I get so tired of the "behind the desk" statement that people use. Your job is only exciting if it challenges you, pushes you up against obstacles and presents problems that need to be solved on a routine basis. The presence of a desk or not has little to do with it.

I could paint gauges all over a desk and come awfully close to the environment of a pilot (still sitting in a seat staring at CRTs) - yet still get to enjoy career progression, professional mobility, and ability to branch out and run my own business.