusted you with is pretty rare and really sets you apart.

Are there some struggles with being a Christian at your job?
It’s hard to be gracious. Its something I've always struggled with anyway, and being in pressure cooker makes it especially difficult. Air traffic control has a reputation of being the “most stressful job in the world”. While I think that might be a bit of an overstatement, there is a nugget of truth in there and the job certainly has its days. When a bunch of Type - A people are put it a high stress environment and told to work together it can be a madhouse.

I also work in an 85%-90% male environment, working shifts around the clock, sometimes with just one or two other people. It’s important to have appropriate boundaries, and I’ve made it a point to get to know the wives of my co-workers, especially ones I work overnight shifts with.

What advice/encouragement can you offer those struggling with sharing their faith at work.
Be intentional and trustworthy the times you can’t be truly bold. Never be afraid to be honest, but always strive for graciousness. People will begin to trust you and it will provide opportunities. Seize those opportunities when they come along. Be a good employee and co worker. Show up on time and do a good job. That speaks volumes to the people around you.

Can you share your favorite work moment with us-funny, proud, dramatic or otherwise!
I don’t necessarily have one in particular. At least one that wouldn’t involve an hours worth of background explanation. I love my job, and I’m so proud that I have the opportunity to never have to go to “work”.Every time I walk through baggage claim and get to see happy reunions, I'm really thankful I get to help facilitate. I love being able to help a student pilot on their first solo flight. I’m honored to be a part of helping a fallen soldier return home. I’ve been trusted with the life of the President and I get to help train our military pilots and astronauts. I’m responsible for billions of dollars worth of equipment and the lives of tens of thousands of people a day. I take great pride in my small part of making the world go ‘round.