VOLUME 16 ISSUE 1 JANUARY 2014

Year-End Gathering Offers Cheers and Accolades

On Dec. 11, Center Director Jim Free, his leadership team 

and employees gathered to hear center accomplishments 

for the past year and enjoy the start of some holiday cheer. 

The NASA Glenn 2013 Centerwide Holiday Gathering was 

held in the Briefing Center at Lewis Field and broadcast 

live to Plum Brook Station.

In his remarks, Free thanked center employees for their 

hard work and commitment over the past year. He said 

their efforts enabled the center’s many successes, despite 

some external challenges, such as budget uncertainty 

Continued on page 3

Pictured right: One of the notable accomplishments highlighted by Free was the first ever ground test of an altitude 

engine icing capability in the Propulsion Systems Laboratory 

(PSL). Pictured is Dr. Judith Van Zante inside the PSL test cell. C-2013-419 Photo by Bridget Caswell

Next Round of "Adopt a City" Companies Announced

In early December, the City of Cleveland, 

Cuyahoga County and the Manufacturing 

 

C-2013-5745 Photo by Marv Smith

Left to right: Paul Bartolotta, Deputy

Director Greg Robinson, Garnett Meador, 

senior vice president of Mace,and Associate 

Director Janet Watkins discuss technical issues at the event. 

Advocacy & Growth Network (MAGNET) 

announced the next round of small and 

medium size manufacturers that will 

receive no-cost technical expertise from 

NASA subject matter experts (SME). 

Under this effort, NASA is committed to 

providing 40 hours of expert assistance. 

The SMEs will help companies solve 

challenges they are experiencing with 

one of their new or existing products.

The manufacturers selected by an 

independent panel of judges to receive 

NASA’s technical assistance and be 

eligible for the City and County loans 

are: AlSher APM, LLC of Cleveland • Mace 

Security International Inc. of Cleveland 

• MegaJoule Storage Inc. of Cleveland •

MesoCoat Inc. of Euclid • Skysun, LLC of 

Bay Village • Sterionics Inc. of Cleveland.

This joint initiative grew out of 

President Obama's “Strong Cities, Strong 

Communities,” an urban revitalization 

initiative, which delivers tailored 

technical assistance to cities through 

federal inter-agency/community solution 

teams, to support local priorities and 

promote economic competitiveness.

Last year, Glenn’s SMEs helped eight 

manufacturers solve technical challenges. For more details on the initiative, read 

page 8, August 2013 AeroSpace Frontiers.

—By Doreen B. Zudell

In This Issue

New Business Initiative ...............2

Celebrating Centaur ....................5

Managing Technology Transfer ...6

2013 CFC Activity Highlights ......8

Dr. Whitlow Receives Retirement Tribute

Center Director Jim Free gave welcoming remarks and Director of Facilities and 

Test Directorate Dr. Rickey Shyne served as Master of Ceremonies during an 

appreciation event, Dec. 2, to recognize Dr. Woodrow Whitlow Jr.’s 34 years of 

NASA service. Whitlow retired as NASA’s Associate Administrator for Mission 

Support Directorate, Sept. 10. Continued on page 2
GRC Connections Highlights New Business Initiative

The New Business Appreciation and Awareness Event, held at the Briefing Center,

Nov. 21, featured key speakers and interactive activities that celebrated NASA

Glenn’s accomplishments in the area of new business. 

Hosted by GRC Connections in coordination with NASA FIRST (Foundations of

Influence, Relationships, Success, and Teamwork), the event evolved from the

FIRST class’s project to raise awareness of the Glenn New Business Initiative and

energize the workforce to pursue new business opportunities and relationships

with external partners. The project also led to the creation of an internal website

called “New Business Central,” where new business processes were documented

during this project.

Center Director Jim Free was among the forum speakers. Via live audio stream,

Jeff Rolf of Parker Hannifin, Cleveland, Ohio, shared highlights of a successful

partnership between his company and

NASA Glenn. 

“GRC Connections is an innovative way

to reach out to the Glenn community

with topics of interest and exciting new

activities at the center,” affirmed GRC

Connections Coordinator Harvey Schabes, 

Strategic Integration and Project Control

Office.

If you have an idea for an upcoming GRC Connections, call Schabes at 216–433–5309.

—By Doreen B. Zudell

FIRST Class Proposes 

Strategic Communications

FIRST, or Foundations of Influence, 

Relationships, Success, and Teamwork, 

is an agencywide 1–year development 

program for GS 11-12 civil servants. 

The program addresses personal 

effectiveness, business acumen and 

leading people dimensions of the NASA 

Leadership Model. 

2013 Class members include, left to right, 

top row: Hans Hanson and Dr. Antoine Moss. 

Bottom row: Kristen Bury, Terri McKay and 

Kristin Hawkins.

Whitlow Appreciation Event

Continued from page 1

Former Center Directors Donald

Campbell and Dr. Julian Earls, and former 

Associate Director Vernon “Bill” Wessel, 

were among the leadership, employees, 

family and friends who gathered to

share memories and show appreciation 

for Whitlow’s leadership, support and 

mentorship.

Whitlow first arrived at Glenn to serve 

as the Research and Technology (R&T) 

director from 1998 to 2003, before 

returning to serve as Center Director 

from December 2005 to March 2010. 

He brought to Glenn his passion for 

NASA, a strong work ethic and a unique 

combination of skill and style that 

engendered respect and admiration 

from his staff and colleagues.

Among the many honors Whitlow 

received was a bound volume of all 

the technical papers published over 

his distinguished career, presented by 

Center Operations Director Robyn 

Gordon. Lance Foster, Inlet Branch, 

and current president of the National 

Technical Association (NTA), Cleveland 

Chapter, then provided an additional 

highlight by presenting Whitlow 

with the Samuel Cheavers Award for 

distinguished service and support to 

the NTA over a period of years.

In his remarks, Whitlow reflected on his 

NASA career and said serving as R&T 

director was one of his most enjoyable 

positions because of his interaction 

with Glenn’s reputable scientists and 

researchers. To him, getting out of the 

office and into the laboratories and 

offices to observe the development of 

cutting-edge technology continually 

fueled his enthusiasm and pride.

—By S. Jenise Veris

Dr. Whitlow (center) and his family enjoy a laugh during NASA Glenn's appreciation 

event hosted for his retirement, Dec. 2. 

C-2013-5675 Photo by Michelle Murphy

2
NUARY 2014

Director Shares Year-End Accomplishments

JA

Continued from page 1

and a government shutdown. Free 

took some time to share a number 

of highlights of our successes over 

the past year. Below are some 

notable accomplishments from each 

directorate in 2013: 

•	Received $43 million in reimbursable 

funds with an increase in nongovernmental funds

•	Partnered with the Department 

of Education through a Space 

Act Agreement to expand STEM 

programming within the Department 

of Education’s 21st Century Community 

Learning Center (CCLC) Program 

•	Delivered S-band and Ka-band 

Compatibility Test Sets Relay Systems 

Hardware to the Space Communications 

and Networks (SCaN) Program

•	Developed the Center’s first 

Diversity and Inclusion Strategic 

Implementation Plan

•	Designed, constructed and completed 

the Shipping and Receiving Facility 

(SaRF)

•	Completed Space X Fairing test at 

Plum Brook Station

•	Implemented the agency’s first 

automated performance appraisal system, Standard Performance Appraisal 

Communication Environment (SPACE)

•	Completed first ever ground test of 

an altitude engine icing capability in 

the Propulsion Systems Laboratory 

(see front page photo)

•	Completed Checkout/Commission 

of SCaN Testbed on the International 

Space Station and began a set of 

experiments

•	Completed the National Quality 

Assurance audit; received AS9100 

recertification for Quality Management 

System and CMMI Level 2 certification

•	The Collaborative Modeling for 

Parametric Assessment of Space 

Systems (COMPASS) team completed 

18 conceptual designs for 9 different 

customers, including the Human 

Architecture Team, as well as 2 

external customers: DARPA and Ball 

Aerospace/Aerojet

•	Established a $3 million General 

Electric Space Act on Ceramic Matrix 

Composites (CMC)

• Licensed Glenn’s Stirling technology 

to Nirvana Energy Systems leading to 

development of game-changing home 

energy system (in Cleveland)

Free’s presentation is available on WING 

(internal only) at: http://www.grc.nasa.

gov/WWW/director/index.html.

—By S. Jenise Veris

Spreading Holiday Cheer

C-2013-5801

Generous Giving for Toys for Tots 

During the year-end gathering, representatives 

from the 3/25 U.S. Marine Corps picked up 10 

boxes of toys collected at the Lewis Field and Plum 

Brook campuses. Mark Hyatt coordinated the effort 

on behalf of the Veterans Awareness Committee. 

Pictured: Sergeant Shawn Kitson, Corporal Andy 

Cesar and Staff Sergeant Lopaz Swain.

C-2013-5818 Photos by Bridget Caswell

Calling All Ugly Holiday Sweaters 

Following Center Director Jim Free’s presentation, employees helped 

determine the winner of the “Ugly Holiday Sweater/Tie Contest.”

Lance Foster emceed the contest that brought laughter and cheer as 

nine contestants modeled their entries. Pictured above, left to right: 

Aaron Olmsted (1st place), Angela Surgenor, Brian Shefchuk, Craig 

Mehl, Associate Director Janet Watkins, Justin Niehaus (3rd place), 

Lindsay Hill (2nd place), Jon Arena and Center Director Jim Free. 

Remembering Our Troops Stationed Oversees

Plum Brook Station employees did not forget those who sacrifice so much to defend our country. With coordination by

David Tabayoyon, employees donated items for care packages for U.S. Military personnel stationed overseas this holiday.

3
News and Events

ISS: 15 Years and Counting . . .

More than 40 Glenn-Developed Experiments Flown on Station

NASA Glenn celebrated the 15th anniversary of the beginning of 

the International Space Station with an informal gathering at Lewis 

Field, Nov. 25. Center Director Jim Free thanked employees for 

their critical roles in the program. ISS and Human Health Office 

Chief Tom St. Onge and ISS Research Project Manager Fred Kohl, 

pictured, gave an historic perspective and highlighted some of 

Glenn’s past and current contributions while looking ahead to 

space station support in the future. 

C-2013-5176 Photo by Michelle Murphy

Touting NASA Technology to Industry

Thirty-two technology managers from Parker Hannifin came to Lewis 

Field on Oct. 29 to view 25 NASA Glenn and Langley technologies and 

one technology funded by NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research 

program. Research experts were available at several locations across 

the center to discuss technologies of interest. Jeff Rolfe of Parker 

Hannifin said that more than 100 ideas were generated that day and 

they are exploring the use of NASA technologies into Parker systems. 

Glenn's Othmane Benafan, left, shares highlights of NASA technology 

with attendees. 

C-2013-4949 Photo by Marvin Smith

Rebuilding the Native American Story

How would you feel if historical references— books, television, movies and sports 

mascots—depicted your race as fierce savages? Marie Toledo, a Cleveland-based 

educator, asked this question during this year’s Native American Heritage Month 

Observance, Nov. 20. In addition to discussing a need to repair and rebuild the 

contemporary Native American presence, she also moderated the documentary, 

“Reel Injun,” which chronicles the movie industry’s role in distorting Native 

Americans’ identity and history of oppression. Pictured is Bruce Kafter, a Native 

American outreach coordinator with the Veterans Administration, who provided 

the traditional invocation.

C-2013-5294 Photo by Bridget Caswell

Glenn Hosts Energy and Innovation Summit

NASA Glenn opened its hangar doors to host the Northern Ohio 

Energy and Innovation Summit, sponsored by Congresswoman Marcy 

Kaptur and the Department of Energy (DOE) National Laboratories, 

in partnership with NorTech and Case Western Reserve University, 

Dec. 9. More than 200 representative companies and universities in 

Northeast Ohio attended the event that showcased regional energy 

and manufacturing activities, highlighted federal energy resources 

and pursued input on strengthening regional and national energy 

initiatives. Kaptur is pictured, center, talking with participants during 

the event, along with Center Director Jim Free, left. 

C-2013-6072 Photo by Marvin Smith

4
JANUARY 2014

News and Events

Community Celebrates Centaur Anniversary Through Special Events

C-2013-5535 C-2013-5433 Photos by Bridget Caswell

The Greater Cleveland community joined NASA in celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the first successful launch of the Centaur 

rocket during three events, Nov. 22 and 23, at the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland. The celebration kicked off Friday, 

Nov. 22, afternoon as students participated in a Glenn-sponsored challenge to design an air-propelled vehicle with a 25–gram 

payload to travel along the ground from a launch site to a rendezvous point. That evening, NASA Associate Administrator Robert 

Lightfoot joined representatives from the aerospace community in a special dinner program organized by the Ohio Aerospace 

Institute. Center Director Jim Free emceed the event. The following afternoon, Nov. 23, former Center Director Larry Ross and 

former Chief of the Advanced Space Analysis Office Joe Nieberding shared some of their experiences as engineers working 

in the early days of the Centaur development at Space Saturday. Pictured, above left, former Center Director Andrew Stofan at 

the Nov. 22 program. Top, right: students compete in the design challenge. 

Enjoying Musical Treats While You Eat

More than 120 employees received an added treat when they came to 

the Glenn Café “Beats & Eats” event, Nov. 7. Members of the Baldwin 

Wallace (BW) University Conservatory of Music Classical Guitar 

Quartet entertained employees during their lunchtime break. The 

event was part of phased effort to make the Glenn Café not just a 

café but also a place to gather and socialize. The BW Conservatory 

of Music has agreed to several performances at the Glenn Café. 

Pictured: Food Services team member Lauren Demirjian introduces 

BW guitarists, left to right: William Otto, Patrick Peralta, Michael 

Simile and Bradley Stone.

Photo by S. Jenise Veris

Diversity Day & Food Fair Embrace Inclusion

C-2013-5986 Photo by Michelle Murphy

It was a time to reflect on global diversity as NASA Glenn 

celebrated its annual Diversity Day and CFC International Food 

Fair, Dec. 4, at Lewis Field. Eight vendors, offering multicultural 

and/or fair-trade items, provided opportunities for employees 

to support minority-owned businesses and/or projects in 

developing countries. Chrissy Stonebraker-Martinez from the 

InterReligious Task Force on Central America, pictured far 

right, enlisted help from several employees to demonstrate 

the cost to cocoa farmers associated with selling chocolate 

in developing countries. The CFC International Food Fair 

offered multicultural dishes prepared by the Glenn staff with 

funds benefiting this year’s campaign. 

5
Pursuing Technology Transfer at Glenn

Four-Step Process

NASA innovations solve the challenges 

of living and working in space, but for 

many of these technologies, it is just the 

beginning of its possibilities. Thousands 

of space-based technologies such as 

remote sensors and communications 

have evolved into commercial products 

and services that improve our quality 

of life and create new jobs, right here 

on Earth.

Glenn’s Innovation Projects Office 

(IPO) facilitates this technology transfer process. The IPO evaluates Glenn’s 

emerging technologies to identify ways 

they may be used more broadly and then 

helps share these technologies with the 

public through collaborative partnerships, licensing and commercialization. 

The Path to Commercialization

Although no two technology transfer 

efforts are exactly alike, they generally 

follow this path:

1. New technology reported: Completing a New Technology Report (NTR), 

also known as a Disclosure of Invention, 

is the first step to technology transfer 

success. NTRs capture information 

about technical discoveries, improvements and innovations so that every 

technology can reach its full potential. 

2. Technology Assessment: Glenn 

IPO evaluates technology readiness 

and market potential. Innovators are 

encouraged to report all new devices, 

materials, techniques or systems, 

ideally at an early stage of development. 

Reporting also is appropriate when an 

improvement on an existing technology/process has made it faster, stronger, 

more efficient, smaller, lighter or less 

expensive to manufacture. This gives 

Glenn’s IPO team and legal counsel the 

opportunity to fully protect the intellectual property (IP) and position the 

innovation in the best possible way to 

benefit the innovator, NASA and society.

3. IP Protection: Legal counsel evaluates 

the technology’s IP strength and may 

file a patent application right away or 

may wait to allow for further development. Because the NTR also enables 

NASA to protect IP, an NTR should be 

submitted before any information is 

publicly disclosed in a presentation or 

publication. This gives the legal team 

adequate time to file for patent protection, if applicable. 

4. Partnerships and Licensing: IPO 

seeks partners to further develop and/

or commercialize the innovation.

Benefits of Technology Transfer

Partnerships and licenses generate new 

products and services. Innovators who 

report their new technologies have the 

opportunity to engage with industry 

to help solve meaningful issues in our 

society. Glenn’s innovations have been 

used to support humanitarian efforts 

around the world, improve flight safety, 

restore precious artwork, bring medical 

expertise to rural and remote regions of 

the world and much more. 

As Glenn researchers develop promising 

new technologies, the IPO stands ready 

to help transform these innovations 

into valuable products and services 

that benefit all. For more information, 

contact Kim Dalgleish-Miller, IPO chief, 

at kimberly.a.dalgleish@nasa.gov or visit 

https://technology.grc.nasa.gov/

—Contributed by Glenn’s IPO*

Patents Fuel Technology Transfer, Commercialization

Filing a patent is a key step in the path to commercialization, 

and NASA Glenn has experienced an exceptional year with 

regard to its fiscal year (FY) 2013 year-end patent metrics and 

spending efficiency. According to Glenn’s Patent Attorney 

Robert Earp, the center showed a significant increase in patent 

applications filed over last year.

“The total number of utility and provisional patent applications 

increased significantly—from 24 to 60—based largely on the 

change in the U.S. Patent system from first-to-invent to first-tofile,” Earp explained. “While this rule change has forced Glenn 

to file more provisional patent applications, it provides a 1-year 

grace period to more systematically review and consider those 

inventions before filing the costly utility patent application. In 

essence, we can do more with less because we can plan for 

and review each technology more thoroughly.”

It takes an average of 2 to 5 years for a patent application to 

become an issued patent. Still Glenn showed a slight increase, 

from 12 to 14, in patents granted for FY13. According to Earp, 

Glenn anticipates continued increases in patents issued despite 

some challenges going forward. 

Earp believes NASA Glenn expertise and patents will continue 

to play a significant role in promoting opportunities for technology transfer that benefits the public sector, private sector 

and the center itself. For more information on how Glenn is 

positioning itself for success by creating and using intellectual 

property, contact Earp at 216–433–3663. —By S. Jenise Veris

6 *Updated 2/7/2014
JANUARY 2014

7

NASA Ranked Best Place to Work—Again! In Appreciation

For the second consecutive year, the Partnership for Public Service has ranked 

NASA The Best Place to Work among large agencies (15,000 or more employees) 

in Government. The survey revealed that participants among the nearly 18,000 

federal employees at NASA believe the agency’s leaders have sought to enhance 

job satisfaction by stepping up their focus on innovation, leadership development, 

work-life balance and other workplace issues. A list of the 2013 rankings is available 

at http://bestplacestowork.org. The Partnership for Public Service is a nonpartisan, 

nonprofit organization working to revitalize our federal government by inspiring 

a new generation to serve and by transforming the way government works. 

Retirements

Baker Kennemuth MacKay Torres

Bradley Baker, Procurement Division, retired Jan. 1, 2014, with 41 1⁄2 years of NASA 

service.

Dan Bulzan, Aeropropulsion Division, retired Jan. 3, 2014, with 36 years of NASA 

service. (Not pictured)

Jerald Kennemuth, Office of Chief Counsel, retired Dec. 28, 2013, with 36 years 

of NASA service.

Rebecca “Becky” MacKay, Structures and Materials Division, Research and 

Technology Directorate, retired Jan. 1, 2014, with 32 years of NASA service.

William Torres, Space Combustion and Materials Branch, Facilities and Test Division, 

retired Jan. 3, 2014, with 43 years of federal service, including 37 with NASA.*

Calendar

DAY OF REMEMBRANCE: Mark your calendar for Thursday, Jan. 30, when Glenn 

will recognize NASA’s Day of Remembrance. This event commemorates and honors 

those who have died in America's space program.

IFPTE LOCAL 28, LESA MEETING: LESA will host its next membership meeting on 

Wednesday, Feb. 12, noon, Employee Center’s Small Dining Room.

ASTRONAUT TALK AND BOOKSIGNING: Astronaut Donald Thomas, an Ohio 

native and veteran of four space shuttle missions, recently wrote a book about the 

STS–70 mission called “Orbit of Discovery—The All-Ohio Space Shuttle Mission.” 

He will be at Glenn, Thursday, Feb. 20, at 1 p.m. in the Ad Building Auditorium to 

talk about the mission and sign his book that is now on sale in the Exchange Store. 

He will also appear at the NASA Glenn Visitor Center at the Great Lakes Science 

Center, Saturday, Feb. 22.

Correction

IN THE DECEMBER 2013 ISSUE, PAGE 3: “Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Highlights...” 

article, the outgoing Brook Park Mayor, Mark Elliott, was incorrectly identified in 

photo C–2013–4747 as newly elected Mayor Tom Coyne. 

“I would like to sincerely thank my many 

NASA Glenn friends and colleagues who 

offered kinds words of sympathy and 

support after the passing of my mother. 

Your thoughts and prayers have meant 

a lot to me. —Paul McMasters

“I would like to express my sincere 

thanks to my Glenn co-workers for 

their support after the passing of my 

mother. Your cards and flowers were 

greatly appreciated during this difficult 

time.” —Tom Vasek

Emergency and Inclement 

Weather Lines

Lewis Field: 216-433-9328 (WEAT)

Plum Brook Station: 419-621-3333

More than a Memory

Reese Shernock

*Updated 2/7/2014

Frank J. Reese, 71, a NASA volunteer for 

more than 13 years, passed suddenly, 

Dec. 8. Reese was a U.S. Air Force veteran 

and retired American Airlines mechanic, 

who actively volunteered as a ham radio 

operator and weekend tour guide for 

Glenn’s Saturday Facility tours. Reese 

was a tremendous asset, who brought a 

smile and aerospace knowledge to many 

visitors and employees, alike.

Joseph A. Shernock, 83, who retired 

from NASA in 1982 with 30 years of federal service, died Dec. 6. Shernock was 

a veteran, who joined NASA in 1955 as 

a technician. He spent his entire career 

working in various branches of the 

Facilities Operations Division, including the Propulsion Systems Laboratory, 

Supersonic Tunnels and Cryogenics 

Operations.
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 Community and Media Relations Office 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. 

February 2014 issue copy deadline: Jan. 24, noon

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

CFC: Fun & Fundraising

NASA Glenn's 2013 Combined Federal Campaign Committee 

held several fundraising events during the months of November 

and December. Here are a few highlights: 1 CFC Basket Raffle 

at Lewis Field. 2: Manager Pie-in-Face at Lewis Field: Jon Arena 

pies Center Director Jim Free. 3 Lewis Field Chili Cook Off winners: 

left to right, Best Presentation: Trudy Kortes and Nicole Smith's 

"Sequestration Chili," Best Chili: Quynhgiao Nguyen, "NY Strip Chili." 

4 Plum Brook Station Chili Cook Off winner: Best Chili, Dawn 

Schneider with Glenn CFC Loaned Executive Francine McWhorther. 

5 Plum Brook Station Best Dessert Bake Off, " Irish Stout Cupcakes" 

by Brian K. Jones with McWhorther. 6 Manager Pie-in-Face at Plum 

Brook Station: Stan Grisnik pies Plum Brook Director Dave Stringer. 

7 Overview of Chili Cook Off at Lewis Field. 

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