Re: Are you still with the space program?
Yes, only now I'm "across the river" at Cape Canaveral working on a NASA expendable launch vehicle integration support contract. Basically, we examine issues that could affect the success of NASA satellite launches. Eventually we'll be deeply involved in OSP.
As for NASA employees "forced" into retirement, the only ones I'm aware of are those civil servants who accepted NASA's early retirement buyout plan a few years back. That was part of the downsizing brought on by Clinton/Goldin budgets.
-Kim-