Personal Story - Introducing Gordon Banks

Published in the RSAA Lunations
Vol1 Issue75 1–31 August 2026

I’m a Systems Engineering Specialist in the Advanced Instrumentation & Technology Centre. I started in May, having moved to Australia from the US late last year. Prior to that, I worked for the US Department of Defense for over 20 years as a mechanical engineer and systems engineer developing solutions for explosive ordnance disposal and countering weapons of mass destruction. I enjoyed that part of my career because I got to work with a wide range of advanced technologies, including energetic materials, radio frequency systems, X-ray imagers, artificial intelligence, and real-time 3D mapping.

I’ve enjoyed science and technology since I was a kid, and especially enjoyed astronomy growing up, so pivoting to work on cutting-edge telescope instrumentation at Mt. Stromlo feels like a natural career extension for me.

Outside of work, I enjoy photography, the outdoors, and making things. I had a great workshop in the US where I built furniture, a telescope, and even a boat. My wife and I also enjoy traveling together, which is part of what brought us to Australia. We’ve been to more than a dozen different countries together and we’re always planning our next trip. Currently, we’ll be scuba diving in Cairns in October and likely will be in Taiwan sometime early next year.

Besides traveling, my wife and I also foster kids. We’ve had the joy (and everything else…) of having kids in our home for anywhere from a couple of days to months at a time. We look forward to becoming permanent residents in Australia so that we can continue our fostering journey here. Until then, we enjoy the freedom and opportunity that comes with an empty nest!

Gordon Banks

Image: A monkey (top left) and Gordon Banks.