VOLUME 21 • ISSUE 8 • SEPTEMBER 2019

Are You 

Safety Smart?

Page 5

Celebrating Us 

and Apollo 50th

Page 8

Interns

Elevate Skills

Page 9

Celebrating 

Apollo’s Legacy

Pages 2–4
2

One Small Step..

People of all ages gathered across the nation to celebrate 

Apollo 11 and Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin’s momentous 

steps on another world. Glenn staff, led by the Office of 

Communications and External Relations (OCER), interacted 

with thousands of people the third weekend of July.

America Celebrates First Steps on the Moon 

Apollo 50 Festival on the National Mall 

in Washington D.C.

The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and NASA hosted the 

Apollo 50 Festival on the National Mall in Washington D.C., July 18 to 

20. The event featured 20 tented displays with hands-on exhibits and 

activities. NASA scientists, engineers, leaders and astronauts served 

on panels and participated in presentations aimed at looking back and 

forging ahead. Glenn and other NASA personnel staffed the Journey 

to Tomorrow (JTT) interactive trailer exhibit. More than 5,000 people 

checked out the JTT exploration-themed interactive kiosks.

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

Risk Leadership Drives 

Mission Success

The Glenn senior leaders recently 

engaged in a panel discussion with 

NASA’s Chief Engineer Ralph Roe; 

Chief of Safety and Mission Assurance 

Terry Wilcutt; and me to look back 

at some of the examples where risk 

leadership was demonstrated at the 

highest level of our agency to ensure 

mission success. As we move forward 

with lunar and Mars exploration, 

we will increasingly rely on our rigor 

to deliver, our ability to foster a 

culture of open discussions, and our 

appreciation for risk disposition and 

acceptance. It is such an exciting time 

and although we have challenges, 

I appreciate how the Glenn team 

continues to step up, along with the 

technical authorities, to address the 

risks and seek sound solutions.

GRC-2019-CN-00014

Dr. Antoine Moss talks with a Voice of America reporter about the festival.
SEPTEMBER 2019

3

..A Giant Legacy

2019 Summer Moon Festival in Wapakoneta, Ohio

Glenn staff traveled to Wapakoneta, Ohio, hometown of Neil Armstrong, to celebrate the anniversary and share information on the Artemis Program. The 2019 Summer Moon Festival offered activities at the Armstrong Air and Space 

Museum. More than 14,000 people attended the festival.

Below left: On July 19, NASA TV broadcast live from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with stops at key locations around 

the country. A team from Glenn’s OCER and Logistics and Technical Information Division hosted two live look-ins and interviews 

from Wapakoneta. Interviews included two astronauts and Glenn’s Michael Barrett, pictured. (Photos by Marvin Smith)

Below right: The Outreach Team supplied space-themed exhibits, displays and interactive activities. Digital Communications Team 

members promoted social media platforms and offered an Apollo/Artemis quiz. Office of Education staff conducted hands-on 

STEM-related activities.

Continued on page 4

On the Cover:

Astronaut Robert Springer, 

right, congratulates Baelynn 

Reeder, who earned a medal 

in the 1-mile Fun Run during 

the Summer Moon Festival in 

Wapakoneta.

GRC-2019-C-05881

Apollo 11 Navy frogman Mike Malloy, left, appeared with astronauts, Sunita Williams, 

Michael Good, Gregory H. Johnson, Donald Thomas and Robert Springer. 

Good and Williams participated in the “5K to 10K Run to the Moon” with 2,000 other runners.

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Photos by Claire Moore

Apollo 50—Next Giant Leap

On July 18 and 19, Glenn joined the Great Lakes 

Science Center (GLSC) in celebrating “Apollo 50—

Next Giant Leap.” People of all ages stopped by 

Glenn’s Graphics & Visualization (GVIS) Lab and Space 

Communications and Navigation (SCaN) exhibits, while 

an OCER team offered space-themed make-and-take 

activities. Guests explored the many galleries of Apollo 

artifacts and interactive exhibits at the NASA Glenn 

Visitor Center. Astronaut Douglas H. Wheelock made 

a guest appearance on July 19.

At right:

“What does Apollo’s 50th anniversary mean to you and future missions to the Moon?”

Generations of people reflected on that question when they gathered for the Apollo Moon landing celebration.

“We watched all the Apollo 

documentaries and learned 

a lot about the missions.” 

—Ed Horowitz and daughter, 

Amira, 12

“We’re excited about 

the first woman 

on the Moon!”

—Reagan Mendham, 10, 

and Robin Oden, 8

“I can’t get enough 

of space travel 

and technology!” 

—Dalton Green, 15

“We viewed the Apollo 11 landing on a 

black and white TV. We’re here to celebrate 

the anniversary and going back to the Moon.”

—Tim and Cathy Knipp

GRC-2019-CN-00030
NASA Glenn’s Office of Protective Services (OPS) hosted an informative lineup of speakers who addressed 

domestic terrorism, workplace violence and human trafficking during their annual NASA Glenn Security Day, Aug. 6.

Security Day 2019: “Are You Safety Smart?”

Center Operations Director Robyn Gordon and OPS Chief 

Christi Tomaro welcomed participants. Two members of 

the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) began the session 

by explaining how they work to protect local residents and 

infrastructure. 

FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric Smith of the Cleveland Field 

Office, highlighted the importance of following processes and 

engaging partnerships in his investigations. Special Agent 

Ryan Taylor of the Cleveland Division Joint Terrorism Task 

Force explained the different types of violent offenders and 

categories of threat. Both stressed one of the FBI’s biggest 

challenges: predicting the next great threat or action. 

“We have to look beyond the day-to-day activities to see 

what’s coming,” Smith said. 

Retired fire chief and current chairman of the National Safety 

Council and Public Sector Division David Daniels explained 

how violent acts in the workplace are often the result of incivility toward one another. He diagramed how lack of respect 

for one another in the workplace can follow a path of hazing, 

bullying, mobbing and harassment—eventually leading to 

violence. 

“Different does not mean deficient,” Daniels said. “Our workplace culture needs to be more open.”

Tomaro recognized four individuals for their partnership 

in supporting NASA’s mission by assisting the OPS. They 

include: Glenn’s Patrick Edmonds, for his proactive approach 

in ensuring security requirements are met during construction projects; Southwest General’s Jackie Haumschild, for 

her longtime support to NASA’s emergency medical first 

responder program; Erie County Sheriff’s Office Sheriff Paul 

Sigsworth, for his outstanding support to the safety of Plum 

Brook Station; and Glenn Security Officer Jack Plunkett, 

for his situational awareness during a security incident at 

Plum Brook Station in March.

Before and after the break, participants had the opportunity 

to visit safety-related vendor booths. Breakout sessions for 

Glenn employees focused on the topics of homeland security 

and human trafficking. Other presentations were tailored for 

emergency medical personnel and law enforcement.

By Doreen B. Zudell

Left to right: Smith, Gordon, Taylor and Tomaro. 

(Photos by Quentin Schwinn)

Retired fire chief Daniels 

stresses civility in the workplace.

Tomaro, right, recognizes Edmonds 

for partnering with OPS.

#NASASecurityDay

SEPTEMBER 2019

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6

NEWS AND EVENTS

Glenn’s Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity, 

along with the Cleveland Museum of Natural History 

and the Great Lakes Science Center, developed a 

stimulating Take Our Children to Work Day program 

for employees and their children, July 17. With the 

help of employees across the center, the event 

included presentations, hands-on activities and 

facility tours. Children learned about the 50th 

anniversary of the Apollo Program, the new Artemis 

Program, how NASA uses energy to explore the solar 

system and beyond, plans for humans return to the 

Moon, and the scientific method of manipulating 

the properties of air. 

Top left: Glenn’s Jason Hanna provides information 

on the Zero Gravity Drop Tower. 

Left: Lee Gambol, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 

presents “Amazing Air.”

Our Children Explore 

the NASA Workplace

Why go back to the Moon? NASA Chief Scientist Dr. James 

Green, pictured, championed that question during his town 

hall presentation “The Future of Lunar Exploration” at 

Lewis Field on Aug. 12. Green stressed the importance of 

the scientific precursors, or missions, to the Moon, and 

lunar samples returned during the Apollo Program. He said 

these samples dramatically changed our understanding of 

the origin and history of our Moon, Earth and solar system. 

Green talked about the Artemis Program, which meets 

Space Policy Directive 1 and puts humans back on the lunar 

surface by 2024. Artemis missions will take us to a new 

region on the Moon, where we will continue to unlock its 

secrets and establish a sustainable human presence.

Chief Scientist Looks Back, Ahead to Moon

GRC-2019-C-05007 Photos by Bridget Caswell

GRC-2019-C-06627 Photo by Rami Daud

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SEPTEMBER 2019

7

On July 31, a group of Glenn employees, interns, retirees, family 

and friends helped preserve a tradition, while also celebrating the 

Apollo 50th anniversary. Seventeen teams (including 10 rookie 

teams) and 68 runners, ranging from ages 18 to 72, participated 

in the 50th running of the 100-Year Relay at the Lewis Field 

picnic grounds/running track. A picnic and awards ceremony 

followed.

According to race coordinator Paul Ferkul, the first relay took 

place at Lewis Field in June 1978. Four-person relay teams race 

to complete the 5-mile total distance. Each person has to run at 

least a mile, but a maximum of 2, with team captains assigning 

distances to yield the best strategy. Start times for each team 

were based on a formula to compensate for age and gender 

differences. There was no age limit nor penalty for experience. 

The “Red Shifted” team, captained by retiree Ron Koenig, won 

the overall Net Time Award and shaved over a minute off their 

previous race to earn the Most Improved Award, as well. The 

Actual Time Award went to team “BlaZIN Saddles” captained by 

Blake Reinke (ZIN). Retiree Bill Foster and his family team “We 

Are Groot” earned the Family Award.

100-Year Relay 

Celebrates 50th Run 

Event Encourages Careers in STEM

Kristin Spear, Radioscope Power Systems Program 

Office, right, and Girls in STEM participants observe 

a thermodynamic “Stirling” cycle. The instrument 

aids Spear in explaining how NASA could use 

Stirling engines with radioisotope power to provide 

electricity for a spacecraft. More than 200 sixth 

through eighth grade girls from local community and 

youth-serving organizations participated in hands-on 

experiences and career exploration stations during 

the July 16 event. The day also included speakers, 

facility tours and a career discussion with panelists 

Emily Belovich, Dionne Hernandez-Lugo, Rochelle 

May and Sara Miller. Glenn’s Office of Education, 

with support from employees across the center, 

sponsored the annual event. GRC-2019-C-04805 Photo by Marvin Smith

Glenn’s Greg Fedor, right, handled team 

check-in and coordinated the relay timers 

to accurately tabulate the final results. 

(Photos by S. Jenise Veris)

GRC-2019-CN-00019

Bill Foster, “We Are Groot” team, takes 

the baton from his daughter.

GRC-2019-CN-00020
The Lewis Field Picnic Grounds came alive with music by the 

Glenn Band, picnic fare, popcorn, games, raffles and a car and 

motorcycle show during the 2019 Center Picnic on Aug. 7. This 

year’s theme “Celebrating US: 50 Years of Apollo” served as a 

backdrop for employees, retirees and summer staff to celebrate!

Employees, 

Retirees Gather 

for Center Picnic

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Photos by Quentin Schwinn

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Photo by Dennis Brown

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8
One of these activities centered on a design challenge that encouraged 

teamwork and problem-solving skills. The challenge “Navigating Glenn 

Research Center” posed the problem: Parking is limited at Glenn. Their 

mission was to devise a solution, within a 12-hour deadline, that could help 

employees find the nearest parking space to their workplace. A variety of 

center resources, including Glenn Research Center Safety Manuals (Chapter 

19) and 2 hours of counseling from center staff in the Office of the Chief 

Information Officer and the Facilities, Test and Manufacturing and Safety and 

Mission Assurance directorates, were offered. Two teams, The Landing Zone 

and the Parking Postulators, presented the required conceptual design to 

earn a tie for overall feasibility. “The skill set of these interns was incredibly 

impressive,” said OE Senior Project Coordinator Eric Hayes. “They were wellrounded, independent thinkers who didn’t need a lot of motivation to get their 

wheels turning.” 

Additionally, GlennTalks Live presentations put the spotlight on the interns 

who could best demonstrate confidence and ability to communicate the 

background and significance of their summer project and its relevance to 

NASA’s mission. Meghan Bush, Benjamin Kott, Valerie Muldoon, Courtney 

Schiebout and Theresa Smith survived the rigorous review process of their 

3-minute videoed presentations to become the Top 5 finalists. All were given 

an additional 5 minutes to present their projects to the entire intern group and 

a panel of NASA professionals. 

Bush, an Engineering Physics major at Tulane University interning in the 

Photovoltaic and Electrochemical Systems Branch, emerged as the winner. 

She thanked Glenn mentors Jeremiah McNatt and Anna Maria Pal for their 

guidance in her study and presentation of “Characterizing Photovoltaics in 

a Near-Space Environment.” Bush confidently explained how an ER–2 pod 

could be a faster/cheaper method for characterizing solar cells in a nearspace, air mass zero environment. The ER–2 was an old spy plane since 

retrofitted to serve as a high-altitude research lab.

The third event centered on a Social Media Scavenger Hunt that encouraged 

interns to explore their environment and share their findings with the public. 

“Approximately 25 interns participated, exploring and performing a list of 

feats, which took them to sites inside and outside the gates,” explained Glenn 

Internship Project Manager Vanessa Webbs. “Frederick Brooks, a rising junior 

Electrical/Electronics/Communications Engineering major at Lawson State 

University, really embraced the challenge and was the clear winner.”

By S. Jenise Veris

As NASA focuses on making exciting advancements to return humans 

to the Moon and on to Mars, preparing a workforce that is “ready 

to go” is equally important to achieving mission success. Glenn’s 

Office of Education (OE) introduced several training and development 

activities to help elevate the skills of 150 summer interns. 

Activities Help Glenn 

Interns Elevate Skills

Bush is congratulated by Larry Sivic, Associate 

Center Director and head judge for GlennTalks Live. 

(Photos by Marvin Smith; GRC-2019-C-06020)

Finalists for GlennTalks Live included, 

left to right: Kott, Muldoon, Schiebout and Smith. 

(GRC-2019-C-06018)

SEPTEMBER 2019

9

Brooks strikes a pose with a NASA meatball logo 

smaller than his head. (Photo by Frederick Brooks; 

GRC-2019-CN-00022)
10

MORE THAN A MEMORY

Jerry M. Winter, 88, a 1993 retiree with 31 years of service, died April 8. 

Winter was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War, who joined NASA 

Lewis as an aerospace engineer in 1962. His work initially focused on 

improving nozzle ablative throat inserts for storable propellant rocket 

engines. He later worked on Stirling automotive engines; but by the 1980s, 

he refocused his efforts to a variety of space power systems, including the 

Stirling SP–100 nuclear reactor. 

Dr. James W. Blue, 96, who retired in the 1980s 

with 25 years of service, died April 24. Blue was 

a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, who joined 

the NASA workforce as a Purdue graduate to 

become a nuclear physicist. He ran NASA’s 

Cyclotron Facility for 25 years. This included 

research, in collaboration with the Cleveland 

Clinic, on a Fast Neutron Therapy program for 

cancer patients.

Dr. Blue

Betty Jo (Moore) Armstead, 88, a 1982 retiree 

with 28 years of NACA/NASA service and an 

additional 15 as a contractor, died June 8. Moore 

was one of NASA’s pioneering female computer 

analysts/programmers who aided groundbreaking 

work in computing and technology used to 

problem solve. She developed a computer program 

that calculated possible trajectories to the Moon, 

and designed and wrote a set of routines called 

Armstead the FORTRAN error package.

Jackson Aided Employee 

Health and Safety 

RETIREMENTS

Zenaida Roman, Financial Services Branch, 

Accounting and Financial Analysis Division, 

retired July 31, 2019, with 33 1⁄2 years of 

service.

Peter Sockol, Engine Combustion Branch, 

Propulsion Division, retired July 2, 2019, 

with 57 years of federal service, including 

55 years with NASA.

IN APPRECIATION

I would like to thank everyone who attended 

my retirement party or sent messages. I 

cherish the memories of the good times and 

many friends I have made during my career, 

and I will miss you.

—Bernice Beznoska

Darlene Y. Davis-Jackson, 55, a safety and 

occupational health specialist serving in the 

Occupational Health Branch of the Safety and 

Mission Assurance Directorate (SMAD), died 

July 14. 

Following two student internships, Jackson’s 

effervescent personality and attention to detail earned her a place in the 

Human Resources Division in 1983, where she remained for the majority 

of her 36-year career. While there, she worked tirelessly on a team that 

developed the center’s new employees orientation program for a smoother 

transition. She also earned performance, time off and NASA Group 

Achievement awards. 

Jackson transitioned to what is now SMAD in 2006, where she conducted 

ergonomic evaluations and staffed displays on health/safety information to 

encourage employee interest and responsibility. According to co-workers, 

serving in the areas of safety and human resources appealed to her “innate 

spirit of helping others and showing genuine concern.” 

“Darlene brightened everyone’s day with her smile. She was admired and 

highly respected by her co-workers,” said Angela Windau, Occupational 

Health Branch chief. “Her presence will be sorely missed.”

Jackson

AWARDS

Dr. Evan J. Pineda was among 18 NASA 

researchers that received the Presidential 

Early Career Award for Scientists and 

Engineers (PECASE) during a recent White 

House ceremony. This is the highest honor 

given by the U.S. government to recognize 

scientists and engineers. Pineda is an aerospace research engineer in Glenn’s Materials 

and Structures Division, recognized for his 

research to advance a state-of-the-art 

multiscale failure analysis code.

Dr. Pineda, left, accepts PECASE award 

presented by Kelvin Droegemeier, White House 

Office of Science and Technology Policy director.

GRC-2019-CN-00017
SEPTEMBER 2019

11

Upcoming Center Events

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

GSEL MOBILE LIBRARIAN

The Glenn Science and Engineering 

Library (GSEL) Mobile Librarian will be 

visiting building 3 through Sept. 19. 

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

LESA will hold its next membership 

meeting, Wednesday, Oct. 9, noon, in 

the Glenn Employee Center’s Small 

Dining Room.

IFPTE LOCAL 28, LESA MEETING

The Emergency Management Office 

staff will conduct a mass notification 

“voice” test at building 39 at Lewis Field 

on Wednesday, Oct. 2. An audible siren 

test will be conducted on the “severe 

thunderstorm” tone on Saturday, Oct. 5. 

POC: Allen Turner, 3–6826

OUTDOOR SIREN TESTING

SUSTAINABILITY STREET FAIR

Deadline for next calendar section 

is Sept. 18, noon. News and feature 

stories require additional time.

Thursday, Sept. 26

10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Stay tuned to 

Today@Glenn for details.

Attend the event and receive credit for fiscal year 2020 Cybersecurity 

and Sensitive Unclassified Information Awareness Annual Training.

Registration opens Sept. 18

Visit https://events.grc.nasa.gov/CSAME to register.

National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

The Kim Komando Show airs on over 400 radio stations 

throughout the USA and internationally in 177 different countries 

on American Forces Radio. Her TV show airs on cable and satellite 

on the Bloomberg TV Network. Kim is also a USA Today columnist, 

FoxNews columnist and successful Web entrepreneur. 

And yes, “Komando” is really her last name.

Cybersecurity Day

Keynote Speaker:

Kim Komando, National Radio and TV Host

Wednesday, Oct. 9

MIC Auditorium 

9 a.m. to Noon
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

Dr. Shin Thanks 

Staff for Support 

and Friendship

Dr. Jaiwon Shin—who retired as NASA’s Associate 

Administrator for the Aeronautics Research Directorate 

(ARMD) on Aug. 30—is more than a nationally respected 

leader and visionary in the field of aviation. Shin is Glenn’s 

hometown hero who has never forgotten his roots. 

Born in Seoul, South Korea, Shin came to NASA Glenn 

(then Lewis) fresh out of Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 

1989. He dedicated 15 years to the center, where he became an expert in aircraft icing. In 2004, he left Glenn as 

chief of the Aeronautics Projects Office to serve as deputy 

associate administrator and then on to associate administrator for the ARMD at Headquarters. He served there for 

15 years.

On July 24, Shin addressed Glenn employees during a 

town hall and retirement celebration at Lewis Field. Deputy 

Director Dr. Marla Pérez-Davis and Aeronautics Director Dr. 

Rubén Del Rosario kicked off the town hall. They acknowledged Shin’s contributions to the center and the entire 

agency, and pledged Glenn’s commitment to continue 

delivering on Shin’s vision for aeronautics. 

Employees and retirees were invited to share their thoughts 

as well, thanking Shin for not only his visionary skills but 

also his caring nature. 

“This is a bittersweet time for me,” Del Rosario said. “Years 

ago, Jai took a chance and hired me. I’ve had the honor of 

working with him and for him for many years.” 

During an informal reception and comments at the podium, 

Shin reminisced about his years at Glenn, and thanked 

Glenn staff for their friendship and support.

“When I came here from Georgia Tech, that’s all I knew. 

You became my family,” Shin said. “What I learned working here [Glenn] has served me well. When I went to 

Headquarters, you did everything and anything I asked you 

to do—embracing the directives and strategies and rising 

to the occasion.”

By Doreen B. Zudell

Shin, left, accepts the framed seal of NASA Glenn and 

sincere thanks from Deputy Director Dr. Pérez-Davis. 

(Photo by Marvin Smith; GRC-2019-C-05994)