VOLUME 19 ISSUE 2 FEBRUARY 2017

John Glenn: Beloved Friend 

and Advocate of NASA Glenn

GRC-1999-C-01196

Glenn and his wife, Annie, visit Lewis Little Folks Child Development Center students 

in 1999.

Former astronaut and U.S. Senator John H. Glenn Jr., who died Dec. 8, 2016, was a 

dear friend and supporter of NASA’s Glenn Research Center. In tribute to Glenn’s 

extraordinary contributions to the nation and dedication to improving the space 

program, NASA renamed the Lewis Research Center as the John H. Glenn Research 

Center at Lewis Field on March 1, 1999.

One of Glenn’s earliest visits to the center was in 1960 when he trained on the 

Multiple-Axis Space Test Inertia Facility (“gimbal rig”), as part of his Mercury Project 

training. Through the years, including four terms as a U.S. Senator from Ohio, Glenn 

remained a loyal supporter to NASA Glenn’s Lewis Field and Plum Brook Station.

“John Glenn was an inspiration to me and so many others,” said Center Director 

Dr. Janet Kavandi. “When you met him you saw what a great human being he was, 

and you wanted to be like him. I cannot think of a better hero that we would name 

our center after.”

Turn to page 4 for pictorial highlights of John Glenn’s support 

to the center and the Cleveland area over the years.

“Hidden Figures” 

Events Heighten 

STEM Awareness

NASA Glenn partnered with 

Cuyahoga Community College 

(Tri-C) and the Cleveland Public 

Library to create an educational 

and inspirational experience the 

weekend of Jan. 13–14. They leveraged the nationwide release of 

the movie, Hidden Figures, to engage students, educators and the 

general public in STEM-related 

activities and programming. 

The film, Hidden Figures, is 

based on the book by Margot 

Lee Shetterly. It chronicles the 

lives of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary 

Jackson and Katherine Johnson, 

African American women trained 

as mathematicians who served as 

NASA “human computers.” Their 

contributions proved critical to 

the space race and the success of 

our own John Glenn’s Friendship 

7 mission. Continued on page 3

GRC-2017-C-000398 Photo by Bridget Caswell

Students explore the STEM activity, 

Liquid Cooling Ventilation Garment, 

one of several led by Glenn subject 

matter experts at the Tri-C event.

In This Issue

Director’s Safety Corner .............. 2

Best Place to Work......................... 2

New Jet Engine Test..................... 2

John Glenn Memories ...............4–5

New Magnetics Lab...................... 6

2016 CFC Highlights ...................... 8
Time of Remembrance

As we forge ahead in meeting exciting challenges in the new year, this is 

also the time of year that we, as a NASA family, pause to remember the 

heroes who sacrificed their lives for exploration. The lessons learned from 

the Apollo 1, Challenger and Columbia missions remain a vivid reminder 

of the value of a strong safety culture. These lessons were brought to 

the forefront during former Administrator Bolden’s Executive Safety 

Leadership discussion last month. As we continue our quest to explore 

the universe, I encourage everyone to learn from our mishaps, incorporate 

human factors in our daily work, and foster an environment where 

differences of opinion are heard and valued.

Join me in remembering the sacrifices of our beloved heroes. 

 —Janet

NASA Ranked Best 

Place to Work—Again!

For the fifth 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 2016 rankings 

include the views of more than 421,000 

civil servants from 379 federal organizations on a wide range of workplace 

topics. NASA’s 2016 index score was 

2.5 points higher than in 2015. The survey revealed that federal employees at 

NASA who participated in the survey believe the agency’s leaders have sought 

to enhance job satisfaction by stepping 

up their focus on effective leadership, 

employee skills, pay, strategic management, teamwork, innovation, training 

and development, work-life balance, 

support for diversity and performancebased rewards and advancement. The 

annual Best Places to Work in the Federal Government® rankings are produced 

by the nonprofit, nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service and Deloitte. 

NASA Runs First-Ever Test of New Jet Engine Technology

NASA is helping the aircraft industry 

increase fuel efficiency by working to 

create new aircraft engine designs. 

Glenn engineers are testing a new fan 

and inlet design, commonly called a 

propulsor, which could increase fuel efficiency by 4 to 8 percent more than the 

advanced engine designs airlines are beginning to use.

On today’s jet aircraft, the engines are 

typically located away from the aircraft’s body to avoid ingesting the layer 

of slower flowing air that develops along 

the aircraft’s surfaces called boundary 

layer. Aerospace engineers believe they 

can reduce fuel burn by embedding an 

aircraft’s engine into these surfaces and 

ingesting the boundary layer airflow to 

propel the aircraft through its flight.

But this can be challenging because 

boundary layer airflow is highly distorted, and that distortion affects the way 

the fan performs and operates. These 

new designs require a stronger fan. 

Glenn is testing a new propulsor in its 

8- by 6-foot wind tunnel. Designed by 

United Technologies Research Center 

with research conducted by Virginia 

Polytechnic and State University, the 

rugged boundary-layer-ingesting (BLI) 

inlet-fan combination is the first of its 

kind ever to be tested.

The highly experimental tests required 

years of preparation. Many industry, 

NASA and academic experts contributed to the design and analysis of the 

propulsor. Glenn engineers also modified the wind tunnel to accept a larger 

model, a boundary-layer control system 

and a way to power the experiment.

To learn more about this testing, visit 

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasaruns-first-ever-test-of-new-jet-enginetech. By Jan Wittry

This illustration shows 

an engine fan and inlet 

ingesting boundary layer 

air in a wind tunnel.

2

Photo by NASA
FEBRUARY 2017

Hidden Figures

Continued from page 1

More than 300 mostly female students from 14 schools in the Cleveland 

Metropolitan School District and nearby schools, along with educators, viewed 

Hidden Figures, Friday, Jan. 13. After the movie, everyone traveled to Tri-C’s 

metro campus event to have lunch and participate in a variety of STEM activities. 

The program featured three of NASA Glenn’s Modern Figures—Quynhgiao Nguyen, 

Lizalyn Smith and Carol Tolbert—current female leaders in their fields. 

“We talked about their favorite character in the movie and how their story inspired 

the students,” Tolbert said “We also talked about different types of STEM careers 

and the necessary preparation and resources available to achieve it.” 

A panel discussion with STEM professionals stressed the importance of a learning 

environment that encourages student curiosity and discovery for potential careers. 

Panelists included Dr. Christine Darden, a former NASA aeronautical design engineer and expert on sonic boom research; Dr. Carolyn Williams, director of Education at the non-profit foundation, From One Hand to Another; and Jon Nichols, 

director of Analytics for the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers. 

On Saturday, Jan. 14, the public engaged in several STEM activities at the Cleveland 

Public Library. Glenn’s Director of Center Operations Robyn Gordon emceed the 

main event, the STEM Leadership Program. It included videotaped messages from 

NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden, Glenn Center Director Dr. Janet Kavandi and 

former Center Director Dr. Julian Earls, and a panel discussion. Dr. Carolyn Williams 

moderated the panel, featuring Glenn’s Deputy Director Dr. Marla Pérez-Davis, former Center Director Dr. Woodrow Whitlow, Jr. and Dr. Christine Darden. They 

discussed the impact of the movie, sources of inspiration and experiences that have 

been beneficial to their careers. 

“You should not allow labels, preconceived notions or ability to limit your opportunities,” Dr. Pérez-Davis said, responding to a female millennial’s question related to 

the movie’s impact. “All employees need to work harder at being open to diverse 

ideas to safely achieve our missions.” 

Rounding out the festivities, the Great Lakes Science Center, which houses NASA 

Glenn’s Visitor Center, invited the public to participate in STEM activities related to 

Hidden Figures on Monday, Jan. 16. By S. Jenise Veris

GRC-2017-C-00156 Photo by Marvin Smith

Tolbert, one of Glenn’s Modern Figures, 

explains the potential for space applications at the 3–D manufacturing exhibit 

in the library.

GRC-2017-C-00153 Photo by Marvin Smith

Glenn Associate Director for Strategy 

Therese Griebel, right, participated 

in a group discussion on the book 

“Hidden Figures.”

GRC-2017-C-000346 Photo by Bridget Caswell

Tri-C panelist Dr. Darden, who was also 

a human computer profiled in the book 

“Hidden Figures,” shared her perspective 

on readiness to meet opportunity.

GRC-2017-C-00196 Photo by Marvin Smith

STEM leadership panelists, left to right, Dr. Pérez-Davis, Dr. Whitlow and Dr. Darden. 

Dr. Williams, at the podium, served as moderator.

3
John Glenn: Beloved Friend and Advocate of NASA Glenn

GRC-1960-C-52742

Glenn trains in the Multiple-Axis Space Test Inertia Facility (gimbal rig) 

as part of Mercury Project training in 1960.

GRC-1991-C-08673

Dr. Howard Ross and Dr. Sandra Olsen 

show Senator Glenn the Solid Surface 

Combustion Experiment in 1991, the 

center’s first combustion experiment 

on the space shuttle.

GRC-1999-C-01164

Glenn and his wife, Annie, on a float in 

the parade, part of the center renaming 

festivities in 1999.

GRC-2001-C-01587

Glenn cuts the cake in celebration of 

NASA Glenn’s 60th Anniversary in 2001. 

U.S. Congressman Dennis Kucinich 

and Annie Glenn look on. 

GRC-2006-C-00353

Center Director Dr. Woodrow Whitlow 

Jr., left, and Deputy Director Rich 

Christiansen toured the center with 

Glenn during a strategic partnership 

meeting with Ohio State University in 

2006. This was Glenn’s last visit to 

the center.

C-2012-03840

Glenn with Cleveland Indians’ mascot, 

Slider, after Glenn threw out the first 

pitch at Progressive Field in 2012.

GRC-2008-C-02455

Glenn, flanked by astronauts Neil Armstrong, left, and Jim Lovell, during the 2008 

Ohio Astronauts Reunion, at Cleveland's Gala Celebration of NASA's 50th Anniversary.

4
FEBRUARY 2017

The center and Cleveland 

celebrate the 50th anniversary 

of Glenn’s first orbital flight 

around the Earth as the 

first American, 

held at Cleveland State 

University in 2012.

Photos courtesy of NASA Glenn's Image Archives

GRC_2016_CN_00221

Glenn lies in repose, under U.S. Marine Corps honor guard, in the 

rotunda at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Dec. 16, 2016.

GRC-2016-C-09742

Glenn is moved from the Ohio Statehouse to The Ohio State 

University for a Celebration of Life Service, Dec. 16, 2016.

For more information on John Glenn’s life and contributions, visit

https://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/about/bios/john_glenn.html.

GRC-2012-C-01295

Godspeed, John Glenn. Ad Astra.

5
NASA Glenn Propels Energy Conversion Evolution

NASA Glenn recently acquired a large-scale planar flow caster capable of producing customized soft alloy magnetic 

ribbons measuring 1 mile long and up to 50 mm wide. The caster is considered the largest in the nation for 

conducting magnetic material research. 

Located in Glenn’s Magnetic Material Fabrication and Characterization Lab, the new caster supports 

NASA’s hybrid electric aircraft propulsion and power management. It affords Glenn’s researchers 

and partners the ability to improve and advance energy conversion technology for electric aircraft as well as conduct large-scale testing for commercial use in a variety of fields.

“This is important when you want to move away from basic research and actually 

make a realistically sized component,” said Randy Bowman, head of Glenn’s Magnetic Material lab. “Few labs have the diverse suite of instruments we have.”

The lab offers fundamental alloy design, can produce large quantities of 

customized material and is able to fabricate actual components—making it A coil of so a one-stop-shop with a cradle-to-grave production capability. magnetic rib

produced Glenn welcomes collaboration with other federal entities, industry, Glenn’s ne academia and other interested groups. For more information on large-scal Glenn’s Magnetic Material Fabrication and Characterization Lab visit caster.

http://go.nasa.gov/2kkK4H7. Those interested in collaborating should GRC-2016-CN-0 contact Bowman at Randy.R.Bowman@nasa.gov. Photo by

By Deborah Lockhart Randy Bowm

News and Events

Bolden and Dr. Newman Bid Farewell

NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden and Deputy Administrator Dr. Dava Newman 

gave an uplifting, heartfelt farewell to the NASA family during an agencywide town 

hall hosted at Headquarters, Jan. 12. Both thanked the entire workforce—the NASA 

family—for the consistent excellence and passionate support to the agency. The 

town hall featured a video of well-wishes to Bolden and Newman from personnel across the agency, and another narrated by notable actor/director/producer 

LeVar Burton. Burton chronicled Bolden’s legacy of service as a marine and an 

astronaut and showed highlights of agency accomplishments under his leadership 

as NASA administrator. 

Emergency and Inclement 

Weather Lines 

Lewis Field: 216–433–9328 (WEAT) 

Plum Brook Station: 419–621–3333

Connect With Glenn

Senator Receives 

Update on Plum Brook 

Glenn’s Deputy Center Director Dr. 

Marla Pérez-Davis, Plum Brook Director David Stringer, and Space Flight 

Systems Director Bryan Smith, accompanied U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown on 

a recent visit to Plum Brook Station. 

Brown, along with members of his staff 

and the local Friends of NASA’s Plum 

Brook, an Ohio organization, toured the 

campus to better understand the full capabilities of Plum Brook’s world-class 

test facilities. They received overviews 

and viewed test articles in three of the 

four test facilities. 

GRC-2017-C-00277

Sen. Brown, second from the right, on 

a tour of the high bay area of the Space 

Environmental Complex inside the 

Plum Brook Space Power Facility.

Photo by Rami Daud

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on 

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GRC-2017-CN-00001 Photo by Andrea Bonesteel

6
FEBRUARY 2017

Awards

Dr. Kankam Named IEEE Fellow

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 

(IEEE) has bestowed the rank of fellow on Glenn’s

Dr. Mark David Kankam, in honor of his contributions 

to space and terrestrial power systems control. The IEEE 

fellow is one of the most prestigious honors bestowed 

upon a very limited number of senior members who have 

contributed significantly to the advancement or application of electrical, electronic or computing fields and related 

areas of science, engineering and technology. Kankam

currently serves as Glenn’s University Affairs Officer in the 

Office of Education.

Dr. Kankam

Retirements

Ten-Huei Guo, Intelligent Control and Autonomy Branch, 

Communications and Intelligent Systems Division, retired 

Dec. 31, 2016, with 27 years of service. 

Gary G. Kelm, Systems Engineering and Architecture Division, Research and Engineering Directorate, retired Jan. 3, 

2017, with 40 years of service.

Damaris Klanac, Logistics and Technical Information Division, Center Operations Directorate, retired Dec. 30, 2016, 

with 31 years of service. 

Hugh McLaughlin, Logistics and Technical Information Division, Center Operations 

Directorate, retired Dec. 28, 2016, with 50 years of service.

Jeffrey Wilson, Advanced High Frequency Branch, Communications and Intelligent 

Systems Division, retired Jan. 3, 2017, with 34 years of service.

Guo

FRIENDSHIP 7

55-Year Anniversary

February 20, 1962

Glenn’s “Meet the Makers” web 

series introduces employees who 

developed tools to optimize their 

work processes. Follow this link, 

go.nasa.gov/2j6o3Ln, for a look at 

how Glenn employees are pushing 

the boundaries and using out-ofthe-box thinking to move research 

forward. To nominate a maker, 

contact Nikki.D.Welch@nasa.gov.

Calendar

NASA RETIRED WOMEN’S LUNCHEON:

The NASA Retired Women's Luncheon 

is Thursday, Feb. 16, at 1 p.m. at Miss 

Hickory's Tea Room, 14217 Mill Hollow Lane (off of Route 82) in Strongsville. Please confirm your place by 

calling Gerry Ziemba at 330–273–4850 

or email gto64gerry@yahoo.com.

MARCH SIREN TESTING:

The Emergency Management Office 

staff will conduct the Lewis Field outdoor “voice” test at Building 15 on 

Wednesday, March 1. An audible siren 

test focusing on the “all clear” tone 

will be held at Lewis Field on Saturday, 

March 4. POC: Allen Turner, 3–6826

WOMEN IGNITE:

The theme of the 2017 Women IGNITE 

is “Readiness, Resilience, Results.” The 

event takes place on March 8, from 9 

a.m. to 12:30 p.m., MIC Auditorium. 

POC: Marlena Hudson, 3–8928. Visit 

the new website at https://www.grc.

nasa.gov/ohcm/jc/employee-development/women-ignite/.

IFPTE LOCAL 28, LESA MEETING:

LESA will hold its next membership 

meeting, Wednesday, March 8, noon, 

in the Glenn Employee Center’s Small 

Dining Room.

OUTREACH HELP: GIRLS TAKE FLIGHT 

Looking for staffing for Girl Scouts 

Girls Take Flight event for grades 2 to 

5 (Brownies and Juniors) on Saturday, 

March 25, at Case Western Reserve University. POC: Dennis Stocker, 3–2166

NASA SPINOFF ONLINE: 

The 2017 NASA Spinoff publication and 

an iPad application are now available and 

feature how NASA is “Bringing Technology Down to Earth.” Visit https://spinoff.

nasa.gov/Spinoff2017/.

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 Office of 

Communications & External Relations in the interest of the Glenn 

workforce, retirees, government officials, business leaders and 

the general public. Submit short articles and calendar items via 

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

March 2017 Calendar section deadline: Feb. 17

News and feature stories require additional time

Editor: Doreen B. Zudell, ATS

Assistant Editor: S. Jenise Veris, ATS

Managing Editor: Kelly R. DiFrancesco

Read AeroSpace Frontiers online at http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/news/AF/index.html

55 Years: Continuing a Legacy of Giving

Thanks to the generosity of Glenn employees, the center exceeded its Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) goal in 2016, 

contributing more than $426,000 to those in need! The 2016 CFC included several events—both committee- and directoratesponsored—that provided opportunities for employees at Lewis Field and Plum Brook Station to support a vast network of 

deserving nonprofit organizations. Fifty-two organizations reached 55 percent participation and received homemade baked 

goods, while 16 organizations reached 90 percent participation. Chair Mary Jo Long-Davis and Co-Chair Dale Hopkins hosted an 

appreciation event, Feb. 2, to thank the many volunteers who dedicated their time to this worthy cause and the staff for their 

continued support of the campaign.

GRC-2016-C-08863 Photo by Rami Daud GRC-2016-C-09441 Photo by Rami Daud

GRC-2016-C-09539 Photo by Bridget Caswell GRC-2016-CN-00017 Photo by Doreen Zudell

GRC-2016-CN-00016 Photo by Doreen Zudell