VOLUME 17 ISSUE 3 MARCH 2015

Media, Social Media Get Up-close Look at Research

Event Stresses Budget-Technology Connection

..............

NASA Glenn Center Director Jim Free 

welcomed members of media and 

social media to Lewis Field, Feb. 2, 

to participate in the “State of NASA” 

event, conducted at Glenn and across 

the agency. The event coincided with 

President Obama’s 2016 budget proposal 

of $18.5 billion for the agency. Included 

in the proposal is $601.5 million for 

Glenn.

Free talked about NASA’s budget request and how it must go through 

Congress for final approval. More importantly, Free stressed how budget 

dollars enable the cutting-edge technologies being developed at Glenn 

and across the agency. 

“You’re going to hear a lot today 

about what we do and how we are 

connected to the budget,” Free said. 

“You’ll see the people doing the work 

and the pride they take in it.”

The event included a live NASA Television broadcast of NASA Administrator Charles Bolden addressing the 

agency’s scientific and technological 

achievements, and the exciting work 

ahead. Bolden affirmed that the budget request will enable NASA to 

Continued on page 2 John Lekki, Optics and Photonics Branch, shares highlights on algal bloom flight research 

with media and social media guests while on tour. 

C-2015-406 Photo by Marvin Smith

Plum Brook Station's Water Pump 

Station Transferred to Erie County 

A 15-year project to excess pump stations to local governments and demolish aging 

water towers at Plum Brook Station (PBS) has significantly reduced NASA’s water 

consumption and ecological footprint. 

The project began with a study (hydraulic analysis) in 2000 to determine if the local 

utility company could support PBS’s water needs. PBS had been operating with a 

dual water system since the 1940s. A raw water system for cooling processes and 

fire protection was installed using untreated water pumped directly from Lake Erie 

via two pumping stations, located about 5 miles from PBS. Domestic, treated water 

was supplied by Erie County, but was not adequate to meet all the water demands. 

Continued on page 3

C-1984-05382L

Rye Beach Pump Station located on Lake Erie .

In This Issue

Director's Safety Corner 2 

New Deputy Named ...................... 2

Celebrating NACA's 100th ............. 3 

SoI Project Culminates .................. 6

Hubble@25 Kicks Off ..................... 6

Flight Research Milestone ........... 8
Safety Training is a Priority

While NASA has earned the ranking of Best Place to Work among large federal 

agencies, our safety record is one of the best among industry and other federal 

agencies as well. This is greatly due to how we make personnel training a priority—especially in the area of safety. To continue our commitment to safety, 

we recently deployed NASA’s Environmental, Health and Safety Learner Needs 

assessment to Glenn supervisors to identify employee training needs based on 

work functions. While some of us may feel safety training requirements are 

high, I ask you to remember that learning more about potential hazards gets us 

closer to mission success. 

Allocate some quiet time for safety training on SATERN offered by the NASA 

Safety Center. It’s worth your time and effort. 

 — Jim

Advancing Technology

New Software Aids Satellite Communications Design

NASA Glenn has released the “Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN): 

Optical Satellite Link Assessment Tool, version 1.” The software helps users in the 

design and specification of a space-based optical communications system.

“This is part of an ongoing SCaN Program-level effort to standardize software tools, 

models and technical data to reduce acquisition and operations costs,” explained 

David Bittner, Architectures, Networks and System Integration Branch. “Standardization enables creating a SCaN tool suite for flexibility and scalability ideal for adjusting to budget changes or user needs.” 

Future releases of this software will include an advanced graphical user interface 

(GUI) and an interface to the Satellite Tool Kit. The kit includes a commercial, off-theshelf software for integrated analyses and visualization of land, sea, air and space assets. 

The software is available for license through Glenn’s Technology Transfer Office 

(TTO) licensing website (see below).

About Glenn's Advanced Communications Research

NASA Glenn’s research in advanced communications is improving technology used in mobile 

satellite communications, tracking, telemetry, 

networking, radar and navigation. Technologies include solid state devices as well as more 

efficient micro-sized antennas, many of which 

are directly applicable to terrestrial communications. Visit https://technology.grc.nasa.gov/communications.php for more details.

Deputy Named

NASA astro -

naut Dr. Janet L. 

K a v a n d i h a s 

b e e n n a m e d 

NASA Glenn’s 

new deputy

director. A veteran of three 

shuttle missions,

Kavandi served 

most recently 

as the deputy director of the Health 

and Human Performance Directorate 

at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in 

Houston, Texas. She succeeds Gregory 

Robinson, who was named deputy associate administrator for programs for 

NASA’s Science Mission Directorate.

Dr. Kavandi

Research Close Up

Continued from page 1

continue building on significant investments conducted over the past 

6 years.

“The state of NASA is strong,” Bolden 

said. “I could not be more excited 

about our future.”

Following Bolden’s broadcast, Free 

led the media and social media participants on a tour of facilities that 

showcased solar electric propulsion, 

environmentally responsible aviation, 

algal bloom flights and icing research. 

These areas illustrated the center’s current and near-term contributions to the 

agency’s missions. Participants talked 

with the Glenn researchers who have 

been advancing the agency’s work in 

aeronautics and space exploration.

The event concluded with a briefing by NASA’s Chief Financial Officer 

David Radzanowski on the agency’s 

2016 budget proposal. Following the 

teleconference, Glenn’s Chief Financial Officer Larry Sivic answered questions from reporters and social media 

attendees.

For details on NASA’s 2016 budget request, visit http://www.nasa.gov/news/

budget/index.html#.VO7CIUjNeBM.

By Doreen B. Zudell

2
MARCH 2015

Pump Station News and Events

Continued from page 1

“Because the two systems were originally built to accommodate the large 

demands of a World War II ordnance 

plant, by the 21st century they no longer operated efficiently,” explained 

Bob Puzak, chief, Systems Management Branch, Facilities Division. 

Puzak said the hydraulic analysis concluded that all of PBS’s water could be 

supplied by the county-treated water 

system. New mains would need to be 

installed to meet the demands at PBS, 

and then NASA could discontinue maintaining the deficient pump stations. 

A Construction of Facilities (CoF) project began in 2003 to install service 

connection to the county. A CoF project in 2008 added more water mains 

to parts of PBS. Demolition projects 

covered the removal of five water 

towers (totaling 550,000 gallons), one 

500,000-gallon treated water reservoir, a raw water pump building and 

abandonment of 40 miles of pipe.

“Today Plum Brook has reduced its 

water consumption by 80 percent of 

a 2007 baseline,” Puzak said. “It also 

meets an Executive Order for NASA to 

reduce water intensity 2 percent each 

year from 2007 to 2015.”

In December 2014, NASA excessed 

its Rye Beach Pump Station and transmission lines through the General 

Services Administration (GSA). GSA 

used a Department of Health and 

Human Services conveyance

mechanism allowing the property transfer at no cost to Erie 

County. The pair of water lines, 

originating from the pump station, 

has the potential to distribute Lake 

Erie water to the community. NASA 

expects to excess its Big Island Pump 

Station to Sandusky this year. 

“The water lines, built by our grandparents before World War II, can 

now guarantee access to fresh water 

for Erie County residents through the 

21st century,” said PBS Director David 

Stringer. “It’s a great example of continuing to earn dividends from an 

initial investment.”

Puzak said this project also addresses a 

NASA Headquarters’ directive, which 

is a 10 percent reduction in the dollar 

value of our facilities and infrastructure by 2020. With this excessing

project, NASA Glenn has achieved a 

4 percent reduction since 2009 toward 

this goal.

By Doreen B. Zudell

Project Highlights

Total reduction in Current Replacement Value: $51,751,065

Total square footage reduction: 19,048 

Total land reduction: 1.013 acres

The red lines on this map show the pipe lines to the two pump stations in relation to 

NASA’s Plum Brook Station. The Rye Beach Pump Station (top right) was transferred to Erie 

County in December. The Big Island Pump Station (top left) is expected to be excessed and 

transferred to Sandusky this year. 

A century of aerospace achievement

Earlier this month, NASA began celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 

National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, or NACA. Over the next several 

months, NASA Glenn will reflect on some of NACA’s accomplishments over 

100 years, and the people who made them possible. Stay tuned!

Pictured, right: NACA pilot in front of the Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory 

hangar in 1958. (Photo by Ernie Walker )

Visit http://www.nasa.gov/naca100/ for agency highlights.

C-1958-47084

3
News and Events

C-2015-521 Photo by Bridget Caswell

Center Celebrates Employees Fundraising Efforts

Committee members and supporters of Glenn’s 2014 Combined Federal Campaign 

(CFC) gathered, Feb. 4, to celebrate the close of a successful campaign. Chair Dawn 

Pottinger and co-chair Andrea Bonesteel recognized several committee members 

and directorates for exceptional service and participation. (A list of award recipients can be found on the CFC website, https://www.grc.nasa.gov/cfc/.) Center Director Jim Free joined in celebrating the generosity and compassion of employees 

across the center. Pictured, left to right: North Coast CFC Campaign Manager 

Carol McClain, Bonesteel, Pottinger and Free display a check facsimile for $445,878.26, 

raised to benefit thousands of charities worldwide. 

Genealogist Traces 

Local Roots of Slavery

Did you know Ohio had more safe 

houses that aided fugitive slaves traveling the pathway to freedom than any 

other state in the union? Dr. Deborah 

Abbott, a genealogist who specializes in African-American genealogy, 

shared this and other information on 

slave trade during her presentation at 

Glenn’s Black History Month event, 

Feb. 19. Abbott pointed out several 

local historic landmarks that help tell 

the story of “slavery to freedom.” The 

event also featured poetry performed 

by Glenn’s own Lance Foster and local 

talent, Jay Floyd, as well as music by 

the Net Jazz band. Pictured, left: Abbott 

displays a collection of shackles used 

on slaves. 

C-2015-4144 Photo by Marvin Smith

Website, Video Honor 

Inspirational Women

During Women’s History Month, it 

is fitting to recognize three Glenn 

employees who were chosen to participate in the agency’s 2014 Women@NASA project. The website, 

http://women.nasa.gov/, celebrates the 

women of NASA’s contributions to 

science and exploration. 

Rula Coroneos, Multiscale and Multiphysics Modeling Branch; Mary Lobo, 

Facility Management and Planning 

Office; and Quiana Reese, Integration 

Office, are among the diverse group 

of 2014 NASA women featured on the 

website. They discuss their accomplishments and offer encouragement 

to women and girls considering technical careers. The website contains the 

stories of all participants since 2011.

While centers were only permitted to 

submit three names to Headquarters 

for the agency project, Glenn’s Human Resource Panel chose to honor 

all 12 of its 2014 nominees by producing a Women@GRC video. The video 

features Betsy (DeLaCruz) Lavelle, 

Kim de Groh, Barbara McKissock, 

Elaine Pappas, Bernadette Puleo, Gwynn 

Severt, Lizalyn Smith, Denise Varga and 

Susan Wrbanek. To view the video, 

visit http://youtu.be/-41MPHAsQk8.

Coroneos Lobo

Reese

4
MARCH 2015

News and Events

C-2015-496 Photo by Michelle Murphy

Clevelander Shares

Connection to Dr. King

Sonali Wilson, Cleveland State University general counsel, shared personal memories of Dr. Martin Luther 

King Jr., during her presentation at 

Glenn’s Martin Luther King (MLK)

Observance, Jan. 30. Wilson (pictured) 

shared family photos taken at their 

home in Cleveland and in the community. The photos revealed how her 

father, former Call & Post publisher, 

John Bustamante, and King shared

a friendship and zeal for the Civil 

Rights Movement during the 1960s. 

The Black Women’s Advisory Group 

and the Office of Diversity and Equal 

Opportunity Programs sponsored 

this year’s event that also included a 

video featuring stirring highlights of 

the Civil Rights Movement and Glenn 

managers’ reflections on MLK’s legacy.

April 12–18, 2015

Watch Today@Glenn for details

Photo by Doreen B. Zudell

Glenn Hosts Protective Measures Training

Glenn’s Emergency Management Office hosted an onsite Personal Protective Measures (PPM) for Biological Events course, Feb. 5. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Center for Domestic Preparedness and the Cuyahoga County 

Emergency Management Agency coordinated the training. The event included 

examples of biological agents and biothreats, demonstrations and technical decontamination protocols, agility drills and practice skill sessions that included “donning 

and doffing” PPM equipment. Participants included Glenn safety and health personnel as well as emergency personnel from Cuyahoga County, neighboring cities 

and area hospitals. Pictured: Glenn’s John Hild participates in a exercise where 

the instructor shows how to decontaminate feet.

Photo by Dr. Joe Shaw

Canadian Consul Visits Lewis Field

5

Glenn hosted Douglas George, the Consul General of Canada, Feb. 3, during his 

trip to Ohio. While at Glenn, George learned more about the center’s aerospace 

research and development and partnering opportunities. Dr. Joe Shaw, Glenn’s 

director of Venture and Partnerships, escorted George for a brief meeting with 

Center Director Jim Free and tours to the Icing Research Tunnel and Materials and 

Structures Division laboratories. George is pictured with Materials Chief Dr. Ajay 

Misra (blue shirt) and members of his staff, Geneviève Dionne, left, and Lilianne 

Pin, right. 
Glenn Celebrates Summer of Innovation (SoI) Culminating Event 

NASA Glenn’s Summer of Innovation 

(SoI) Project Office and some of its 

partners and collaborators gathered 

for the SoI Culminating Event, Jan. 

31, at Cuyahoga Community College 

(CCC) Metro Campus. They celebrated 

the sunset of NASA’s SoI initiative that 

began 5 years ago.

The event featured recognition of past 

and current SoI collaborators, a slide 

presentation of SoI Project highlights 

and a video on a developing partnership with the 4-H Organization. In 

addition, six teams from Cuyahoga 

County high schools and academies 

competed in the 4-H “Rockets to the 

Rescue” engineering design challenge.

NASA launched the SoI Project in the 

summer of 2010 to support President 

Obama’s “Educate to Innovate” campaign addressing the national need for 

improvement in science, technology, 

engineering and mathematics (STEM) 

education. Since then, NASA Glenn 

has managed SoI activities agency 

wide, providing funding and resources through national, center and mini 

awards. SoI Project objectives focused 

on building local educational capacity 

to support STEM education for underserved and underrepresented students. 

Some objectives were met by infusing 

NASA-based themes and resources in 

educator workshops, summer camps 

and/or after-school programs.

“Since its inception, NASA has delivered 

SoI content to more than 200,000 students and 20,000 educators across the 

country,” said Priscilla Mobley, NASA 

SoI project manager. “We achieved 

this via partnerships and collaborations with other federal agencies, 

community and school-based organizations, nonprofits, higher education 

institutions, professional societies and 

industry and local partners.” 

By S. Jenise Veris

Photos by Mack Thomas

Above: Representing SoI partnering organizations and co-sponsors of the event are, left to 

right: Vanessa Mullins, SEMAA at CCC-Metro campus; DarleneWalker, Robert LaSalvia and 

Priscilla Mobley, NASA Glenn’s Office of Education (OE); Dr. Michael Schoop, president of the 

CCC-Metro; Dovie Lacy, Glenn’s Center Operations Directorate; Joseph Konen, OSU-Cuyahoga 

County Extension/4-H; Dr. Ja’Nice Marshall, associate vice president, Access & Community 

Engagement, CCC-Metro; and Stephanie Brown-Houston, OE. Below: Nexus Academy student 

adjusts the angle of the rocket launcher during the “Rockets to the Rescue” competition. 

NASA Glenn civil servants, support

service contractors and retirees are

invited to celebrate Hubble Space

Telescope's 25 years of Discovery!

Monday, March 30: Center Director Jim Free presents “Hubble@25: 

Rewriting History Yet Unwritten” at the City Club of Cleveland, 7:30 

to 9:30 a.m. Tickets: $15 members/$20 nonmembers. Register at: https://

www.cityclub.org/events/hubble-25-rewriting-history-yet-unwritten. 

Wednesday, April 1: Hubble@25 Anniversary Awards Ceremony honoring 

Glenn’s Hubble Team, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., MIC Auditorium at Lewis Field. 

Wednesday, April 1: Hubble@25 Exhibit Opening, Cleveland Public Library, 

Louis Stokes Wing, 325 Superior Ave., 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. April 2–30: Hubble@25 

interactive exhibit, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Free! 

April 24–26: IMAX movie “Hubble” at the Great Lakes Science Center. For 

times and ticket prices, visit http://www.greatscience.com/.

For more information on Hubble@25 events, visit http://hubble25th.org

Welcome to the

NASA Family

Lynch Jackson

Emergency and Inclement 

Weather Lines

Lewis Field: 216–433–9328 (WEAT)

Plum Brook Station: 419–621–3333

Glenn welcomed two new employees, 

who reported for duty/orientation, Jan. 

26 and Feb. 23. They are Kyle Lynch, 

former veteran intern, Space Combustion and Materials Branch, and James W. 

Jackson, Office of Chief Counsel.

6
MARCH 2015

7

Promotions

The Facilities, Test and Manufacturing 

Directorate announced two personnel 

selections, effective Feb. 8. 

Donald Easterling has been selected 

chief of the Energy and Environmental Management Office. He has extensive background in environmental issues. He previously served as Glenn’s 

Environmental Program manager with 

delegated authority as the primary 

contact for NASA Headquarters’ Office of Strategic Infrastructure and liaison to state and federal agencies regarding environmental issues.

Christopher Williams has been selected chief of the Planning and Integration Office. 

Williams most recently served as Glenn’s Construction of Facilities (CoF) Program 

manager. In this role, he advocated for and managed funding for Glenn institutional 

and research facility construction and improvement projects. He is an agencyrecognized expert in the CoF Program. 

Easterling Williams

More than a Memory

Johnny E. Haystrick, 

(not pictured) 94, 

a 1976 retiree with 

32 years of federal 

service, died Dec. 7, 

2014. Haystrick was 

U.S. Army Veteran of 

World War II. Early 

in his NACA/NASA 

career, he trained 

and served on the center’s Emergency Plan First Aid Group. He became a metal 

worker in the Fabrication Division. Haystrick co-authored a 1967 patent for “Refractory Metal Forming Die,” which documented a metal working process to form materials from refractory metals or super alloys to meet space-age needs.

Jarman G. “Jerry” Kennard, 92, a 1982 retiree with 20 years of federal service, died 

June 25, 2014. Kennard was a World War II U.S. Army veteran. He began his NASA 

career as a support service contractor supporting the Snap–8 Power program as a 

field office manager. Kennard joined the Lewis workforce in 1968 working on the 

Communications Technology Satellite and later in the Technology Utilization Office. 

He was a member of the NASA Flyer’s Club and actively mentored through center 

and community organizations, including NASA’s Explorers Post and Speaker’s Bureau.

Glenn A. Mitchell, 86, a 1987 retiree with 33 years of NASA service, died Aug. 25, 

2014. Mitchell was an aerospace research engineer, who earned the nickname “Mr. 

Tunnel” because he was a member of the 8- by 6-Foot and 10- by 10-Foot Supersonic 

Wind Tunnel Test Crews throughout his career. He designed an advanced turboprop 

model for a tunnel (1981) and later served on the Propeller Aeroelastic Test Team. 

This team provided significant technical support to the NASA/Industry Advanced Turboprop Team that earned the 1987 Collier Trophy.

Charles “Chuck” J. Tiede, a 1982 retiree with over 20 years of federal service, died 

Nov. 28, 2014. Tiede was a U.S. Army Air Corp Veteran of World War II. He provided 

business management (i.e., costs, funding and scheduling) to several directorates 

throughout his NASA career. He earned a Group Achievement Award as team lead for 

managing the extensive financial needs of the Atlas-Centaur Project, Launch Vehicles 

Directorate. Tiede retired as chief of the Management Operations, Space Directorate.

Kennard Mitchell Tiede

Calendar

LUNCH AND LEARN FOCUSES 

ON ENVIRONMENT: Learn about 

the negative impact improper 

waste disposal can have on 

an ecosystem when Mike Durkalec, 

Cleveland Metroparks, discusses the 

Rocky River Fish Kill of 2012. The event 

takes place on March 24, 11:30 a.m., 

Employee Center Small Dining Room. 

POC: Bethany Eppig, 3–3726.

IFPTE LOCAL 28, LESA MEETING: LESA 

will hold its next membership meeting, 

Wednesday, April 8, noon, in the Glenn 

Employee Center’s Small Dining Room.

NASA SPACE APPS CHALLENGE: Help 

solve challenges relevant to improving 

life on Earth and in space, April 10–12, 

as Glenn hosts the Cleveland site for the 

2015 NASA Space Apps Challenge. Visit

https://2015.spaceappschallenge.org/

location/cleveland-oh/.

SATURDAY TOURS BEGIN IN APRIL: 

Glenn will offer free tours of its worldclass facilities at Lewis Field one Saturday 

a month from April through October. Tour 

buses depart from the Main Gate every 

hour starting at 10 a.m. One-hour tours 

begin with a multimedia presentation

in the Briefing Center Auditorium. 

The April 11 tour is in the Aero-Acoustic 

Propulsion Laboratory (APPL). For more 

information and a complete schedule, 

visit http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/

events/tours.html.

GLSC HOSTS YURI’S NIGHT: The Great 

Lakes Science Center (GLSC) will host 

its annual Yuri’s Night, Saturday, April 11, 

from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Enjoy this fun global 

celebration of the past, present and future 

of human space flight. Visit http://www.

greatscience.com/ for details. 

GRC CONNECTIONS PRESENTS C&I: 

Learn more about Glenn’s Creativity & 

Innovation (C&I) Initiative during the 

next GRC Connections, April 16, 10 to 

10:45 a.m., Briefing Center Aud. Panelists 

include Glenn staff who have been identified by their peers as being creative and 

innovative. POC: Mark Kilkenny, 3–8567.

Connect with Glenn
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

John H. Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field

21000 Brookpark Road 

Cleveland, Ohio 44135

www.nasa.gov

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 via 

e-mail to the editor: doreen.b.zudell@nasa.gov or 216–433–5317. 

April 2015 Calendar section deadline: March 20, noon

News and feature stories require additional time

Editor: Doreen B. Zudell, SGT, Inc.

Assistant Editor: S. Jenise Veris, SGT, Inc.

Managing Editor: Kelly R. DiFrancesco

Read AeroSpace Frontiers online at http://aerospacefrontiers.nasa.gov

Flight Research Reaches Unmanned 

Aircraft System Milestone 

Glenn engineers have reached a critical 

milestone towards developing a secure 

wireless communications system that 

bridges the gap between federal and 

industry flight operations for the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in the 

National Airspace System Project. They 

are flight testing the fourth iteration of 

a prototype UAS radio that will serve as 

the link for safe and reliable communications between pilots, aircraft and federal air traffic controllers.

Jim Griner, NASA’s UAS communications subproject lead, heads a Glenn 

team of 20 engineers, researchers and 

pilots working with Rockwell Collins, 

an avionics radio manufacturer, to develop the prototype that will become 

the industry’s communications standard. They are collecting in situ data 

to address a variety of operations and 

concerns to meet RTCA (formerly the 

Radio Technical Committee on Aeronautics) standards. Two of Glenn’s 

planes, the S–3B Viking and T–34C, 

serve as airborne radio laboratories to 

aid the ground to aircraft communication testing. 

“The S–3 has done the majority of the 

work as a UAS stand-in. However, it will 

take on the role of “intruder” later this 

summer, to begin testing the software 

avoidance commands for the next 

iteration,” explained Jim Demers, a research pilot for the project. “The T–34C 

was equipped to become the UAS surrogate in December, but is awaiting smaller 

packaging to install the latest prototype.”

Glenn built and installed two radio 

towers to create realistic infrastructure 

for testing the effectiveness of radio 

signals transmitted across various terrain and atmospheric conditions. One 

tower is onsite in the West Area of 

Lewis Field and another is at Ohio University’s airport in Albany. The towers 

enable pilots to securely communicate 

and maintain control of the aircraft 

during flights from Cleveland Hopkins 

Airport to a flight pattern southeast of 

Columbus, Ohio.

Anticipation is growing for completion of the 5-year project that will 

provide the data decision makers will 

need to meet a congressional mandate 

to open the national airspace to UASs. 

Throughout the project, data has been 

documented in parallel with system 

development and immediately shared 

with other subproject and industry participants. This departure from the traditional research process is expected to 

cut implementation time in half. Griner 

said his team expects to have a draft of 

the commercial system standards complete by July.

“This technology is the next big 

change for the aerospace industry. 

The last time aerospace experienced 

a significant change was the introduction of jet engines,” Griner explained. 

“When we submit the final document, 

we have to think 50 years out, because 

once you set a standard, it’s going to 

take another 50 years to get another. 

Our challenge is to create a system 

that can adapt to a growing number of 

UASs and ideas to make use of them.” 

By S. Jenise Veris

Glenn’s T–34C awaits the latest prototype 

radio.

8