VOLUME 16 ISSUE 3 MARCH 2014

MegaFlex Solar Array Testing 

Underway at Plum Brook

Preparing for Robotic and Manned Exploration Missions

NASA Glenn recently began technology readiness testing on a new solar array, 

called MegaFlex, in Plum Brook Station’s Reverberant Acoustic Test Facility 

(RATF). Under development since 2012 by ATK for NASA’s Space Technology 

Mission Directorate, the array is being considered for robotic and manned 

exploration missions. 

“The circular array is 9.6 m in diameter to capture enough solar energy to 

generate about 20 kW of power when deployed—but folds up to a mere 15 cm–

thick package for efficient stowage for launch,” explained Carolyn Mercer, 

Solar Power Element manager in Glenn’s Solar Electric Propulsion project. 

“Upon conclusion of these tests, the technology will be mature enough for 

consideration for flight missions such as NASA’s Asteroid Redirect Mission or 

use on commercial satellites.” Continued on page 2

Acoustics experts Tom Trautt from ATK (left) and Bill Hughes from Glenn stand in 

front of the stowed MegaFlex solar array after a successful test sequence in the RATF.

Photo courtesy of ATK

NASA Glenn Transitions to New Operating Structure

Center Director Jim Free recently 

announced a new organizational 

structure to ensure responsiveness 

to NASA missions, better position the 

center to capture new opportunities, 

and perform more efficiently within 

budget and funding constraints. 

During his All Hands Meeting on 

February 4, Free presented an outline 

of the structure that is based on a 

one-directorate model. This model 

realigns the former Engineering 

Continued on page 3

Center Concludes Eventful CFC

NASA Glenn recently 

concluded its successful 

2013 Combined Federal 

Campaign (CFC). Chair 

Jackie Barbetta, left, 

and Co- Chair Dawn 

Pottinger proudly display 

an oversized check for 

$446,105.31. See page 8 

for CFC Appreciation 

and Awards Program 

highlights. C-2014-528 Photo by Bridget Caswell

In This Issue

Union Elects Officers ..................2

Meet the New Ombuds ..............2

Measure Saves Energy, Money ..3

Glenn Café Expands Options .....5

Resident Astronaut Leaves ........6

March is

Women's 

History

Month
LESA/IFPTE Union Elects New Officers 

Cantwell Hands Baton to Dr. Bailey

The Lewis Engineers and Scientists 

Association, International Federation of 

Professional and Technical Engineers, 

Local 28, (LESA/IFPTE), has undergone 

a changing of the guard. 

Dr. Sheila Bailey, a senior physicist in 

the Space Environment & Experiments 

Branch, is the new president. She 

replaces Virginia Cantwell, a wellknown advocate of her fellow federal 

employees and Local 28 president for 

the past 22 years. Cantwell resigned 

her post, effective Jan. 3, upon retiring 

after 34 years of NASA service. 

The following officers assist Bailey in 

administering the responsibilities of 

LESA/IFPTE, Local 28: Executive VicePresident Patricia Dimaline, Center 

Operations Directorate; 2nd Executive 

Vice-President, Paul Greenberg, 

Combustion and Reacting Systems 

Branch; Administrative Vice-President 

Sandra Zolo, Space Environments 

& Experiments Branch; Treasurer 

Grover “Barry” Hillard, Photovoltaics 

and Power Technologies Branch; and 

Legal Counsel and Chief Steward 

Deborah Drossis, NASA retiree. (A full 

listing of officers/committee members 

can be found on the center’s internal 

Labor Relations website, http://www.

grc.nasa.gov/WWW/OHCM/Labor_

Relations.html.

The LESA/IFPTE, Local 28, which 

currently represents 1305 employees, 

was formed in 1975. Initially established 

to represent professional scientists 

and engineers, 

the union since 

expanded its 

m e m b e r s h ip 

with the goal of 

becoming the 

exclusive bargaining unit for federal 

employees. The union also works to 

advocate and promote the center and 

agency to the public.

Members meet the second Wednesday 

of every month at noon, Small Dining 

Room of the Employee Center. For 

more information about the union, 

contact LESA Office Manager Sally 

Weiland, 216–433–5623.

—By S. Jenise Veris

Dr. Bailey

Two Employees Chosen as Glenn's New Ombuds

Marsha Nall and Mike Zernic have been selected to serve as Glenn’s ombuds. They 

replace Kirk Seabloom who served in this role for the last 7 years. 

The Ombuds Program provides the workforce (employees, contractors and students) 

an additional and supplemental channel of communication. Under the program, 

employees can raise significant issues and concerns perceived to potentially impact 

organizational performance, safety or mission success. Issues are handled through a 

confidential, neutral and informal process. In performing this mission, the ombuds 

serves as an information and communication resource, upward feedback channel, 

advisor, dispute resolution expert and change agent. 

Contact Nall at 3-5374, marsha.m.nall@nasa.gov or Zernic at 3-5286, michael.j.zernic@

nasa.gov. For more information on the Ombuds Program, visit http://ombuds.grc.

nasa.gov/.

Nall Zernic

“Every issue is worthy of an answer; 

Every issue needs to be addressed.”

—unknown

MegaFlex Testing

Continued from page 1

The first set of tests performed in the RATF 

in early February showed the stowed solar 

array structure has the strength and

stiffness to survive acoustic levels set to 

simulate launch loads. A deployment test 

determined the array functioned well

after exposure to the harsh launch/

acoustic environment, and all of the

delicate solar cells survived intact.

The next set of tests will determine the 

reliability of the deployment mechanisms 

in both the very hot (+60C) and very 

cold (–60C) vacuum environment of 

space. Finally, vacuum dynamics testing 

in the Space Power Facility will provide 

data to validate analytical models to 

increase confidence in how these arrays 

will behave in space.

Critical members of the MegaFlex 

testing effort include Tom Kerslake, 

Power Systems Engineering Branch, 

technical representative, and Amanda 

George, Exploration Systems Branch, 

contracting officer. Together they 

provide technical direction and 

contractual execution. Jay Warren, 

Langley Research Center, leads the 

analysis team providing independent 

verification. Aron Hozman, Plum Brook 

Management Office, and Bill Hughes, 

Structural Systems Dynamics Branch, 

provide technical leadership for the 

acoustic tests. 

2
MARCH 2014

Creative Cost-Saving Measures Promote Sustainability

Facing mou nting gover n ment 

mandates to reduce energy and water 

consumption, NASA Glenn needed a 

creative, viable funding mechanism to 

increase energy efficiency and improve 

Glenn’s progress toward sustainability.

“Budget cuts have significantly affected 

Glenn’s operations and maintenance 

programs,” explained Glenn’s Energy 

Manager Eric Patton, Energy and 

Environmental Management Office. 

“This has led to increased deferred 

maintenance and an inability to 

take proactive measures to improve 

efficiencies.” 

To address these challenges, the 

Facilities and Test Directorate initiated 

an Energy Savings Performance 

Contract (ESPC). Under an ESPC, 

a private energy savings company 

finances, designs and builds capital 

improvements that result in energy and 

energy-related savings. In turn, NASA 

repays that investment over time based 

upon guaranteed annual savings. 

In March 2013, Chevron Energy 

Solutions started a preliminary 

assessment (PA) for a campus-wide 

(Lewis Field and Plum Brook Station) 

ESPC. Chevron staff reviewed facility 

and systems drawings, conducted field 

inspections, examined data and conducted 

interviews to develop the assessment that 

they delivered in October.

Chevron identified 19 energy 

conservation measures (ECMs) ranging 

from $1.4M worth of lighting upgrades 

($164K in annual savings) to a $4.8M 

upgrade and repurposing of motors in 

the Engine Research Building ($320K 

in annual savings). New sustainability 

efforts would include rainwater 

harvesting for cooling towers and a 

vegetated (green) roof over the newly 

constructed Mission Integration Center 

(MIC) auditorium.

Project Manager Adam Bihary, Project 

Management Branch, said the PA meets 

all of the goals set out at the start of 

the project. “When fully implemented, 

the project will reduce Glenn’s energy 

and water intensity, reduce overall 

utility costs, install submetering at the 

building level, and reduce operations 

and maintenance expenses,” he said. 

“There is even the possibility that 

renewable energy (solar cells) may be 

incorporated into the project.”

The Space Management Committee 

(SMC) recently gave its approval to 

proceed to the next phase of the 

project, known as the Investment 

Grade Audit (IGA). During this phase, 

the team will focus on refining the cost 

model and accuracy of projected energy 

savings. Pending further approval, 

implementation is scheduled to begin 

this fall starting with ECMs that have 

short paybacks. In a year from now, 

Glenn will begin realizing energy and 

cost savings and become an even more 

sustainable place to work.

—By Doreen B. Zudell

An example of a vegetated (green) roof that could sprout up on the new Mission Integration 

Center Building.

Initiative could reduce energy 

intensity by 12 percent, water 

consumption by 28 percent and 

utility costs by $1.8M yearly

(out of a $22M budget)

New Operating Structure

Continued from page 1

and Research and Technology

Directorates, and creates the Research 

and Engineering Directorate that 

will focus on five competency based 

functions: power, propulsion, materials 

and structures, communications, and 

systems integration. The new structure 

strengthens the center’s competencies 

and capabilities to create efficiencies, 

stimulate innovation and enhance 

integration within the technical 

functions. 

“This reorganization is vital to helping 

us plan for the future of the center,” 

Free affirmed. “It will help us build 

confidence in our work and ensure 

our work is sustainable and relevant.” 

The branch level organizational 

structure, supervisory and employee 

placements, and alignment of 

contractor tasks are slated for 

completion in the March/April 

timeframe. The center will begin 

3

working under a virtual mode in April, 

transitioning between operating in 

the new structure and processing 

official actions. The center expects 

to conclude the transition period by 

mid summer. 

For more information on the 

new structure, visit the Glenn 

Reorganization Web site [internal only] 

at https://www.grc.nasa.gov/reorganize/.

—By Doreen B. Zudell
News and Events

Photo by Libby Westlake, Ohio House of Representatives

Touting Glenn Technology at the Statehouse

The center conducted a “NASA Glenn Technology Exhibits Day at the Statehouse,” 

Feb. 11. Glenn subject-matter experts (SMEs) staffed 15 exhibits. The goal was to 

demonstrate how investments in space and aeronautics technologies that help achieve 

NASA’s goals may also create or improve products and services beneficial to life on 

Earth. The event was conducted in cooperation with Ohio Rep. Rick Perales, chair 

of the Aerospace Caucus, to educate Ohio General Assembly members and staff 

on Glenn’s aerospace research and development capabilities. Pictured: Glenn SME 

Dr. Paul Bartalotta explains the process of additive manufacturing and products 

to Rep. Perales. Center Deputy Director Gregory Robinson, far left, Glenn’s State 

Legislative Liaison Dr. Kim Veris, Greater Cleveland Partnership’s Nick Gattozzi and 

Glenn's Director of Venture Development & Partnerships Dr. Joe Shaw, observe.

C-2014-497 Photo by Bridget Caswell

Lessons From Those Lost

Du r i ng the agenc y’s Day of 

Remembrance Observance, Jan. 31, 

Glenn honored members of the NASA 

family who lost their lives while 

furthering the cause of exploration 

and discovery. Center Director Jim 

Free reiterated former NASA Flight 

Director and Space Shuttle Program 

Manager Wayne Hale’s “10 Enduring 

Lessons Learned” from the Apollo 1, 

Challenger and Columbia mishaps. 

Scott Altman, (pictured) retired 

astronaut and vice president of Arctic 

Slope Regional Corporation Federal 

Space and Defense, provided personal 

reflections of his Columbia classmates. 

Pressing Forward for Greater Possibilities

Three distinguished members of the Cleveland community served as panelists for the center’s Martin Luther 

King Jr. Day program, Jan. 29. NASA Glenn Deputy 

Director Greg Robinson joined the African Heritage 

Advisory Group in welcoming the panelists who discussed 

the program’s theme, “The Evolution of a Movement, 

the Realization of the Dream.” Discussion centered on 

accomplishments of the Civil Rights Movement and 

challenges that remain today. The panelists are pictured, 

left to right: Donnie Perkins, vice president for Diversity 

and Inclusion at University Hospitals; Wayne Dawson, coanchor of “Fox 8 News in the Morning”; and Dr. Jawanza 

Colvin, pastor of the Olivet Institutional Baptist Church.

C-2014-326 Photo by Marvin Smith

Saturday Tours Begin in April 

The center will offer free tours of its world-class facilities at Lewis Field one Saturday a month 

from April through October. A tour bus departs from Lewis Field’s main gate every hour 

beginning at 10 a.m.; the last tour departs at 1 p.m. One hour tours begin in the Briefing Center 

Auditorium and include a multimedia presentation of Glenn. The April 5 tour will take place 

in the Electronic Propulsion Laboratory, pictured left. For more information and a complete 

schedule of tours, visit http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/events/tours.html. For questions, 

contact Shelia Reese, 216–433–9653.

4
MARCH 2014

News and Events

Photo by S. Jenise Veris

Book Highlights Mission

Former astronaut and Cleveland native 

Dr. Don Thomas gave an engaging talk 

to Glenn employees about experiences 

outlined in his new book “Orbit of 

Discovery—The All-Ohio Space Shuttle 

Mission.” The book is based on his 

personal account of the 1995 STS–70 

mission. After his presentation, he 

autographed copies of his book. Thomas 

also traveled to the Great Lakes Science 

Center, Feb. 22, to share highlights 

of his book and mission experience 

with hundreds of people at Glenn’s 

Visitor Center. The book is available for 

purchase at the Glenn Exchange Store. 

C-2014-562 Photos by Bridget Caswell

Civil Rights: Continuing the Movement

Glenn’s Black History Month Celebration, held 

Feb. 13, offered an agenda packed with speakers 

and performers to address the theme: “The Golden 

Jubilee of the Civil Rights Act.” Keynote speaker, Dr. 

Marilyn Sanders Mobley, vice president for Inclusion, 

Diversity and Equal Opportunity, Case Western 

Reserve University, chronicled some of the struggles/ C-2014-574

accomplishments of Americans to gain civil rights. She also stressed the importance 

of maintaining those rights and continuing the movement. Proceeds from the 

Soul Food Cuisine, a highlight of the program, were donated to Women of Hope, 

a non-profit charity. Pictured, top, left to right: Vanessa Webbs, Sylvia Merritt, 

Stephanie Brown-Houston and Dexter Johnson support the program theme 

through song. Above: Mobley gives the address.

New 24/7 Food Service Option Debuts at Glenn Café

The Glenn Café has expanded its food 

services options to offer the Lewis Field 

workforce 24/7 access and convenience.

Last month, through an agreement 

between the Glenn Exchange and 

the State of Ohio, the state’s Bureau 

of Services for the Visually Impaired 

(BSVI) installed a Micro Market on the 

mezzanine level of the main dining 

room, Building 15. BSVI also is

replacing existing Lewis Field vending 

machines with new units.

Based on a convenience store format, 

the Micro Market offers a variety of 

hot and cold food items, including 

breakfast sandwiches and freshly 

ground coffee. Payment for food and 

drink items will be made through a 

self-checkout kiosk 

using cash, credit

or debit cards with 

an established BSVI 

customer account.

Employees of BSVI 

will be onsite to assist 

customers.

"We’re excited for the opportunity to 

serve the NASA community," said Tom 

Neal, who overseas the Micro Market 

at Lewis Field.

BSVI’s motto is “Purchase With a 

Purpose.” Profits from the Micro 

Market and campus vending machines 

will help support the Opportunities 

for Ohioans with Disabilities 

Business Enterprise Program. The 

program provides entrepreneurship 

opportunities to people who are blind 

or visually impaired. In addition, a 

percentage of the profits will be 

returned to the Glenn Exchange to 

help support center activities.

Visit the Glenn Café website at 

http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/

glenncafe/ to learn about this and 

other food services developments. 

Employees may also subscribe to the 

Glenn Café vendor update e-mail by 

contacting krasynthia.k.johnson@nasa.

gov, mark.e.kilkenny@nasa.gov or 

francis.t.jennings@nasa.gov.

Clarence Jones, PATL/

Educational Programs 

Office, takes a snack 

break. Similar snacks 

are available in select 

vending machines 

across the center. Photo by Doreen B. Zudell

5
Resident Astronaut Returns to NASA Johnson

NASA Glenn recently bid farewell 

to astronaut Stephanie Wilson. She 

completed a 9–month detail to Glenn in 

January and has returned to the Astronaut 

Office at the Johnson Space Center. 

During her detail to Glenn, Wilson 

served as the acting chief of the Program/

Project Integration Office in the Space 

Flight Systems Directorate. In addition 

to supervising, she gained valuable 

experience managing programs and 

projects and firsthand knowledge of 

center business management functions 

and processes. Wilson also served as a 

Glenn representative to the agency’s 

Program/Project Management Board. 

“Having Stephanie work with us for 

9 months was a true win-win situation,” 

said Space Flight Systems Director Bryan 

Smith. “She gained unique experiences 

and knowledge working at another 

center while greatly contributing to 

the success of our PP&C functions and 

processes. We enjoyed having her with 

us and wish her the very best at Johnson 

and in future missions and assignments.” 

Throughout the detail, Wilson attended 

center events and made astronaut 

appearances to share her flight 

experiences and inspire local youth. 

She was the third consecutive astronaut 

to choose an assignment at Glenn 

since 2010.

—By S. Jenise Veris

Right: Wilson, far right, as a panelist 

on Glenn's Executive Women's Panel 

during a workshop at OAI. Below: 

Reviewing student projects at Glenn's 

2013 Young Astronauts Day.

C-2013-4893 Photos by Michelle Murphy

C-2013-4666

Awards, Honors & Promotions

Baumann Danks Kuehn Dr. Landis

Eric Baumann, Systems Integration Branch, provided systems engineering 

support as a member of the Adopt-A-City initiative team. He will join the team 

in accepting the Federal Laboratory Consortium award for Technology Transfer’s 

2014 State and Local Economic Development in April. 

ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning 

Engineers) has chosen Richard Danks, chief of the Engineering and Environmental Management Branch, to receive the Distinguished Service Award. The 

award recognizes members who have faithfully served ASHRAE faithfully on 

committees and given their time and talent on behalf of the society.

Paul Kuehn has been selected Senior Project Manager of the Project Management 

Branch, Facilities Division. Kuehn brings 14 years of private industry experience 

as well as 4 years with NASA in several high-profile projects at Lewis Field and 

Plum Brook Station. He currently manages the $11M Water Distribution Phase I 

project. 

Glenn physicist and science fiction writer Dr. Geoffrey A. Landis, Photovoltaics 

and Power Technology Branch, earned the 2014 Robert A. Heinlein Award. The 

award, sponsored by the Baltimore Science Fiction Society, is bestowed for 

outstanding published works in science fiction and technical writings that inspire 

the human exploration of space. The award recognizes Landis’ 4 books, 83 short 

stories and 76 poems, as well as more than 375 NASA technical publications.

Tomaro Named Chief, 

Protective Services

Christi Tomaro

has been appointed 

G l e n n ’s ch i e f 

for the Office of 

Protective Services. 

She ser ved as 

deputy chief for 

the office since 

2012. In this new 

position, Tomaro 

oversees the planning, development, 

review, execution and management 

of NASA Glenn’s security program. 

Tomaro

Retirements

Virginia Cantwell, 

IFPTE, Local

28, LESA Union, 

Center Operations 

Directorate, retired 

Jan. 3, 2014, with 

34 years of NASA 

experience. 

Cantwell

6
MARCH 2014

More Than a Memory News and Events

James W. Gauntner, 76, who retired in 2000 with 38 years of federal service, died 

Jan. 23. He was a senior aerospace engineer in the Supersonic Propulsion Office, who 

contributed to a 3–D in viscid code, critical to airplane engine analysis. Gauntner was 

a Silver Snoopy award winner and two-time Manned Flight Awareness honoree. He 

also won a 1995 FEB Wings of Excellence award for charitable service. His brother 

Dan, a retired NASA division chief (2009), survives him.

Theodore E. Klonk Jr., 85, who retired in 1974 with 27 years of federal service, died 

Jan. 7. Klonk was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, who joined NASA in 1949 as an 

apprentice and graduated as a flight propulsion mechanic. He became a work leader 

in several facilities at Plum Brook Station before heading the Experimental Service 

Unit, Reactor Division. After the reactor was put in standby mode, he became head of 

Unit-A, Rocket Service Experiment Section in the Facilities Division until retirement. 

James E. Martz, 83, who retired in 1986 with 31 years of federal service and nearly two 

decades as a contractor, died Jan. 20. Martz served in the U.S. Air Force prior to beginning 

his NASA career as a senior reactor operator at the Plum Brook Station Reactor Facility. 

He transferred to the Power Technology Division at Lewis Field, where he earned two 

NASA Group Achievement awards for his contributions to installation of more than 

80 stand-alone solar-electric power systems in remote areas of the United States and 

Africa (1976–1990). The systems brought clean water and electricity to those areas.

Donald A. Ohlemacher, 88, who retired in 1986 with 26 years of federal service, died Jan. 25. He was a U.S. Army veteran 

of World War II. Ohlemacher worked at Plum Brook Station in the Reactor and Space Power facilities as an electronic unit 

supervisor before transferring to Lewis Field. He was a member of the Phase I development team that earned a NASA Group 

Achievement award for the Systems Integration, Test and Evaluation Project.

Gauntner Klonk

Martz Ohlemacher

Calendar

FIRST ROBOTICS COMPETITION: Come 

see more than 1500 students from Ohio 

and across the nation show off their 

engineering design talent at the 13th 

annual Buckeye Regional FIRST (For 

the Inspiration and Recognition of 

Science and Technology) competition, 

March 20–22, at Cleveland State 

University’s Wolstein Center. Admission 

is free and open to the public. For more 

information and a schedule of events, 

visit http://www.oai.org/firstbuckeye/.

WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

OBSERVANCE: Glenn’s Women’s History 

Month Program will be Thursday, March 27, 

noon to 2 p.m., Administration Building 

Auditorium. The Federal Women’s

History Program Awards will be

presented during the event. POC: Amy 

Stalker, 3–3703.

NASA SCHOLARSHIP CALL: Applications are being taken for The NASA

College Scholarship Fund (NCSF),

established by noted Pulitzer Prize

winning author James A. Michener. The 

fund awards scholarships to qualified

dependents of current and retired NASA 

employees who are planning to major in 

science or engineering fields. Up to five 

$2,000 scholarships will be awarded

during the 2014–2015 school year. The 

scholarship is renewable. For application information visit http://nasapeople.

nasa.gov/nasascholarship/index.htm or

call Vanessa Webbs, 216–433–3768. The 

deadline is March 31, 2014.

IFPTE LOCAL 28, LESA MEETING: LESA 

will hold its next membership meeting 

Wednesday, April 9, noon, Employee

Center’s Small Dining Room. 

YURI’S NIGHT: Join the party at Glenn’s 

Visitor Center in the Great Lakes Science 

Center for the annual Yuri’s Night,

April 12, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. The event 

recognizes Soviet 

cosmonaut Yu r i 

Gagarin as the first 

human to journey 

into outer space and 

celebrates all human 

space exploration. Astronaut Greg 

Johnson will make a special appearance. 

For more information and tickets, visit 

http://www.greatscience.com/.

NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK: Glenn’s 

Science and Engineering 

Librar y will obser ve 

National Library Week, 

April 13–19. Look for more 

information on Today@

Glenn.

To Reach the 

Unreachable Stars

The Cleveland Pops Orchestra is 

dedicating their April 25th concert 

at 8 p.m. as a special tribute to the 

25 NASA astronauts from Ohio. 

Astronauts Mike Foreman and 

Dr. Don Thomas (retired) will be 

participating in this special program 

that will include NASA video 

footage. NASA also will provide 

lobby exhibits for pre-concert and 

intermission opportunities for the 

astronauts to interact with the 

audience. Watch Today@Glenn for 

information about discount tickets.

Emergency and Inclement 

Weather Lines

Lewis Field: 216-433-9328 (WEAT)

Plum Brook Station: 419-621-3333

7
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. 

April 2014 issue copy deadline: March 21, 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

Glenn Concludes Eventful 2013 CFC

NASA Glenn’s 2013 Combined Federal 

Campaign (CFC) Committee celebrated 

its successful campaign with an 

Appreciation and Awards Program, 

Feb.7. Employees exceeded the 

monetary goal by donating/pledging 

a total of $446,105.31. The funds 

will benefit thousands of nonprofit 

charities throughout Northeast Ohio 

and beyond. 

The CFC Committee faced particular 

challenges this year with the 

government shutdown occurring 

shortly after Glenn’s CFC kickoff. 

Thus, the team (and employees) had to 

keep the theme “Serving Our Country, 

Supporting Our Community” in their 

mind and hearts until they returned to 

work. The committee then had the task 

of rescheduling events and restarting 

the campaign, explained CFC Chair 

Jackie Barbetta. 

“A successful campaign under normal 

conditions requires a team commitment,” 

Barbetta affirmed. “However, the 2013 

campaign required that and more in 

the way of perseverance and passion.”

The campaign included a variety of 

special events, from the traditional 

to the new, to raise $15,089.39 in 

donations, a $3,000–plus increase 

from last year. Two of the new events 

included a competition between NASA 

Glenn and Langley Research Center 

and an agency fair at Plum Brook Station.

“The commitment, spirit and 

determination of the keyworkers and 

directorate chairs was tremendous in 

2013,” said Center Director Jim Free, 

who also served as 2013 North Coast 

Chairperson.

A CFC core committee of 32 directorate 

chairs and co-chairs met weekly 

throughout the campaign. This called 

on their time and talents as leads—with 

support from 120 keyworkers—on 

each major CFC event.

Barbetta and Co-chair Dawn Pottinger 

thanked employees for their support 

and the opportunity to lead NASA Glenn

in the North Coast Combined Federal

Campaign. Pottinger, who will chair the 

2014 CFC, encourages employees who 

may not have served in a CFC leadership 

role, to consider participating this year. 

“Being part of the CFC is hard work, 

but it’s an invigorating, impactful and 

fun intersection of the personal and 

professional,” said Pottinger. “It’s a 

leadership development opportunity 

that hones your project management 

skills and cross-functional engagement. 

Most importantly, it is an opportunity 

to make a positive difference in those 

lives served by charities.”

—By Doreen B. Zudell

C-2014-512 Photo by Bridget Caswell

2013 North Coast Chairperson Center 

Director Free thanked employees for their 

commitment to the campaign.

High Achievers

Highest Participation (Large

Organization): Space Flight Systems 

Directorate

Highest Participation (Small

Organization): Office of Chief Counsel 

(100 percent)

Chairperson of the Year: Dr. Jennifer

Xu, Research & Technology Directorate 

Keyworker of the Year: Kathryn Dunlap, 

Center Operations Directorate

8