VOLUME 21 • ISSUE 7 • AUGUST 2019

Safety In 

Your Hands

Pages 6–7

Counseling

Services for Work 

and Home

Page 9

Construction Project 

Necessitates Detour

Page 9

Former 

NASA Leaders 

Inspire Interns 

Pages 2–3
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

Cryogenic Testing Starts 

With Process Safety 

Management

As we gear up for a series of tests of 

an Evolvable Cryogenic project’s tank 

(Structural Heat Intercept Insulation 

Vibration Evaluation Rig) at the Plum 

Brook Station In-Space Propulsion 

complex, our team is addressing all 

safety measures for the handling and 

operation of cryogenic propellant to 

accurately characterize the hardware. 

A new Glenn Safety Manual chapter 

has been developed responding to 

an Occupational Safety and Health 

Administration standard to assure 

process controls are understood, 

communicated and analyzed prior to 

testing. The Glenn team is stepping 

up once again to ensure success by 

way of engagement, training and 

engineering controls. 

Thank you for 

your diligence!

Fred Gregory, former NASA deputy administrator and astronaut, 

visited NASA Glenn to share his myriad of experiences and 

words of wisdom with summer interns on June 20. 

Gregory Engages 

Interns on 

Leadership Lessons

Interns line up to ask questions during Q&A. (Photos by Rami Daud; GRC-2019-C-03887)
Gregory gestures about a decision-making experience. (GRC-2019-C-03879)

More than 150 Glenn summer interns, and other 

NASA interns participating remotely, were treated 

to Fred Gregory’s compelling presentation, 

“Lessons on Leadership for a Future Generation.” 

Gregory captivated the audience with a combination 

of his storytelling and an audiovisual presentation 

that demonstrated the value of life experiences 

where he moved beyond his comfort zone and 

up the ladder of leadership to greater career 

opportunities. 

“Mr. Gregory was very open and honest about his 

life journey,” said Joselyn Hathaway, Office of 

Communications and External Relations intern. 

“I learned from him that no matter where you come 

from, the future awaits, and you never know what 

life-changing event is in store for you.”

Former Glenn Center Director Dr. Julian Earls 

introduced Gregory, at his request, and moderated 

the question and answer session that followed. 

Earls added levity and inspiration from his shared 

experiences with Gregory, who remains a close 

friend and colleague.

By S. Jenise Veris

On the Cover: Former NASA Deputy Administrator and astronaut 

Fred Gregory, left, and former Glenn Center Director Dr. Julian 

Earls, engage summer interns during a lively presentation 

on leadership. (GRC-2019-C-03892) 

One of the lighter moments during the Q&A. (GRC-2019-C-03896)

AUGUST 2019

3
4

NEWS AND EVENTS

Injustices Spur LGBTQ Civil Rights Movement 

In observance of Pride Month, the Office of Diversity and Equal 

Opportunity hosted a lunch and learn featuring a viewing and 

discussion of the film “The Lavender Scare.” This is the first 

documentary to tell the little-known story of a 40-year campaign by the federal government to identify and force employees 

suspected of being homosexual to resign. The film highlighted 

personal stories of a few of the thousands of federal workers 

who lost their jobs because of their sexual orientation, including 

Frank Kameny, who helped spark the LGBTQ rights movement 

in America.

NASA Glenn and the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers sponsored the second Cognitive Communications 

workshop held at the Ohio Aerospace Institute, June 25 and 26. The workshop provided an international forum for 100 

scientists and engineers from across NASA, academia, industry and other government agencies to learn from 31 speakers 

on advances in machine learning techniques and cognitive technologies, and their applications to address NASA technical 

challenges. Badri Younes, deputy associate administrator for Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN), pictured, was 

among three keynote speakers. This event helped solidify Glenn’s position as cognitive experts within NASA and SCaN.

Workshop Focuses on Cognitive 

Communications for Aerospace Applications 

GRC-2019-C-04100

Photo by Marvin Smith
AUGUST 2019

5

Glenn Symposium Powers Innovative Conversations

Former NASA Administrator Bolden shares advice with Glenn interns at the reception. (Photo by Marvin Smith; GRC-2019-C-05309)

The astronaut panelists, left to right, Wheelock, Dr. Sandy Magnus, Steve Lindsey, Robert Curbeam and Dr. Kavandi.

The inaugural John Glenn Memorial Symposium was held 

July 10 to 12 at the Global Center for Health Innovation in 

Cleveland. It was a hub of activity for the latest information on advancements in aerospace and aeronautic technology including power and propulsion, communications, 

hypersonics and more. 

Hosted by the American Astronautical Society, in conjunction with NASA Glenn, the symposium drew capacity 

crowds who came to gain perspective on the theme 

“Powering Innovation From the Sky to the Stars.” The 

event showcased a paradigm shift in commercial aviation, 

while accelerating efforts to land the first woman and 

next man on the Moon by 2024, and from there, travel 

to Mars. 

Center Director Dr. Janet Kavandi chaired the planning 

committee that helped assemble Glenn technical 

experts who served as speakers and panelists. The 

experts included Michael Barrett, manager of Glenn’s 

Propulsion Element Project; Dawn Emerson, chief of 

Communications and Intelligent Systems; John Hamley, 

manager of Radioisotope Power Systems Program; Joel 

Kearns, director of Facilities, Test and Manufacturing; 

Trudy Kortes, chief of Human Exploration and Space 

Operations; and Doug Wheelock, astronaut and deputy 

director of Aeronautics Strategy.

Together with representatives from internal and external 

NASA leadership and our partners in the aerospace 

industry and academia, the speakers provided a broad 

perspective to panel topics. Discussion centered on the 

science and technology advancements, but also delved 

into policy, workforce development, human factors and 

other topics relevant to both space flight and aviation.

Some of the most popular presentations included 

“The Legacy of John Glenn” by David Glenn, son of 

the late senator and former astronaut John Glenn; 

“Humans Returning to the Moon–More Than Flags and 

Footprints” with Kavandi and an all-astronaut panel; and 

the remarks of former NASA administrator and astronaut 

Charlie Bolden. 

Symposium participants also had the opportunity to tour 

NASA’s world-class test facilities at Plum Brook Station, 

which houses the world’s largest and most powerful 

space environment simulation facilities.

By S. Jenise Veris

GRC-2019-C-05310

Photo by Rami Daud
Safety and Health 

Awareness: 

Lives Depend On It 

Paul Sean Hill, author and speaker with Atlas Executive 

Consulting LLC, and Susan Sawatzky, renowned fatigue 

management specialist, served as keynote speakers for 

the event. They expounded on the theme during presentations at Lewis Field, June 25, and Plum Brook Station, 

June 26.

Hill discussed how a previously successful culture can 

lead to avoidable failure. As a former Mission Operations 

Director at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, he provided 

first-hand insight into managing risks and succeeding in 

difficult situations. 

“A culture can make you or break you,” he stressed. “What 

is the culture in the room? Does it welcome questions and 

dissenting opinions?” 

As Director of In-Scope Solutions, Sawatzky works with 

companies to increase safety by better managing the risk 

of fatigue in the workplace. Her Safety Culture Model presentation, laced with facts and humor, brought awareness 

to this under-recognized safety and health threat, and 

showed us ways to avoid it. 

“Sleep-deprived employees are 2.9 times more likely to 

be involved in an accident,” she said. “Sleep is a basic 

human need that must be met.”

On June 25, NASA safety experts led a facilitated Mishap 

Panel Discussion at Lewis Field. Topics included a Mishap 

Lessons Learned Overview, the Goddard Space Flight 

Center Arc Flash Mishap, the Vacuum Facility 5 Fire, and 

the Government-Industry Data Exchange Program.

Information booths, set up at Lewis Field and Plum Brook 

Station, offered materials and discussions. While visiting 

Glenn’s Safety and Health Awareness Event, June 25 to 27, focused on the theme “Safety Is In Your Hands.” 

It stressed that the decisions we make as individuals can affect the lives of many people.

them, employees learned about the many ways they can 

improve their safety and health, and were reminded how 

to identify hazards. 

Dr. Roy Buchinsky from University Hospitals was the featured speaker for Health Day at Lewis Field, June 27. He 

gave an enlightening presentation on the topic of integrated health, discussing conventional medicine, complementary and alternative medicine and lifestyle/self-care.

Both Glenn campuses hosted Center Health Walks where 

employees stepped out into the sunshine to compete for 

the annual Golden Shoe Awards. 

By Doreen B. Zudell

Morgan Miller, left, uses a sound level meter to demonstrate the 

exposure to hazardous noise levels from listening to loud music 

through earbuds. (Photo by Rami Daud; GRC-2019-C-04371)

6
AUGUST 2019

7

Lewis Field and Plum Brook Station, pictured, hosted Center Health Walks where 

employees stepped out to compete for the annual Golden Shoe Awards. 

GRC-2019-C-04222 

Photo by Marvin Smith

GRC-2019-C-04352 Photo by Rami Daud GRC-2019-C-04362 Photo by Rami Daud GRC-2019-C-04313 Photo by Marvin Smith

Top left: Former NASA Mission Operations Director, Hill, provided first-hand 

insight into managing risks and succeeding in difficult situations.

Top center: Fatigue expert, Sawatzky, brought awareness to this underrecognized safety and health threat.

Top right: Dr. Buchinsky gave an enlightening presentation on the topic 

of integrated health.
8

Promotions

Glenn researchers are calculating the effects a Venusian atmosphere would have on radio frequency signals, which are integral 

to electronic communications systems. Venus’s atmosphere—which is extremely hot and dense and contains corrosive 

chemicals like supercritical carbon dioxide and sulfuric acid—makes the development and testing of such systems difficult. 

Using the Glenn Extreme Environments Rig (GEER) facility, the Venus Radio Frequency Propagation Study observed how radio 

waves travel from one point to another in a Venusian atmosphere. The test calculated the resistance they encountered. 

To do this, researchers used a device equipped 

with parallel stainless steel mirrors—called 

a Fabry-Perot resonator—to see how the radio 

waves would act. The mirrors reflected radio 

frequency signals and researchers observed how 

they resonated in a simulation of Venus’s harsh 

atmospheric conditions. 

Knowledge from this test will aid in the design and 

operation of communication systems for future 

research on Venus. The objective is to ensure that 

any data from tests conducted on Venus can be 

effectively retrieved and relayed to scientists. 

Researchers Jennifer Jordan and George Ponchak, 

Advanced High Frequency Branch, conducted the 

test. The project was funded by the NASA Science 

Innovation Fund.

By Claire Moore

A Look

Inside Our Test Cells

Test hardware inside the GEER facility.

Dr. Mark Celestina has been selected 

chief of the Turbomachinery and 

Turboelectric Systems Branch in the 

Propulsion Division, Research and 

Engineering Directorate. Celestina 

previously served as technical lead for 

Unconventional Propulsion Airframe 

Integration under the Aeronautics 

Research Mission Directorate’s 

Advanced Air Transport Technology 

project.

Dr. Celestina

Kimlan “Kim” Pham has been 

selected Compact Gas Turbine 

subproject manager for the Advanced 

Air Transport Technology (AATT) 

Project in the Aeronautics Mission 

Office. Pham previously served 

with the AATT Project developing 

new technologies to improve fuel 

efficiency and environmental 

performance for subsonic transport 

aircraft.

Pham

GRC-2019-C-02310

Photo by Bridget Caswell

Venus Radio Frequency Propagation Study
9

EAP Offers Counseling Services 

On-Site and Close to Home

During times of personal and professional turmoil, 

it is important to have access to resources that 

can provide support and sound guidance. The 

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers free and 

confidential assessments, short-term counseling, 

referrals and follow-up services for Glenn civil 

servant employees and their household members. 

“Our personal lives are so intertwined in our work 

lives that if something isn’t going right at home, it 

can affect our job performance, and vice versa,” said Susan Wilcox, clinical 

social worker with EAP. 

Wilcox began serving as NASA Glenn’s on-site EAP consultant in September 

2018. She brings more than 30 years of counseling experience in a variety 

of government, military and corporate settings. Her office is located in the 

Employee Center, Room 105A, at Lewis Field. She is on-site Mondays and 

Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and 

can be reached at 3–2989.

The EAP also provides a toll-free number, 800–222–0364, where you will 

receive an immediate response from a caring professional—24 hours a 

day, 7 days a week. Civil servant employees can arrange to meet or speak 

with a licensed EAP counselor who is available in your community to provide 

consultation, short-term problem solving or crisis management. No matter 

what the issue relates to—work, relationships, family, health, finances or 

substance use—the EAP is here to help.

To access resources that will help you better manage your work and life 

responsibilities, visit the EAP website at www.FOH4You.com. 

Editor’s note: Many companies offer their employees EAP or similar 

counseling services. On-site contractors are encouraged to contact their 

employers for details on these services.

Wilcox

Construction Project 

Necessitates West Area 

Road Closure

Proceed with caution through detour

Phase 2 of a multiphase plan to repair the storm 

sewer drainage system at Lewis Field is underway. 

The project centers on modifications and improvements to several outfalls (pipes) used to carry storm 

water to the Rocky River watershed. Improvements 

will also be made to West Area Road.

“Improvements to the storm water infrastructure will 

increase the design life of the system by 25 years,” 

said Patrick Edmonds, Project Management Branch. 

“It will also improve storm water quality at the outfalls, 

reduce outlet flow and velocity discharge and maximize the potential to reduce storm water fees.”

The West Area Hill will remain closed through early 

December for the storm sewer repairs and roadway 

improvements. A road connecting Cedar Point Road 

and West Area Road was completed to serve as a 

detour route between the Central Campus and the 

West Area. Pedestrian traffic is prohibited on Cedar 

Point Road. 

The lab bus service will continue to support the 

West Area during this closure, Monday through 

Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Friday 

7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

“The summer construction season is in full swing at 

the center,” Edmonds said. “Please be extra careful 

maneuvering around the traffic cones and orange 

barrels.” Visit the “Traffic Impacts” link on WING to 

find the latest updates on road closures.

By Doreen B. Zudell

This road serves as a detour route between the 

Central Campus and the West Area.

An existing storm water sewer.

GRC-2019-CN-00011

GRC-2019-CN-00012

EAP Services

• On-site consultations for civil servants with Wilcox (3–2989)

• Toll-free number: 800–222–0364 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)

• Management coaching for supervisors to support their employees

• Health and wellness presentations for groups/offices

• WorkLife4You experts to provide resources from child and elder care 

to relocation

• Financial and legal services

• Critical incident response
Bernice Beznoska, Innovation and Integration 

Office, Office of Technology Incubation and 

Innovation, retired June 30, 2019, with 32 1⁄2 

years of federal service, including 31 with NASA.

Sandy Hardy, NASA Safety Center, retired 

June 7, 2019, with 34 years of federal service, 

including 29 with NASA.

Thomas W. Kerslake, Power Architecture and 

Analysis Branch, Power Division, retired June 30, 

2019, with 34 years of service. 

Lori O. Pietravoia, director, Office of Glenn 

Human Resources, retired June 3, 2019, with 39 

years of federal service, including 29 with NASA.

RETIREMENTS

Beznoska Hardy

Kerslake Pietravoia

MORE THAN A MEMORY

Thomas J. Moore, 88, a 1994 retiree with 31 years of service, died May 

15. Moore was a renown materials engineer and authority on welding 

processes, applications and design. He held four patents on welding 

research and authored numerous papers, which have become standards 

for welding techniques and led to improvements in manufacturing. 

Throughout his career in the Materials and Structures Division, Moore 

mentored and provided advanced training in welding processes to center 

engineers.

Gloria Richards, 72, a 2013 retiree with 38 years of service, died 

May 17. Richards retired as the Administrative Officer in the Business 

Support Office of the Research and Technology Directorate following 

a career of sustained outstanding achievement and excellence. She 

earned numerous clerical and administrative awards in addition to 

a NASA Exceptional Service medal and Cleveland Federal Executive 

Board Wings of Excellence award for leading high-performance teams 

and major center efforts. She was a founding/active member of 

Glenn’s Veteran Awareness Committee.

Paivi H. Tripp, 70, a 2009 retiree with nearly 29 years of service, 

died May 1. Tripp began her NASA career in 1980 in the Resources 

Management Office after completing the Presidential Management 

Internship program. She advanced to chief of the Space Station 

Freedom Branch, then Deputy Procurement Officer, and later as Chief 

Officer of Procurement. Tripp earned a NASA Exceptional Service 

medal and Federal Executive Board Wings of Excellence for leadership 

and successfully implementing innovative business solutions.

Moore Richards Tripp

Joseph E. Begany, 63, a NASA Glenn architect for nearly 33 years, most recently serving in the Project 

Management Branch of the Facilities Infrastructure Division, died in an airplane crash on June 30.

Since joining NASA as a project architect in 1986, Begany has been a valuable member of the center’s team 

responsible for overseeing day-to-day work in project execution for modification, relocation and construction of 

Glenn facilities. 

Renee Palyo, chief of the Facilities Infrastructure Division, said Begany has left a lasting impression on this 

center with his architectural contributions to many facilities. Some of these include the Lewis Field Main 

Gatehouse and Shipping and Receiving Facility, Child Development Center, Fitness Center, Picnic Pavilion, 

Central Chemical Storage Facility and Small Multi-Purpose Research Facility (SMiRF).

“Joe had a passion for life and was never shy about trying new activities. He enjoyed architecture, but lived for 

the social moments with friends, family and other likeminded enthusiasts,” said Tony Doglio, current supervisor. 

“He will be missed by many.”

Begany Built Enduring Structures and Relationships

Begany
AUGUST 2019

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

Upcoming Center Events

The next luncheon will be on Thursday, 

Aug. 15, at 1 p.m. at Michael Angelo’s 

Winery, 5515 Broadview Road, 

Richfield. To reserve your place, please 

notify Gerry Ziemba at 330–273–4850 

or gto64gerry@yahoo.com.

RETIRED WOMEN’S LUNCHEON

The Emergency Management Office 

staff will conduct a mass notification 

“voice” test at building 15 at Lewis Field 

on Wednesday, Sept. 4. An audible 

siren test will be conducted on the 

“tornado” tone on Saturday, Sept. 7.

POC: Allen Turner, 3–6826 

OUTDOOR SIREN TESTING

The Glenn Science and Engineering 

Library (GSEL) Mobile Librarian will be 

visiting building 162 from Aug. 13 to 

22. 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

GSEL MOBILE LIBRARIAN

LESA will hold its next membership 

meeting, Wednesday, Sept. 11, noon, 

in the Glenn Employee Center’s Small 

Dining Room.

IFPTE LOCAL 28, LESA MEETING

Sustainability 

Street Fair

Deadline for next calendar section 

is Aug. 21, noon. News and feature 

stories require additional time.

Stay tuned to 

Today@Glenn for details.

Thursday, Sept. 26

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

POC: Amanda Thompson, 3–3678

Building 162 (MIC) first floor kiosk

7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays, excluding holidays

Lagrange Point Café

A variety of specialty coffees, teas and 

other drinks, sandwiches and more!
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.

As large airline companies compete to reduce emissions, fuel and noise, aircraft manufacturers are shifting more of their 

aircraft systems to electrical power. To help usher in the next revolution in aviation—hybrid electric and turboelectric 

aircraft—NASA is building and testing portions of a concept aircraft’s power systems with an eye toward the future.

NASA Glenn has repurposed its Hypersonic Tunnel Facility to create the NASA Electric Aircraft Testbed (NEAT). Located at 

Plum Brook Station, NEAT is a world-class, reconfigurable facility that can accommodate power systems for large passenger 

airplanes like a Boeing 737, with megawatts of power. This testbed, which recently conducted its first megawatt-scale test, 

takes advantage of the facility’s massive amounts of available power to carry out research and technology development of 

aircraft electrical powertrains.

“We can lay out an entire electric powertrain, not including the engines, in NEAT and test all of the key electrical systems for 

an electrified aircraft,” said Dr. Rodger Dyson, principal investigator.

NEAT also includes a vacuum chamber, which can currently simulate altitudes of up to 40,000 feet to test high-voltage 

power electronics, electric motors and controls. Within the year, NASA plans to increase the altitude capability to over 

50,000 feet.

“NEAT can make a difference in aviation because it has the power and size to investigate the full power capabilities of the 

next generation of hybrid and turboelectric aircraft,” said Dyson.

By Nancy Smith Kilkenny

Emergency and Inclement Weather Lines 

Lewis Field: 216–433–9328 (WEAT) 

Plum Brook Station: 419–621–3333

Connect With Glenn

NEAT Tests 

Megawatt-Scale

Electric Aircraft 

Power Systems

At left: An aircraft electrical power system in NEAT’s vacuum 

chamber simulates altitudes of up to 40,000 feet to test 

high-voltage power electronics, electric motors and controls. 

(Photo by Bridget Caswell; GRC-2017-C-09976)