VOLUME 20 • ISSUE 10 • OCTOBER 2018

Sharing NASA 

With Family 

Pages 6–7

Center Picnic 

Gathering

Pages 2–3

Honoring 

Guy Bluford 

Page 9

RSB 

Groundbreaking 

Page 12
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AeroSpace Frontiers

is an official publication of Glenn Research 

Center, National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration. It is published the second 

Friday of each month by the Office of 

Communications & External Relations 

in the interest of the Glenn workforce, 

retirees, government officials, business 

leaders and the general public. 

Submit short articles and calendar items 

to the editor at doreen.b.zudell@nasa.gov. 

Editor: Doreen B. Zudell, ATS, 

 216–433–5317

Assistant Editor: S. Jenise Veris, ATS

Design: Jami Drost, ATS

Managing Editor: Kelly R. DiFrancesco

Circulation: Angela Williams, ATS, 

 216–433–8921

Cyber Awareness Enhances 

Our Mission Success

October is Cyber Security Awareness 

month. Cybersecurity has been a 

persistent hot topic, and we should all 

be aware of the many threats to our 

information technology, communications and networking systems. In 

addition, it is important to me that we 

are vigilant in addressing cybersecurity 

throughout the mission-development 

cycle. Software is an integral part of our 

aerospace systems, making our wind 

tunnel and vacuum chamber operations more efficient. As we address 

the emerging cyber developments, it 

is critical that we stay out front and 

exercise sound engineering, process 

control and assurance practices to 

mitigate the cybersecurity threat to our 

mission success.

Thank you for your consistent 

attention to the ever-present 

cybersecurity threat. 

It was fun in the sun—and under the big tent—for 

employees and retirees during the 2018 Center Picnic, 

Aug. 23, at the Lewis Field Picnic Grounds. Participants 

enjoyed lively music from the Glenn Band, 

picnic fare, popcorn, games and more.

Employees, Retirees 

Gather for Center Picnic

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Thanks to everyone who helped 

to bring it all together!

This year’s picnic showcased a car show, 

where employees voted on their favorite 

entry. Mike Perez, Aviation Test Branch, 

won for his 1966 Pontiac GTO.

Photos by Marvin Smith

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Largest in the Nation

NASA acknowledged its 60th anniversary at 

the 2018 Chicago Air and Water Show, the 

largest free show of its kind in the nation, 

Aug. 17 to 19. Approximately 7,200 guests 

came through the NASA Village, pictured, 

to learn about NASA’s contributions to the 

world in which they live.

Teaming Up for STEM

NASA Glenn staff conducted demonstrations and distributed 

informational materials during the 2018 STEM Festival at 

First Beulah Baptist Church in Cleveland, Aug. 18. Glenn and 

the Cleveland Public Library teamed up to bring science, 

technology, engineering and mathematics to community 

members at the festival. This was one of many events at 

which 50 Golden Astronaut tickets were randomly distributed 

throughout the year. The tickets gave recipients the opportunity to participate in the Sept. 29 Special Tour marking 

NASA’s 60th Anniversary.

Air and Space Technology

Glenn’s Ian Jakupca demonstrated different methods of power 

generation during the Cleveland National Air Show at Burke 

Lakefront Airport in Cleveland over Labor Day weekend. 

NASA’s S–3 Viking and Twin Otter research aircraft were on 

display, along with exhibits and informational materials. Staff 

engaged over 6,000 members of the public during the show 

and reached additional audiences on social media.

Glenn’s Office of Communications and External Relations staff led the agency’s participation 

in several outreach events this summer, emphasizing the future of space exploration and 

air travel. Popular exhibits included NASA’s Space Launch System and the Orion spacecraft, 

Journey to Tomorrow trailer and Picture Yourself in Space photo booth. 

Showcasing NASA’s Mission

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Photo by Mack Thomas

Photo by Debbie Lockhart Photo by Rami Daud
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NEWS AND EVENTS

Dr. Zurbuchen Visits, Interacts With Glenn Staff

Agency CIO Featured Speaker

NASA’s Chief Information Officer (CIO) Renee Wynn, pictured, held a Town 

Hall at Lewis Field, Aug. 6. She discussed the soon-to-be released IT 

Strategic Plan as well as the significant change drivers facing IT across the 

agency and here at Glenn. She also participated as a featured speaker for 

the center’s 60th x Six lunch series focusing on “Vision.” This interactive 

lunchtime discussion was part of NASA’s 60th Anniversary celebration.

Stringer, right, gives an overview of the 

Reverberant Acoustic Test Facility housed inside 

the PBS Space Environments Complex to Senators 

Gardner (far left) and Beagle (center), accompanied 

by Kim Veris, Glenn’s legislative affairs officer.

Glenn Hosts Elected Officials

Rodger Dyson, Glenn’s hybrid gas electric propulsion technical lead (far right), gives 

an overview of the NASA Electric Aircraft Testbed (NEAT) to several mayors.

Elected officials eager to learn more about the center’s R&D testing capabilities traveled to Glenn’s Plum Brook Station (PBS). On Aug. 28, PBS Director 

David Stringer hosted 15 Northeast Ohio mayors, two city managers and two 

mayoral aides. Two days later, Ohio Senators Bill Beagle and Randy Gardner, 

along with three legislative aides, visited PBS. Following a windshield tour of 

PBS acreage, both groups received an on-site tour and overview of facilities. 

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Photo by Bridget Caswell

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Photo by Rami Daud

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Photo by Marvin Smith

Glenn’s Rohit Shastry, left, briefs Associate Administrator of the 

Space Mission Directorate Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen, center, and 

Glenn’s Director of Space Flight Systems Bryan Smith on ion thruster 

technology efforts in the Electric Propulsion Laboratory, Aug. 14. In 

addition to tours during his visit, Zurbuchen met with senior leaders, 

early career employees, the Rocket U class and members of the 

Planetary Exploration Science Technology Office (PESTO). Zurbuchen, 

executive sponsor of the 2018 NASA FIRST Cohort Program, met 

with the participants. He shot several “Science in Seconds” clips and 

shared them on his Twitter page.
60th Anniversary Family Day: 

Sharing NASA Glenn’s Story With Our Family and Friends

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Photos by Imaging Technology Center

On Saturday, Aug. 25, NASA Glenn welcomed approximately 2,300 guests through 

the Lewis Field gates for its 60th Anniversary Family Day event. When they were not 

spending time with their families and friends, over 400 Glenn staff members were 

providing facility tours, exhibits and hands-on activities; guiding guests and staff; 

ensuring a safe and secure event; and providing a fun and exciting time for all. 

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OCTOBER 2018

Many thanks to those who made this day special 

for some of our biggest fans and supporters!

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On the Cover: 

Glenn’s Anthony Royce, mechanical and 

flight engineer, talks with a family about 

how the T–34 and other aircraft are used 

as testbeds for sensors and emerging 

technologies development during 

Glenn’s Family Day. 

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Photo by Rami Daud
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A Glenn team has assembled the first Sub-Kilowatt Electric Propulsion (SKEP) 

laboratory model prototype thruster, which is undergoing performance testing 

in the Electric Propulsion Laboratory’s (EPL’s) Vacuum Facility 8 (VF–8). SKEP 

would enable the use of small spacecraft to accomplish NASA missions at a 

faster tempo, reduced risk and lower costs.

By leveraging extensive lessons learned with higher-power, multikilowatt 

electric propulsion systems, the SKEP project seeks to deliver and flight 

qualify a complete propulsion unit—composed of a thruster, the associated 

power electronics and the propellant feed system—in about 3 years. That is 

less than half the time of traditional NASA electric propulsion development.

Successful completion of the SKEP project will yield a flight-ready electric 

propulsion system compatible with ambitious cislunar and deep space NASA 

exploration and science missions involving small spacecraft. A team from 

Glenn’s Electric Propulsion Systems Branch, Research and Engineering 

Directorate—with technical support from the Facilities and Test Directorate—

are leading these efforts.

In our last customer survey, readers asked for more stories on Glenn’s technical work. 

This new column highlights some of the research underway in our many test cells.

A Look

Inside

Our Faces of Glenn portrait series 

returned to Instagram last month to 

feature four long-serving NASA Glenn 

employees in honor of the agency’s 

60th anniversary.

Dr. John M. Sankovic, chief technologist and director of the Office of Technology Incubation 

and Innovation, retired Sept. 15, after 31 years of NASA service. Sankovic joined the agency 

in 1987 as a co-op engineering student working on turbine engine compressors. He has had 

a distinguished NASA career serving in various technical, supervisory and midlevel program/

project management positions. He has earned numerous awards and authored/co-authored 

over 70 technical publications. 

Sankovic leaves NASA to assume the role of president and CEO of the Ohio Aerospace Institute.

Glenn’s Chief Technologist Retires

Faces of Glenn: 

Diamond Edition

SKEP thruster being installed in VF–8 by test lead Dr. Thomas Liu, 

left, and Pathways intern Naia Butler-Craig.

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Photo by Rami Daud

To read more about the

Faces of Glenn, visit

https://www.instagram.com/

nasaglenn/

Dr. Sankovic

Our Test Cells

Prototype Thruster
NASA Glenn and the Great Lakes Science Center (GLSC) honored 

retired Air Force officer, astronaut and aerospace executive Dr. Guion 

S. Bluford Jr. with a special ceremony on Aug. 30. That day marked the 

35th anniversary of Bluford’s first space shuttle flight, and distinction 

as the first African-American in space. The ceremony included a 

candid interview by Ideastream’s Rick Jackson.

GLSC CEO Kristen Ellenbogen also presented Bluford with their Award 

of Distinction and unveiled an exhibit dedicated to Bluford in the 

NASA Glenn Visitor Center. The exhibit features Bluford’s personal 

memorabilia over a remarkable career.

“I’m thankful that you are recognizing me at the museum,” Bluford said. 

“I hope I inspire other people to follow in my footsteps and become 

scientists or engineers, and possibly go on to fly in space.”

On Aug. 30, 1983, the STS–8, Challenger mission, launched from 

NASA’s Kennedy Space Center with Bluford and four other astronauts 

with international ties to orbit the Earth. Bluford flew three additional 

shuttle missions before beginning a successful career as an aerospace 

executive supporting NASA Glenn.

In honor of this historic occasion, Bluford, a longtime resident of 

Northeast Ohio, spent the morning at the GLSC visiting with Cleveland 

Municipal School District ninth graders from the on-site MC2 STEM 

High School. Afterwards, the U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard performed 

an honorary drill on the GLSC outdoor terrace overlooking the harbor, 

and Bluford signed autographs and met with guests.

Glenn, GLSC Honor Bluford on 35th Anniversary 

of First African-American in Space

Cleveland’s Federal Executive Board (FEB) Diversity and 

Inclusion Committee hosted the First Annual Special 

Emphasis Program Gala to present FEB Diversity & 

Inclusion awards on Aug. 25. The award recognizes the 

exceptional achievements of Special Emphasis Advisory 

Group members who took affirmative steps to ensure 

equal opportunity for minorities, women and people 

with disabilities. 

Seven Glenn employees were among the honorees: 

Sameer Kulkarni, Asian American/Pacific Islander 

Committee; Jill Noble, National Disability Employment 

Awareness Committee; Ashley Cantor, Diversity and 

Inclusion Committee; Jeremiah O’Callahan, Native 

American/Alaskan Native Heritage Committee; and 

Karin Bozak, Debra Goodenow-Messman and Amy 

Stalker, Women’s History Committee.

FEB Hosts Inaugural Special Emphasis Program Gala

At top left: Ellenbogen presents Dr. Bluford with an Award of Distinction.

At left: Dr. Bluford talks with MC2 STEM High School students.

Pictured, left to right: Glenn’s Director of Diversity and Equal Opportunity, 

Aretha Carr; Cantor; Noble; Center Associate Director Janet Watkins; Stalker; 

O’Callahan; and Equal Employment Specialist Angela Pierce. 

Not pictured: Kulkarni; Bozak; and Goodenow.

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Photo by Timothy Pierce

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Photos by Bridget Caswell
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MORE THAN A MEMORY

Jerry McGrady, 44, a computer technician with the ACES contract supporting Glenn’s 

Office of the Chief Information Officer at Plum Brook Station (PBS), died Sept. 10. 

McGrady provided a wide range of IT technical support for the past 8 years. 

“He was our ‘go-to guy’ for anything related to IT. We could always count on Jerry to be 

knowledgeable and easy to work with,” said Dave Taylor, PBS deputy director. 

“Jerry had a positive outlook, was easygoing, and loved to support the end-user community. 

We will miss him,” added Tyson Stahnke, ACES Operations Manager.

Halle Queen, 61, a security officer for Glenn’s Office of Protective Services stationed at 

Plum Brook Station (PBS), died Sept. 8. She performed various security roles over her 37-year 

career, most recently as sergeant. Queen began working at the Space Power Facility for Garrett 

Research in 1981. She moved over to the Reactor building in 1987 to work for the Telatron 

Isotope group, thus providing dual-hatted support as maintenance and plant protection. 

“Halle had a substantial impact to our organization and her fellow co-workers. Her legacy will 

live on for years to come. She will be greatly missed,” said Christi Tomaro, chief, Office of 

Protective Services.

McGrady Provided Valued IT Expertise and Humor

Queen: A Spirited Member of the PBS Security Force

McGrady

Queen

Congratulations to the 2018 NASA Glenn Softball League Champions, the 

Darkside. After winning the regular season with a 14–2 record, the Darkside won 

all three of their post-season games. This resulted in the defeat of the Sidewinders 

in a 10th inning walk-off victory, 10–9, on Sept. 6. This was Darkside’s first championship since 2012. This year was the third year in a row that these two teams 

have squared off for the final game to determine the NASA Glenn championship.

PROMOTIONS

Kelly Bailey has been selected the Physical 

Science Research program manager for the ISS 

and Human Health Office in Glenn’s Space Flight 

Systems Directorate. Bailey previously served at 

Zin Technologies, Inc. as project manager for the 

Advanced Colloids Experiment.

Peggy L. Raines has been selected the Center 

Operations Directorate (COD) management and 

program analyst officer serving as program 

manager for the Lean Six Sigma (LSS) Program. 

She previously served as the COD technical lead 

and supported the agency and center’s LSS 

Office as a Master Black Belt.

Bailey Raines

Pictured left to right: back row: Brandon Ruffridge, Anthony Manco, Rick Bozak, 

Josh Lisowski, David Pike, Brad Kershaw, Jeff Kregenow, Alex Krinov and Greg 

Schmitz. Front row: Jordan Kisel, Zach Lucas, Jerry Traster, Mike Krinov, Ryan 

Brown, Alan Hewston and Jim Fleet. Not pictured: Nick Catanzarito, Eddie Lajeski, 

KJ Pederson, Brandon White and John Winter.

Darkside 2018 Softball League Champs

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Photo by Karin Bozak
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GSEL MOBILE LIBRARIAN

The Glenn Science and Engineering 

Library (GSEL) Mobile Librarian will be 

visiting building 54 through Oct. 18; 

building 77 from Oct. 23 to Nov. 1; and 

building 86 from Nov. 6 to 15. A Glenn 

reference librarian will be ready to 

assist employees with subject searches, 

finding specific books and articles and 

other information needs on the spot. 

POC: Robin Pertz, 3–5776

NASA Glenn Employees: For more calendar information, visit https://wing.grc.nasa.gov/event-calendar/.

Upcoming Center Events

Deadline for next calendar section 

is Oct. 17, noon. News and feature 

stories require additional time.

RETIRED WOMEN’S LUNCHEON

The next luncheon is Thursday, Nov. 15,

at 1 p.m., at Square 22 Restaurant, 

13485 Pearl Road, Strongsville, Ohio. 

Please reserve your place by calling 

Gerry Ziemba, 330–273–4850 or 

email gto64gerry@yahoo.com.

IFPTE LOCAL 28, LESA MEETING

LESA will hold its next membership 

meeting, Wednesday, Nov. 14, noon, 

in the Glenn Employee Center’s Small 

Dining Room.

The Emergency Management Office 

staff will conduct an audible siren test 

on the “all clear” tone on Saturday, 

Nov. 3, at Lewis Field. An outdoor 

mass notification “voice” test will 

be conducted at building 87 on 

Wednesday, Nov. 7. 

POC: Allen Turner, 3–6826

OUTDOOR SIREN TESTING

Disability Employment Awareness

Thursday, Oct. 25

1 to 2 p.m.

Administration Building Auditorium

Maria Wolfe, Leap, Inc., will discuss personal care assistants, the 

functions they provide and how to request these services through Leap.

POC: Angela Pierce, 3–2813

Wednesday, Oct. 31

Session 1: 8 to 11 a.m. • Session 2: 1 to 4 p.m.

Administration Building Auditorium

The Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity is 

partnering with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation 

Services to sponsor two 3-hour training sessions 

(morning and afternoon). 

The topic is “The Art and Science of Communication 

and Appreciative Inquiry” for Glenn employees. This is 

Glenn’s annual Conflict Resolution Observance event.

POC: Angela Pierce, 3–2813

Conflict Resolution Day

Register through SATERN. See Today@Glenn for details.
National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration

John H. Glenn Research Center 

Lewis Field

21000 Brookpark Road 

Cleveland, Ohio 44135

Plum Brook Station

3597 E. Scheid Road

Sandusky, Ohio 44870

www.nasa.gov

Read AeroSpace Frontiers online at http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/news/AF/index.html.

Emergency and Inclement Weather Lines 

Lewis Field: 216–433–9328 (WEAT) 

Plum Brook Station: 419–621–3333

Connect With Glenn

RSB Groundbreaking 

Celebrates Next Step 

in Facility Master Plan

NASA Glenn held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Research Support 

Building (RSB), Aug. 23, ushering in the next step in implementing the 

Center’s Facility Master Plan.

Center Director Dr. Janet Kavandi and Director of Facilities, Tests and 

Manufacturing Tom Hartline, led the festivities with special guest 

Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Strategic Infrastructure Rick 

Marrs. The Lewis Ensemble added to the celebration by performing 

America the Beautiful and Finlandia, a favorite of John and Annie Glenn.

“I’m really excited that we are here today for the groundbreaking 

of Glenn’s next high-performance building,” said Kavandi. “When 

completed in the fall of 2020, the RSB, along with the adjacent Mission 

Integration Center, will create a new campus center that will be a 

destination envisioned to create excitement, promote innovation and 

serve as the primary gathering location for the GRC community.”

Marrs added his endorsement, saying the project aligns with the 

agency’s goals of constructing energy-efficient, cost-saving buildings 

that help reduce NASA’s carbon footprint.

The RSB consists of a public wing and an office wing. The public wing 

includes a new cafeteria, exchange store and training rooms, as well 

as two concurrent engineering rooms. The creation of these areas will 

allow for the future demolition of building 15. Visitors to the cafeteria 

dining spaces will enjoy panoramic views of the Lewis Field campus 

from a cantilevered structure (extended deck) that reaches out creating 

a gateway to the Central Campus and the new “Wright Commons.”

The RSB project was awarded to Walsh Construction Company II, LLC 

of Chicago, in August. Construction is set to begin in October.

By Doreen B. Zudell

Rendering of new cafeteria seating, showing 

panoramic views of the Lewis Field campus. 

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Left to right: Hartline; Deputy Director of Facilities, Test and 

Manufacturing, Susan Kevdzija; Dr. Kavandi; and Marrs 

participate in the RSB Groundbreaking Ceremony.

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Photo by Marvin Smith