Faith & Vocation: Thomas Deebel

As part of a year long project focused on faith and vocation we are highlighting various parishioners by having them answer seven questions.

Meet Thomas Deebel!

(Tom is pictured far right in the photo above which was taken with his team after they performed structural testing for the lunar lander project he supported in TX. That project successfully landed earlier this month!)

How long have you been in Seattle and what do you most enjoy and struggle with about living here?

I have been living in Seattle since June of 2023. Since moving here, I have come to most enjoy the shockingly abundant natural beauty, the music scene, and all the neat people I have met along the way. On the flip side, the infamous “Seattle Freeze” can be sometimes frustrating. More likely than not, I am still going to smile and wave.

How long have you been at your current place of work and do you see this as a place of longevity? Why or why not?

I moved to Seattle for my current job; I have been in my role for nearly two years. As of now, I do feel convicted that I am in the right place—that I am using well the gifts with which God has blessed me. However, I do not see my current place of work as a place of longevity. The project that I am supporting is ambitious; in turn, the work can be very demanding in many ways and is likely not sustainable. With age (and working on quite a few “things”), I will also admit that my interests have been gradually shifting from “things” to “people.”

Do you see your calling and your career as the same or different?

I view a career as a blessing, and it is important that we use our gifts well to bring glory to God. However, I view a calling as something that, when satisfied, provides deep and abiding purpose, drawing one nearer to God. For me personally, I do see an interplay between my career and calling, but I am not completely certain that I have heard the phone ring yet.

What are some of the things that you find most enjoyable about your work?

I enjoy collaborating with small groups of engineers to solve complex and iterative structural design problems. Conceptual/initial design of lightweight and optimized structures is where the fun is at. Additionally, structural testing (breaking things intentionally in a controlled manner) is always a good time. Finally, watching projects that my colleagues and I have supported get launched into space is a very thrilling and unifying experience.

What do you find particularly challenging?

The most challenging part of my current job is balancing priorities. As previously mentioned, the project I support is ambitious and there is no shortage of problems to solve. Managing fast timelines, high expectations and workload and shifting organizational priorities can be very difficult and draining.

How do you see your faith intersecting with your work?

I have come to understand science and engineering, when done from a posture of humility and a desire to glorify God, as a wonderful ode to His living creation. Engineering marvels have tremendous power to inspire in others a deep sense of awe, especially in young kids. It is an incredible gift to be able to use one’s understanding of the physical world to bless others by bringing inventions to life.

If there was something the church could do to support you more, what might that look like?

I appreciate Harbor for the texture within the community; there are people from all walks of life, careers, places in the world…you name it. It is a wonderful cross-section of God’s kingdom. Connecting with and learning from others is enough in my book.