**Technical Center Celebrates 50th Anniversary**

By Jason McGlynn

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height="3.479861111111111in"}

50th Anniversary Logo

The Technical Center will celebrate the FAA's 50th anniversary as well
as its own on July 1, 2008. The celebration is scheduled from 10:00 am
to 3:00 pm. All current employees (FAA, Tenants, and Contractors)
working at the Technical Center as well as NAFEC & FAA Retirees are
invited to attend the festivities. All Navy and Uniformed Veterans who
served at the Naval Air Station, Atlantic City (NASAC) are also invited
guests.

An official ceremony will take place in the atrium from 10:00 am to
12:00 noon. Guest speakers, representatives from the Administrator's
office as well as state and local government officials, will speak on
the history of the FAA. The following events will occur during the
ceremony: a moment of silence will be observed to recognize our fallen
heroes, Navy and Uniformed Veterans who worked at the Naval Air Station
Atlantic City in the 1940's and 50's will "take a bow," a silent drill
team will perform for employees, new signs for the Technical Center will
be unveiled, and a band will appropriately perform aviation and
service-related music.

Both before and after the ceremony, the cafeteria will serve food
(creamed chip beef, navy bean soup and Amelia Earhart angel food cake)
in keeping with the aviation theme of the day. Lunch will provide an
opportunity for employees, VIPs, retirees and veterans to chat and
reminisce about the good old days.

Organizations assigned to the Technical Center are creating displays to
showcase their present accomplishments and future work. These displays
will allow employees and guests to view the major projects organizations
have done and plan to do in the future, here at the Technical Center.
The displays include aviation memorabilia and old time photos, so people
will also be able to enjoy sights from years past.

Around 2:00 pm, current employees, retirees, veterans and VIPs will be
invited to the hangar to participate in a 50th anniversary group photo
and enjoy a fantastic fly-by. Bring your camera, as you will also be
able to take pictures of various aircraft. Please be sure to mark July
1, 2008 on your calendar. We hope you will participate in this day full
of fun and commemoration!

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**Retiree Banquet Launches Technical Center's 50th Anniversary
Celebration**

By Holly Baker

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**Banquet Chairman Ron Esposito**

Nostalgia and merriment were the order of the evening when more than 200
retirees and managers convened for the Technical Center's first gala
50th anniversary banquet, on January 31, at the Greate Bay Country Club,
in Somers Point.

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**Center Director, Dr. Wilson Felder, Dot Buckanin, and Former Center
Director, Arlene Feldman**

The event was the ultimate reunion, where former and current federal
aviation colleagues and friends met, reconnected, swapped stories and
recaptured a special sense of camaraderie.

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**Retirees Luther McClellan, Larry Stroud, and Kathy Darcy**

Following a festive reception, the formal program began as **James R.
Clinton, Sr.** (retired in 1997) sang the National Anthem, and
**Reverend William E. Greene** (retired in1997) gave the Invocation.
Emcee and banquet chairman **Ron Esposito** (retired in 2006) welcomed
the group, and then capsulated five decades of Tech Center history with
an impressive, comprehensive slide show presentation, covering technical
highlights of each decade and spotlighting each Technical Center
Director.

An impressive array of speakers addressed the group. Former Center
Director **Joseph M. DelBalzo** (retired FAA in 1994) gave a thorough
overview of some of the earliest Tech center/NAFEC achievements,
touching on everything from the Traffic Collision Avoidance System
(TCAS) to key advancements in fire testing. U.S. Congressman **Frank A.
LoBiondo** emphasized the importance of the Tech Center as the nation's
premier aviation research facility. ATO Vice President of Operations
Planning **Vicki Cox** talked about the important "Next Generation"
integration work conducted at the Technical Center. Finally, Current
Director **Dr. Wilson Felder** gave a vision of the future of aviation
that would even turn (vintage futuristic cartoon character) George
Jetson's head!

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**Vicki Cox, VP of Operations Planning**

Banquet attendees ranged from the earliest NAFEC employee, **Irene
Kain**, who retired in 1977, to recent 2008 retirees **Tom Flatley**,
**Helen Monk**, and **Ken Peterson**.

Esposito had high praises for the stellar committee that put together a
fabulous banquet in an ambitious time frame. "It was a kick for me to
work with Tech Center employees again to pull off something very
important, with limited time and resources," said Esposito. "The
committee was a dedicated, dependable, hard-working group that went all
out to make the banquet a success."

![](media/image6.jpeg){width="3.58125in" height="2.7215277777777778in"}

**Retirees Dick and Judy Battaglia, and Former Deputy Director, Bruce
Singer**

Esposito gave a few special accolades. "**Kathy Fleming** was a great
help to me, taking on am important leadership role. She really kept
things going," said Esposito. "And, **Janet Kinsell** did a fantastic
job pulling together voluminous historical materials, selecting the
pictures and creating the script for our slide show presentation."

Esposito thanked Director Wilson Felder for coming up with the idea for
the event, and **Stan Ciurczak** for his oversight as manager of all the
Center's 50th anniversary activities.

![](media/image7.jpeg){width="3.7708333333333335in"
height="3.017361111111111in"}

**Dr Wilson Felder and 50th Anniversary Program Manager Stan Ciurczak**

Other key committee members, who helped made the event a success, were:
**Beth Burkett, Melissa Silipena, Patty Greco, Henrietta Shelton, Ken
Beisel, Barbart Mong, Donna Taylor, Barbara Harris-Para** (retired
2007), **Susan Linardo, Bernice Merly, Carol Widerker, Beth Delarosby,
Carolyn McKinney-Bobo,** and **Janine Brown**.

The anniversary banquet received photographic coverage in *The Press of
Atlantic City* and in several editions of *The Current* weekly
newspaper.

The event can be summed up by the comments heard repeated most
frequently throughout the evening: "We can't wait for the next 50th
Anniversary activity! We'll be there!"

***Editors Note* : A 50th Anniversary year-end banquet will be held in
October. The theme for the function will be \"Flying High at 50 -
Honoring the Past while Flying High towards the Future.\" More details
will be made available soon.**

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**Retirees Experience Changes at the Technical Center**

By Ginger Cairnes

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**Lee Whilden watches as retirees try their hand at controlling traffic
in the STARS Lab.**

In spite of the excitement that was generated at the 50th Anniversary
Retirees' Banquet, some former employees of the old National Aviation
Facilities Experimental Center (NAFEC) expressed a desire to tour and
see not only the progress made to the Air Traffic Control systems, but
also to learn about the role the Technical Center now plays in the
development of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen).
Most of the group retired in the late 70s or the early 80s. One left in
1966 for other employment in Washington.

Although approximately 15 had hoped to join the tour some last minute
illnesses prevented that from happening. However, those able to attend
included: "**JB**" and **Carol McCollough, Charles** and **Bernice
Richardson, Bill Brown, William Craft, Richard Kirkwood,** and **Ben
Sooy.**

The agenda was quite challenging. Their day started with a visit to the
National Airport Pavement Test Machine. The size of this building and
the engineering of the machine itself totally amazed them.

A fun time was had by all in the Standard Terminal Automation
Replacement System (STARS) Lab. Here the group got the chance to sit at
the displays and perform hand-offs as well as listen to discussions of
the evolution of the system. Time permitted only a walk-through of other
ATC labs on the third floor. Included were the Automated Terminal Radar
System (ARTS), Enhanced Traffic Management System (ETMS), and Advanced
Technologies and Oceanic Procedures (ATOP) Lab.

![](media/image9.jpeg){width="4.6875in" height="3.40625in"}

**Ed Gaguski and John Lawson bring retirees up to date on the Standard
Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS) and how handoffs are
performed between two controllers at a TRACON.**

Attention was at a peak in the weather labs. While visiting Integrated
Terminal Weather System (ITWS) they were able to not only learn about
the terminal end of the weather system, but also learn the history of
the role the weather systems have played in Air Traffic safety.

![](media/image10.jpeg){width="4.6875in" height="3.1145833333333335in"}

**Weather plays an important role in aviation as Bill Benner points out
to the group visiting the Integrated Terminal Weather System (ITWS)
Laboratory.**

The group was familiar with the old radars used for surveillance, but
most had not heard of the Automated Dependant Surveillance-Broadcast
(ADS-B) System. This system will not rely on radar technology, but will
be a system that uses precise location of traffic data from a global
satellite network and updates in real time. This is expected to be fully
implemented over the next 20 years and will be a huge part of the
NextGen vision. After a few minutes of coaching several of them
attempted to try using the avionics display located in the ADS-B
laboratory.

![](media/image11.jpeg){width="4.6875in" height="3.2604166666666665in"}

**Deepak Chauhan describes the accuracy and timeliness of the ADS-B
reports.**

The Target Generation Facility (TGF) really brought back old memories
from the NAFEC days when the Model A and the Model B systems were
installed in Building 19 on the Air National Guard side of the base.
These systems together generated about 200 targets. Today's TGF, a
dynamic real-time simulation facility is capable of generating up to 400
piloted targets in one or more "concurrent simulation environments."
Some attendees were simulated pilot operators (sim-ops) and others were
maintenance technicians working in that building. For most of them
simulation is where it all started.

 

![](media/image12.jpeg){width="4.6875in" height="3.2916666666666665in"}

**Lee Wong discusses themonitor and control display system that shows
the system's stability and how well the system is functioning.**

Although most went home to rest up for the evening's festivities several
stayed to enjoy lunch with employees with whom they used to work.

Thanks go to the following for providing a very enlightening tour for
these pioneers: **Murphy Flynn, Ed Gaguski, Lee Wong, John Lawson, Russ
Atwood, Bill Benner, Mike McNeil, Jack Beilmann, Deepak Chauhan, Scott
Doucett, Lee Whilden, Gayle Martin-Taylor,** and **Carolyn
McKinney-Bobo**.

![](media/image13.jpeg){width="4.688888888888889in"
height="3.542361111111111in"}

**Bill Cole and retiree Richard Kirkwood reminisce.**

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**Research Day: Enhancing the Technical Stature of ATO**

By Basilyn Bunting

![](media/image14.jpeg){width="3.73125in" height="2.5034722222222223in"}

**Basilyn Bunting**

March 19, 2008 marked the first of two Research Days planned during the
50th Anniversary celebration of the FAA and the Technical Center.
Research day highlights nineteen System Engineering Masters Thesis
Research, performed by Air Traffic Organization (ATO) employees under
the guidance of a Faculty Advisor and a Government Domain Advisor.
Nineteen ATO employees and a contractor are performing the Masters
Thesis research in pursuit of earning Masters or Doctorate degrees, in
System Engineering, from Steven's Institute Of Technology of Hoboken,
NJ.

![](media/image15.jpeg){width="4.08125in" height="2.775in"}

**Dr. Wilson Felder**

**Dr. Wilson Felder**, Center Director, and the principal thesis advisor
set the bar of performance at the Masters Thesis level. His vision;
Masters Thesis produces research papers for publication in refereed
journals. Published papers are presented at technical conferences,
thereby enhancing the technical stature of the ATO organization(s).
**Vicki Cox**, VP of Operations Planning and Research Sponsor, set the
strategic direction for "...an enviable future by establishing the Next
Generation of Air Transportation System (Nextgen), as the research focus
area." Integration management is critical to the realization of Nextgen.

![](media/image16.jpeg){width="4.6875in" height="3.3333333333333335in"}

**Vicki Cox**

On Research Day, six ATO employees presented their system engineering
research projects to a diverse audience of government, industry, and
academia. The presenters are representatives of the Safety and
Operations Planning service units. Domain Advisor's are FAA and
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Subject Matter Experts.

+---------+-------------+--------------------------+------------------+
| **Resea | *           | **Research Topics**      | **Domain         |
| rcher** | *Researcher |                          | Advisor, Service |
|         | Service     |                          | Unit**           |
|         | Unit**      |                          |                  |
+---------+-------------+--------------------------+------------------+
| **      | **Ops       | **Impact of middleware   | **Gordon         |
| Michael | Planning**  | software supportability  | Schaffer,        |
| Ogu     |             | on complex integrated    | Enroute**        |
| ndoju** |             | system performance**     |                  |
+---------+-------------+--------------------------+------------------+
| **      | **Ops       | **Modeling Runway        | **Albert Swartz, |
| Clayton | Planning**  | Occupancy Times, exit    | Ops Planning**   |
| Carr**  |             | strategies and 2025      |                  |
|         |             | aircraft mix**           |                  |
|         |             |                          |                  |
|         |             | ** **                    |                  |
+---------+-------------+--------------------------+------------------+
| **Tony  | **Ops       | **The migration from     | **Mike           |
| Long**  | Planning**  | Smart Card to            | Barrientos,      |
|         |             | Biometrics**             | DHS**            |
|         |             |                          |                  |
|         |             |                          | **Valerie        |
|         |             |                          | Lively, DHS**    |
+---------+-------------+--------------------------+------------------+
| **      | **Ops       | **Modeling System        | **Basilyn D      |
| Clifton | Planning**  | boundary paradoxes:      | Bunting, Ops     |
| Ba      |             | Interface management**   | Planning**       |
| ldwin** |             |                          |                  |
|         |             | ** **                    |                  |
+---------+-------------+--------------------------+------------------+
| *       | **Safety**  | **Challenges of runway   | **Wes Timmons,   |
| *Darren |             | safety of Super-Density  | Safety**         |
| F       |             | Arrival/Departure        |                  |
| ields** |             | Operations**             |                  |
+---------+-------------+--------------------------+------------------+
| **Chri  | **Ops       | **System of Systems Test | **Ken Kepchar    |
| stopher | Planning**  | Patterns**               | Ops Planning**   |
| R       |             |                          |                  |
| eilly** |             | ** **                    |                  |
+---------+-------------+--------------------------+------------------+

Steven's Faculty Advisors contributed to this day of presentations.
**Dr. Rashmi Jain** spoke about " Impact of Systems Architecture on
Systems Integration" and **Dr. Brian Sauser** presented the " Systems
Earned Readiness Management (SERM)."

This joint Academia-Government partnership, between ATO's Operation's
Planning and Stevens Institute Of Technology's, is an expansion of FAA's
2001 System Engineering Revitalization, championed by the Chief Systems
Engineers. The Steven's System Engineering Program originated in 2004 at
the Tech Center. Under the sponsorship of the Acquisition and Business
Service Unit, the program has expanded to FAA Headquarters in. Sixty ATO
employees are currently enrolled in the program.

Who will do the science and engineering in 2025? The challenge for an
enviable future of Nextgen is the development of an astute workforce of
systems engineers, system integrators and system thinking leaders. The
importance of the program is the futuristic and progressive focus in the
production of engineers and the publishing of papers, at a time when
other countries are producing scientists and engineers at a faster rate
then the USA.

![](media/image17.jpeg){width="3.832638888888889in"
height="2.8319444444444444in"}

**Christopher Reilly, Presenter**

![](media/image18.jpeg){width="3.8340277777777776in"
height="2.8444444444444446in"}

**Clayton Carr, Presenter**

![](media/image19.jpeg){width="3.89375in" height="2.5256944444444445in"}

**Clifton Baldwin, Presenter**

![](media/image20.jpeg){width="3.8125in" height="2.7958333333333334in"}

**Darren Fields, Presenter**

![](media/image21.jpeg){width="3.79375in" height="2.5625in"}

**Micheal Ogundaju, Presenter**

![](media/image22.jpeg){width="3.854861111111111in"
height="2.6368055555555556in"}

**Tony Long, Presenter**

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**Students from the Albert Dorman Honors College (NJIT) Pay a Return
Visit to the Technical Center**

By Ginger Cairnes

![](media/image23.jpeg){width="4.6875in" height="3.5208333333333335in"}

**One of the students gets to experience just how warm and heavy the
fire gear is -- even minus the boots.**

"We have a hunger of the mind which asks for knowledge of all around us,
and the more we gain, the more is our desire; the more we see, the more
we are capable of seeing." --Maria Mitchell

Last year Professor **Paul J. Dine** and a group of students from New
Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) Albert Dorman Honors College
visited the Technical Center. Congressman **Donald Payne**, (D-N.J),
impressed by the students and professors' enthusiasm about the visit,
requested a return visit.

NJIT is a major public technological university whose mission is
education, research, economic development, and service. It also
"prepares its graduates for positions of leadership as professionals and
as citizens." It offers programs to prepare students for a "technology
dependent economy of the 21 st century."

Sponsored by the city of Newark and a matching grant from the state
legislature in 1881, the Newark Technical School was established.
Non-degree courses were offered in science, math, and drawing. In the
127 years since the school was established, it has changed its name to
NJIT and has courses and programs that evolved into six full colleges,
among them the Albert Dorman Honors College. Founded in 1985 as "the
Institute Honors Program, it became a college in 1995." Approximately
600 students in the honors program excel in engineering, aerospace
studies, computer science, architecture, sciences, and liberal arts.

The college goes beyond the classroom. Students are offered a superior
academic program, hands-on research activities and projects, and meet
with specialists at major corporations in their respective fields in
order to prepare them to be leaders in their fields." The Technical
Center was only one of several learning opportunities that the students
are provided. They visit Washington, DC, tour major companies, and tour
historical and cultural sites.

The students' quest for learning was quite evident from the moment they
arrived until they were boarding the bus to travel home. Unfortunately
because of the time they needed for travel, their experience at the
Technical Center was somewhat limited. However, they were still able to
visit labs, facilities, participate in hands-on demos, and attend
briefings.

![](media/image24.jpeg){width="4.6875in" height="3.5208333333333335in"}

**John Reinhardt shows one of the test methods that can assess damage to
thermal acoustic insulation**

At the Full-Scale Fire Test Facility, the group was able to see Fire
Safety Branch test articles: the narrow-bodied B707 used for material
flammability test comparisons, burn through testing, cabin water mist,
etc.; the wide-bodied DC10 used for cargo compartment simulations; and
the new test article that can assess damage to thermal acoustic
insulation. The DC10 is being modified with an upper deck in preparation
for the new A380 and other new large aircraft*.* They also learned about
devices such as the smoke detector installed in restroom trashcans, and
about the recent fuel tank inerting efforts.

![](media/image25.jpeg){width="4.6875in" height="3.5208333333333335in"}

**Students watch the pavement machine as Murphy Flynn points out some of
the engineering dynamics.**

On their visit to the National Airport Pavement Test Facility, the
students were briefed on some of the latest information regarding the
Airport Technology Branch's current research, and their Aircraft Rescue
and Fire Fighting (ARFF) Program, especially as it relates to the New
Large Aircraft (NLA). A demonstration of the High Performance Research
Vehicle (HPRV) gave them the opportunity to try on some of the fire
fighting gear, climb aboard the engine, and observe other equipment used
to fight post-crash fires.

![](media/image26.jpeg){width="4.6875in" height="6.25in"}

**Keith Bagot shows the group some equipment that gets stored in one of
the compartments on the HPRV**

Lunchtime briefings included Technical Center's Role in Aviation and
what career opportunities the Technical Center has to offer.

After lunch the group went to the Air Traffic Control Modernization
Labs. At the Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS)
Lab, they were able to observe from the "mock" tower and also play the
role of air traffic controller at the radar displays.

The students' day was rounded up by visits to the Enhanced Traffic
Management System (ETMS) display, the weather labs, and the Automated
Dependant Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) lab. where students were able
to try the avionics equipment.

We hope that what they gained at the Technical Center has not only taken
them "beyond the classroom" but has also whetted their appetites in that
*"The more they see, the more they will be capable of seeing."*

![](media/image27.jpeg){width="4.688888888888889in"
height="2.5944444444444446in"}

**Center Director Wilson Felder and Ginger Cairnes pose with the group**

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**Job Shadowing with Gisele Mohler, Director of FAA OEP**

By Mary Delemarre

![](media/image28.jpeg){width="4.688888888888889in"
height="3.2604166666666665in"}

**Gisele Mohler**

I am enrolled in the USDA Graduate School Executive Leadership Program.
One of the requirements of the program is that you must shadow a senior
executive for a minimum of three days. I was fortunate to be able to
shadow **Gisele Mohler**, the Director of the Operational Evolution
Partnership (OEP) Planning Office from January 14 -- 17th, 2008.

Whether it is an informal meeting or a senior executive Flight Plan
Review Board meeting, Gisele Mohler is very poised and confident when
making presentations at all levels. She was always professional,
knowledgeable, and she always drives home the main point. During the
four days I was shadowing Gisele, her staff members would enter her
office to brief her on the day's activities or to provide additional
information on action items she requested. Gisele Mohler employs an
open-door policy and actively solicits ideas and feedback from her
staff.

Gisele Mohler shared with me that she enjoys mentoring and having people
shadow her. Her Myers Briggs personality profile indicates that she is a
natural leader. She is currently going through the FAA-sponsored Senior
Executive Leadership Program. I found shadowing Gisele Mohler to be a
very rewarding experience. Both she and her staff were very cooperative,
engaging and they made me feel right at home. During the shadow
assignment, Ms. Mohler encouraged me to talk to her staff and discuss
their individual roles within the OEP.

**What I learned about the OEP:**

The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Next Generation National Air
Transportation System, commonly called NextGen, is the transformation of
the entire National Airspace System (NAS) in order to meet future
demands and reduce delays. New capabilities and technologies will change
the way the system operates, reduce congestion, and improve the
passenger experience. The OEP is the FAA's plan for implementing
NextGen. Gisele Mohler is the Director of the OEP Planning Office. This
year Gisele Mohler and her team are tracking eighteen separate Flight
Plan initiatives to ensure that the FAA is on track and on schedule for
NextGen. The Flight Plan is the FAA's five-year strategic plan. The
Flight Plan tracks progress in four goal areas needed to achieve the
FAA's mission of providing the safest and most efficient aerospace
system in the world: Increased Safety, Greater Capacity, International
Leadership, and Organizational Excellence.

The OEP describes the operational changes for the midterm as well as the
NextGen end state. The OEP was developed in collaboration with the
aviation community and other government agencies. The aviation community
includes airlines, cargo carriers, general aviation, airports, and
manufacturers. In its role as the management integrator, the OEP
demonstrates to FAA's partners what is coming, when it is coming, and
what they'll need to get prepared for the changes.

I chose to do my shadowing assignment at FAA HQ in Washington DC in
order to increase my awareness at the headquarters level. While sitting
in the various senior executive meetings, my external awareness was
greatly expanded. I attended the FAA Flight Plan Meeting with
senior-level FAA management team, including Deputy FAA Administrator
**Bobby Sturgell** and Chief Operating Officer (COO) **Hank Krakowski**.
In addition to the FAA Flight Plan meeting, I attended the OEP review
board, OEP associates, and Capacity Goal initiative owners meetings.

In summary, this four-day shadowing assignment was one of the most
meaningful and significant experiences in my career. I would encourage
anyone who wants to expand their horizons to obtain a shadowing
assignment at FAA Headquarters.

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**Administrative Professionals Week 2008**

By Ginger Cairnes

![](media/image29.jpeg){width="1.25in" height="1.8333333333333333in"}

**2008 Commemorative Lapel Pin**

All too often in the workplace we tend to overlook some very important
employees who help to make it all happen. Who helps get those travel
orders out, provides supplies, fields phone calls, organizes a calendar,
and most importantly assures that you will get paid?

![](media/image30.jpeg){width="4.166666666666667in"
height="3.1659722222222224in"}

**Some of the group climbed aboard N47, the Bombardier, one of the
"Flying Laboratories" aircraft to pose for pictures.**

With the demands of World War II the government put out calls for
secretaries and clerks to staff offices and assist in other "war
efforts." In 1942 the National Secretaries Association was organized as
a network for secretarial staff. This organization later became the
International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP).

There was a time when a secretary was labeled as an employee who took
notes, handled correspondence, kept records and performed other clerical
duties and if the individual was a woman, was expected to make coffee.
Not only have the roles of women changed through the years, but the
responsibilities of a secretary have also grown.

![](media/image31.jpeg){width="3.9125in" height="2.9381944444444446in"}

**The group pauses in front of the High Performance Research Vehicle
(HPRV) -- a big hit of the day.**

Organizations such as the IAAP have been a support force encouraging
"secretaries" to enhance their skills so they can become more effective
contributors to their employers. The IAAP also encourages employers to
provide training for their administrative staff through seminars,
continuing education or self-study materials. They also encourage
managers to delegate responsibilities that better utilize the skills of
administrative staff.

"National Secretaries Week" originated in 1952 was sponsored by the
IAAP. Through the years it has undergone several name changes. In 2000
it became Administrative Professionals Week/Day. This name now better
suits the growing responsibilities and job titles of today's
administrative workforce. Administrative Professionals Week is
celebrated worldwide and more appropriately honors the contributions of
administrative support staff and helps promote their professional
excellence. It is known to be one of the largest workplace observances.

![](media/image32.jpeg){width="4.04375in" height="2.8569444444444443in"}

**ACT-1 Administrative staff takes turns doing hand-offs on the Standard
Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS) displays**

Administrative Professionals Week is traditionally observed the last
FULL week in April. The theme this year is "*FORWARD MOVING"* to help
"denote how career-minded administrative professionals are positioning
themselves for success in today\'s ever-changing business environment by
mastering advanced office technology, continually honing their
communication skills, forging collaborative relationships with managers
and coworkers, and taking charge of their own career development."

At the Technical Center, a tour of the facility kicked off the week's
activities for Administrative Professionals. Sites visited included: the
Human Factors Lab; National Pavement Test Facility; High Performance
Research Vehicle (HPRV); K-9 Facility; Emergency Operations Facility
(EOF); Metal Shop; Advanced Imaging; Air Traffic Control Labs: Automated
Terminal Radar System Displays (ARTS), Enhanced Traffic Management
System (ETMS), Advanced Technologies & Oceanic Procedures (ATOP),
Weather Labs and the Target Generator Facility (TGF). The group was also
given the opportunity to try their hand at playing Air Traffic
Controller while sitting down at the Standard Terminal Automation
Replacement System (STARS) radar displays, and also going in the mock
tower from which they could view a vast expanse of the Tech Center
property.

![](media/image33.jpeg){width="4.103472222222222in"
height="3.0833333333333335in"}

**Because the weather was so nice the Administrative Professionals got
out of the bus at the reservoir -- part of the windshield tour.**

A "windshield tour" around the property was also provided. The ladies
were given the opportunity to see the locations of and learn about the
following: Tower/TRACON Modeling and Simulation Building; Area D
treatment Plant; Crashworthiness Tower and build-up yard; Transportation
Security Lab area; Coast Guard; Federal Air Marshals; and the hangar.

A special thanks goes to: **Wayne Marks, Earl Stein, Al Macias, Paul
Scrofani, Rick Whedbee, Paul Chubb, Satish Agrawal, Frank Pecht, Keith
Bagot, Ed Gaguski; Sheila Franklin-Smallwood, Mike Greco, Tri Nguyen,
Scott Doucett, Pat Mabis, Dave Maslanka, Maria Lemmetti-Fane, Fred Karl,
Bobby Nichols, Art Grala, Mary Lalasis, Jim Vena, Walt Vernon, Gayle
Martin-Taylor, Shilon Carter,** and all who helped make this tour such a
success.

The next day, a Team Building Session, followed by lunch at Carèmes
gourmet restaurant located at Atlantic Cape Community College rounded
out the week's celebration.

These professionals are "proud of their growing roles and expect to
continue their training skills in the years ahead."

*"No one who achieves success does so without acknowledging the help of
others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude*."
\~Author Unknown

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**Aviation Enrichment Mini-Symposium Day Scheduled for July 23, 2008**

 

![](media/image34.jpeg){width="4.6875in" height="4.208333333333333in"}

Future Pilots? Photo from 2007 Aviation Enrichment Mini-Symposium

The Technical Center will hold its annual Aviation Enrichment
Mini-Symposium Day on Wednesday, July 23, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
**Ginger Cairnes** will be chairing this event. A variety of activities
have been planned for Technical Center employees, contractors, tenants
and their families to familiarize them with the work conducted here, as
well as many aspects of aviation. Special tours, workshops,
demonstrations, technical displays, aviation games, and entertainment
will take place.

Many activities will focus on the Technical Center's 50th anniversary,
as well as our distinguished history as a Naval Air Station.

Online is the only acceptable form of registration and is scheduled to
run from mid- June through July 11. Look for fliers and broadcast
messages regarding registration.

Email inquiries only to
[ginger.cairnes@faa.gov.](mailto:ginger.cairnes@faa.gov. )

 

![](media/image35.jpeg){width="4.6875in" height="3.1145833333333335in"}

Tours include a visit to the Technical Center\'s Hangar. Photo from 2007
Aviation Enrichment Mini-Symposium

![](media/image36.jpeg){width="4.688888888888889in"
height="3.467361111111111in"}

Future Air Traffic Controllers? Photo from 2007 Aviation Enrichment
Mini-Symposium

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**McGuire AFB Controllers Visit the Technical Center**

By Ginger Cairnes

![](media/image37.jpeg){width="4.6875in" height="3.1770833333333335in"}

**Chris Smith shares some of his experiences from when he was at
McGuire**

In early spring, a group of about 20 Air Traffic Controllers from
McGuire Tower/RAPCON visited the Technical Center under the leadership
of **Michael Davis**, TSgt, USAF, Air Traffic Control (ATC) Craftsman.
The focus of their interests was ATC surveillance, separation standards,
and how the Technical Center fits into the FAA.

![](media/image38.jpeg){width="4.6875in" height="3.375in"}

**Lori Faber describes the purpose of our "flying laboratories" (test
aircraft).**

In addition to the above subject matter presentations, demonstrations
were conducted in the following areas: Standard Terminal Automation
Replacement System (STARS), Enhanced Traffic Management System (ETMS),
Advanced Technologies Oceanic Procedures (ATOP) Laboratory, Weather
Labs, Automated Dependant Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) System, Flying
Laboratories in the hangar, and the Human Factors Laboratory.

![](media/image39.jpeg){width="4.688888888888889in" height="3.0in"}

**Jack Beilmann discusses the efficiency and other benefits of the ADS-B
system.**

The group would like to thank **Stan Pszczolkowski, Sheila
Franklin-Smallwood, Ed Gaguski, Dave Cognata, Dave Pagan, Lee Wong,
Madurai Vaidyanathan, John Lawson, Rich Mendell, Terry Fisher, Chris
Smith, Bill Benner, Tom Carty, Try Nguyen, Jack Beilmann, Deepak
Chauhan, Lori Faber, Earl Stein, Al Macias, Ben Willems,** and **Mike
Mcanulty** as well as any other support for the laboratories visited.

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**Air Traffic and NextGen Technologies Generate Interest**

By Ginger Cairnes

![](media/image40.jpeg){width="4.6875in" height="3.3645833333333335in"}

**Visitors from Villanova University**

Those outside of government and aviation circles are also interested in
the NextGen Air Transportation System. Recently a group of students from
Villanova University enrolled in the Business Executive MBA program's
Designing Business Systems Architecture course contacted the visitor
program to arrange a tour of the Technical Center.

They chose the United States Air Transportation System as a platform for
the program's "thinking capstone project." The group was particularly
interested in information that would provide them with a better
understanding of the elements of the NextGen Air Transportation System.

![](media/image41.jpeg){width="4.1875in" height="3.107638888888889in"}

**Hilda DiMeo explains the En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM)
Program to the group**

Prior to visiting the Technical Center they visited the Command Center
and the Potomac TRACON. Their research and trips over the past six
months provided them with a good grasp of the subject matter and topics
relevant to their project. Currently in the solutions phase they are
expected to use systems thinking methodology to propose a new design of
the system.

![](media/image42.jpeg){width="4.23125in" height="2.8208333333333333in"}

**Stan P. briefed the group on Separation and Standards Analysis**

Their visit here reacquainted them with some of the subject matter from
the Command Center and Potomac TRACON and also helped them to better
understand some of the development process, including challenges and the
status of new designs of the air traffic system.

![](media/image43.jpeg){width="4.1875in" height="3.0145833333333334in"}

**The Integrated Terminal Weather System (ITWS) prompted many questions
of interest to Tom Carty.**

An email received from the group expressed the following: "We would like
to express our sincere gratitude to you for the time and care you
dedicated to our tour of the William J. Hughes Technical Center. We
particularly appreciate you taking the time to understand our needs and
designing an agenda that was extremely relevant to our research. We were
amazed by the generosity of all of the folks with whom we met at the
Technical Center with their time and information. I have never met such
a great group of people across the board that are all clearly excited to
be a part of the mission of the Technical Center."

This certainly speaks well of how Center employees are carrying out the
FAA mission into the NextGen.

![](media/image44.jpeg){width="4.313888888888889in"
height="2.951388888888889in"}

**Tri Nguyen explains how the Weather and Radar Processors (WARP) system
is incorporated into the Air Traffic System.**

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**Technology Transfer Program Updates:**

**Technical Center Hosts Federal Laboratory Consortium Executive Board
and Northeast Region Convene in South Jersey**

By Deborah Germak

![](media/image45.jpeg){width="4.688888888888889in"
height="3.5215277777777776in"}

**Ed Linensmeyer, Federal Laboratory Consortium Program Committee Chair
in front of Welcome Poster at the Technical Center.**

Technical Center Hosts Federal Laboratory Consortium Executive Board and
Northeast Region Convene in South Jersey** **

The FAA's Technology Transfer Program, based at the Technical Center,
hosted the Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) Executive Board and
Northeast Regional Meetings on February 21 and 22. This was the first
time both the Executive Board and Northeast Region met jointly at the
Technical Center.

A Welcome Reception kicked off activities on the evening of February 20,
at the Marriott's Seaview Golf Resort. Consortium members enjoyed the
opportunity to unwind, get acquainted, meet new members, and rekindle
old working friendships.

The first morning, the Executive Board met separately to discuss
consortium policy issues, the agenda for the upcoming May national
meeting in Portland, Ore., and other national matters. The Northeast
Region members met to discuss issues related to their chapter and
region. The two groups joined for lunch, and then toured both the
Technical Center's flying laboratories in the hangar, and the Center's
Research, Development and Human Factors Laboratory. After the tours, the
groups met together to discuss FLC- related issues.

The second day focused on Homeland Security. The Executive Board and
Northeast Region met with the New Jersey Regional Homeland Security Task
Force at the Department of Homeland Security's Transportation Security
Laboratory. Presentations were given about state homeland security
issues and their relationships with federal laboratories. The groups
then toured the security laboratories to view technologies in: personnel
screening -- trace, backscatter and millimeter wave portals; trace
tabletop and portable screening; explosive simulants; bulk research in
X-ray diffraction; human factors studies; and the latest technologies
for detecting explosives in checked and carry-on bags.

"We were delighted to host the FLC's Executive Board and Northeast
Regional meetings, along with the state's Homeland Security Task Force,"
said **Deborah Germak**, FAA Technology Transfer Program Manager. "The
meeting provided the perfect forum for all parties to exchange valuable
information, and for the Technical Center to showcase our fabulous
facilities and unique capabilities."

More than 700 federal laboratories comprise the Federal Laboratory
Consortium, with 29 member laboratories in the Northeast Region.

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**Technology Transfer Program Updates:**

**FAA Technology Transfer Program Holds SMART Unmanned Systems and
Robotics Conference**

By Deborah Germak

![](media/image46.jpeg){width="4.688888888888889in" height="2.625in"}

**SMART Conference Attendees**

The Federal Aviation Administration's Technology Transfer Program
launched efforts to delve into the spectrum of unmanned airborne systems
(UAS), last summer. The Program hosted a Strengthening the Mid-Atlantic
Region for Tomorrow (SMART) event at the Technical Center on June 29,
2007, sponsored by NavMar Applied Sciences Corporation, of Warminster,
Pa.

The gathering of regional government, academia, industry, and support
organizations focused on the topic of UAS in the national airspace
system, and the plethora of associated safety concerns. The newly formed
SMART cluster group, Unmanned Systems and Robotics (US&R), covers other
related topics, too. Conference briefings and discussions addressed
unmanned marine vehicles (undersea and surface craft); unmanned ground
vehicles, such as remote controlled robotic devices; and the modeling
and simulation technologies employed in designing unmanned systems.

"We were delighted to host this kick-off meeting," said **Deborah
Germak**, FAA Technology Transfer Program Manager. "The potential of
unmanned airborne systems opens up an exciting, new frontier, along with
many challenges. We expect the synergy generated by this event to foster
valuable partnerships and stimulate creative, new ideas in the UAS
arena."

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**Technology Transfer Program Updates:**

**Dr. Todd Truitt Introduces Electronic Flight Data Concept at World's
Best Technologies Showcase**

By Deborah Germak

![](media/image47.jpeg){width="3.5006944444444446in"
height="2.501388888888889in"}

**Electronic Flight Data Interface**

**Dr. Todd Truitt** gave an inventive presentation on electronic flight
data concepts at the dazzling World's Best Technologies Showcase, last
spring, in Arlington, Texas.

Truitt, an engineering research psychologist at the Technical Center,
and member of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, South Jersey
Chapter, presented his "Concept Development and Design Description of
Electronic Flight Data Interfaces for Airport Traffic Control Towers" to
a sophisticated, hi-tech international audience, from May 15-16, 2007,
at the Arlington Convention Center.

Dramatic, projected increases in air traffic and focused modernization
efforts have led the FAA to consider replacing paper flight progress
strips with an electronic alternative. Electronic flight data (EFD)
interfaces can potentially increase a controller's ability to acquire,
track and record information, as well as communicate and coordinate that
information with others. More importantly, EFD can improve controller
efficiency by providing new methods of flight data management that
integrate information into a single source, enhancing safety.

The first prototype interface, the Integrated EFDI, combines textual EFD
with an airport surface situation display provided by Airport Surface
Detection Equipment - Model X (ASDE-X) radar. The second prototype
interface, the Perceptual-Spatial (P-S) EFDI, combines textual EFD with
an airport surface map, without using ASDE-X radar. This interface also
functions as a backup flight data management system to the Integrated
EFDI, if ASDE-X capabilities were to fail.

World's Best Technologies is the premier event showcasing the largest
collection of undiscovered technologies developed at top universities,
labs and research institutions from across the country and around the
globe. Participating technologies are selected by and presented to
seasoned venture investors and Fortune 500 licensing scouts representing
many varied industries. This highly visible forum serves as a catalyst
between university and lab-based technologies, the investment community
and ultimately, the marketplace.

"We were excited to demonstrate the effectiveness of electronic flight
data interfaces to such an influential target audience, " said **Deborah
Germak**, the FAA's Technology Transfer Program Manager. "This new
design and technology has the potential to enhance the performance of
air traffic controllers and the National Airspace System, overall."

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**Piloting New Verification and Validation Processes**

By Jason McGlynn

![](media/image48.jpeg){width="4.688888888888889in"
height="2.729861111111111in"}

**Composite image depicting V&V activities**

The Verification and Validation (V&V) Protocol of Operations Project is
conducting a pilot activity on six Air Traffic Organization (ATO) test
programs to evaluate whether the processes documented in the Test and
Evaluation (T&E) Handbook and the Verification and Validation Operations
Guide are practical. The six programs are: En Route Automation
Modernization (ERAM), Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast
(ADS-B), Data Communications (DataComm), System Wide Information
Management (SWIM), Alaska Flight Service Modernization (AFSM), and
Business Continuity Plan (BCP). The Technical Center's Test Standards
Board (TSB) has been conducting pilot activities with these programs
since August 2007.

On February 21-27, 2008, the TSB held V&V Midpoint Review sessions on
the pilot programs. The T&E Points of Contact (POCs) for ERAM, ADS-B,
and AFSM provided the TSB with feedback on the practicality of the T&E
processes and the usability of the T&E documents and tools. The TSB is
currently reviewing the concerns and suggestions from these Midpoint
Reviews to determine what improvements need to be made in the documented
processes. This is an important step to institutionalizing the V&V
processes.

Preliminary feedback from the Midpoint Reviews has been very positive
and there are no major concerns that would prevent institutionalizing
the V&V processes by September 2008. The pilot activities are scheduled
for completion on May 15, 2008, with debriefings on each pilot program
to follow. The completion of the pilot activities will mark a major
milestone for the V&V Protocol of Operations Project and towards
implementing the Technical Center's standards for T&E.

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