VOLUME 22 • ISSUE 4 • APRIL 2020

 Orion Spacecraft 

Testing Success!

Page 4

Unity Empowers 

Workforce

Page 5

Early Careerists 

Become 

Ambassadors

Page 12 Breaking Ground for New Facility

Pages 2–3
2

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: Rhys Sampson, ATS

Managing Editor: Kelly R. DiFrancesco

Circulation: Angela Williams, ATS, 

 216–433–8921

Stay Safe and 

Communicate

As we celebrate the successful completion 

of the Artemis I Orion Crew and Service 

Module environmental test campaign, I 

am once again reminded of the dedication 

and commitment of Glenn’s workforce 

to deliver the mission. Our workforce is 

truly key to our success. The protection 

and health of our workforce continues to 

be my top priority as we respond to the 

coronavirus situation. Please continue 

to follow recommendations, monitor the 

agency NASA People website for the latest 

information and communicate regularly 

with your supervisor. Together, we will get 

through this and continue to accomplish 

great things for the nation and humanity.

Please take care of yourselves and your families.

DIRECTOR’S

SAFETY CORNER

NASA Glenn and agency senior leaders and guests 

ceremoniously broke ground at the construction site of 

the agency’s new Aerospace Communications Facility 

(ACF), March 4. They then joined center employees in the 

MIC Auditorium to celebrate the event.

Dr. Joel Kearns, Glenn’s director of Facilities, Test and 

Manufacturing, kicked off the festivities. He was joined 

by Center Director Dr. Marla Pérez-Davis; NASA Assistant 

Administrator for the Office of Strategic Infrastructure 

Calvin Williams; and Glenn’s Chief of the Communications 

and Intelligent Systems Division Dawn Emerson. The 

event included a large signature board of an artistic 

rendering of the new building for employees to sign, 

along with musical selections by the Lewis Ensemble. 

“We are celebrating the construction of the ACF, Glenn’s 

first new facility in over 35 years wholly focused on one 

of our research and development activities,” Kearns said. 

“Previous construction by Austin Company in Cleveland 

on projects of significant technical complexity, along with 

the experienced and dedicated design team from Ross 

Barney Architects and Glenn, gives me great confidence 

that this effort will be highly successful.”

Center Breaks Ground

on Aerospace 

Communications Facility

GRC-2020-C-01187 Photo by Bridget Caswell

Calvin Williams joins Dr. Pérez-Davis for ceremonial cake cutting. 
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APRIL 2020

GRC-2020-C-01135 Photo by Marvin Smith

Members of the NASA Glenn leadership and Communications and Intelligent Systems Division, and NASA Associate Administrator 

for the Office of Strategic Infrastructure, participate in the groundbreaking for the ACF. Pictured, left to right: Dr. Kearns, Emerson, 

Dr. Félix Miranda, Dr. Robert Romanofsky, Associate Center Director Larry Sivic, Dr. Pérez-Davis, Williams and Dr. Ajay Misra.

The new 54,000-square-foot facility will be 

NASA’s premier location for radio frequency 

communications technology research and 

development. It will allow NASA and commercial 

partners to develop faster, higher capacity 

communications for future missions to the 

Moon and Mars. It will also house research in 

advanced communications for future urban air 

mobility and autonomous flying vehicles.

Pérez-Davis shared her excitement for the ACF 

as part of a series of improvements and new 

construction at Lewis Field, under the center’s 

Master Plan to modernize and transform the 

campus. She highlighted a key design feature 

of the facility—a great deal of flexibility—to 

easily reconfigure space to meet NASA priorities 

of today, and decades to come. She also 

encouraged employees to learn about Glenn’s 

Master Plan for future construction/renovations, 

which Kearns presented earlier at a GRC 

Connections event. 

The ACF is designed to achieve Leadership 

in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) 

Gold certification and comply with current Life 

Safety and Americans with Disabilities Act 

On the Cover: Kimberly Sivillo, left, and 

Michelle Morris sign the large signature board 

of an artistic rendering of the new building. GRC-2020-C-01161 Photo by Jef Janis

requirements. Williams said this brings Glenn’s 

total to seven LEEDS-certified (four gold and three 

silver) buildings constructed since NASA began its 

Sustainability Design and Construction Program in 2004. 

Emerson expressed appreciation for the new 

ACF as an important milestone for the center and 

agency communications competency. “As we 

look to the future, NASA has very ambitious goals 

for exploration, science and aeronautics,” she 

said. “Glenn has a rich heritage and award-winning 

talent that has developed new communications 

technologies and novel systems solutions that will 

help the agency in achieving these bold goals.” 

The ACF is targeted for completion in May 2022. To 

view renderings of the new ACF, visit NASA Glenn’s 

Flickr page.

By S. Jenise Veris
4

In a small ceremony on March 14, NASA Glenn marked the 

completion of environmental testing of the Orion spacecraft 

for Artemis I at Plum Brook Station. Orion arrived at the Space 

Environments Complex in November for thermal vacuum and 

electromagnetic environment testing.

“Today, we are here to celebrate and recognize the amazing work 

just completed here at Plum Brook Station by the combined NASA, 

Lockheed Martin, ESA and Airbus team,” said Center Director 

Dr. Marla Pérez-Davis. “Over the past 4 months, our team has 

Smith, left, shares information about the completed tests. At her right are, left to 

right: Kirasich, Dr. Pérez-Davis and Rep. Kaptur.

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The Orion spacecraft in the Space Environments Complex vacuum chamber.

Photos by Marvin Smith

GRC-2020-C-01311 

Glenn Successfully Completes Orion 

Spacecraft Testing!

been hard at work, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, subjecting the 

spacecraft to extreme temperatures and the vacuum of space.”

Pérez-Davis said the spacecraft not only passed all the rigorous 

tests, but also did so ahead of schedule. 

U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur and Ohio State Rep. Adam Holmes, as 

well as Erie County Commissioners Patrick Shenigo, Stephen 

Shoffner and Matthew Old attended. Former Center Directors 

Jim Free and Dr. Woodrow Whitlow Jr., who were instrumental in 

getting the test to Glenn, also attended. Local and international 

media came to learn more about the testing and spread the word 

about this milestone.

NASA’s Orion Program Manager Mark Kirasich and Testing Project 

Manager Nicole Smith shared information about the completed 

tests and what’s next for Orion.

About a week after the ceremony, Orion was transported to the 

Mansfield Lahm Airport and flown back to NASA Kennedy. There 

it will go through final assembly, including installing the solar 

arrays, and integration with the Space Launch System rocket.

Artemis I is expected to launch next year without a crew and 

circle the Moon in the first flight of the integrated Orion spacecraft 

and Space Launch System rocket.

By Doreen B. Zudell
Steve Shih Visits, Promotes 

NASA Unity Campaign

On Sept. 6, Administrator Jim Bridenstine announced the launch of the NASA Unity Campaign. The goal of the 

campaign is to empower NASA’s workforce and organizations to work together more effectively to accomplish 

our missions. 

This sentiment is evident throughout Glenn’s leadership team. Center Director Dr. Marla Pérez-Davis has pledged 

her commitment to the campaign and to providing a culture where every employee feels appreciated, connected, 

empowered and valued.

In March, NASA’s Associate Administrator for Diversity and Equal Opportunity, Steve Shih, visited Glenn. During 

the visit, the center sponsored a town hall meeting at Lewis Field where Shih shared his personal experiences 

and research findings that stressed how positive relationships among colleagues are vital to achieving goals. He 

also discussed how the Unity Campaign aligns with NASA’s approach for current missions (e.g., Artemis), with 

an emphasis on transcendent goals and workforce connections (partnership and teamwork). 

As an additional benefit of Shih’s visit, he conducted anti-harassment training for Glenn supervisors and held a 

meeting with the senior management team. He also toured several research facilities at Plum Brook Station and 

Lewis Field.

Stay tuned to Today@Glenn for upcoming NASA Unity Campaign events. By Doreen B. Zudell

5

Left to right: Mike McVetta, Shih, Ashley Cantor and Kathy Zona in Vacuum Facility 6 in the Electric Propulsion Laboratory.

Shih talks about the significance of the NASA Unity Campaign during his town hall meeting.

Photos by Jef Janis

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GRC-20210-C-1289 
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Glenn’s 2019 Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) 

Appreciation Event on Feb. 27 acknowledged the 

efforts of employees, who through their time and 

donations helped Show Some Love to those in need. 

In the 2019 campaign, Glenn employees pledged over 

$270,000 and volunteered 428 hours toward causes 

they care about. 

Center Director Dr. Marla Pérez-Davis, Loaned 

Executive Andrea Bonesteel and CFC Chairperson 

Issam Boukabou thanked employees for their support 

throughout the campaign. Campaign Associate 

Director for the Northern Ohio Zone 28 Carol McClain 

stressed the willingness of employees to contribute to 

thousands of charities that work to improve the quality 

of life for all. 

Boukabou and Co-chair Mark Sorrells presented 

several certificates of achievement and appreciation 

to keyworkers. Boukabou received the Campaign 

Hero Award from the CFC management in downtown 

Cleveland. Diana Chan, Facilities, Test and 

Manufacturing Directorate, earned Keyworker of

the Year. NASA Glenn received the Spirit of the 

Community Award. 

The ceremony ended with Boukabou passing the CFC 

torch to Sorrells who will chair the 2020 campaign. 

By Doreen B. Zudell

Members of the CFC 2019 team.

GRC-2020-C-01250

Boukabou, right, with Keyworker of the Year Chan.

GRC-2020-C-01242

Photos by Bridget Caswell

Dr. Pérez-Davis wishes good luck to Sorrells for taking the 

CFC torch for the 2020 campaign.

GRC-2020-C-01248 

Center Celebrates Efforts for 2019 

Combined Federal Campaign 
APRIL 2020

7

Glenn Technology Inducted Into Space 

Technology Hall of Fame

On Feb. 28, Ragan Communications recognized NASA Glenn as one 

of the best internal communicators in the industry during its 2019 

Employee Communication Awards gathering. Glenn’s AeroSpace 

Frontiers newsletter received an Honorable Mention award as one of 

nine finalists in the print or digital newsletter category.

Ragan, based in Chicago, provides training, newsletters, seminars 

and awards for people who work in employee communications, public 

relations, social media and other fields.

AeroSpace Frontiers Earns Award

NASA Glenn’s Traveling Wave Tube Amplifier (TWTA) 

technology has been inducted into the Space 

Technology Hall of Fame. The team includes Glenn’s 

Dr. Rainee Simons, Dale Force, Dr. Jeffrey Wilson 

(retired) and Edwin Wintucky (retired)—along with 

their partners from L3 Electron Devices and L3 

Communication Systems-West. 

TWTAs have been the workhorse for telecommunications,

radio science and imaging radar systems on nearly all 

of NASA’s near-Earth and deep space missions. They 

are reliabile and can survive in space for extended 

periods. More than 90% of satellites launched feature 

TWTA-based payload configurations.

The team developed space TWTAs at several 

frequency bands (X-, K-, Ka- and Q-), enabling 

transmission of unprecedentedly high data rates. 

Spinoff applications that provide societal benefits 

include timely meteorology weather alerts, satellite 

television broadcasting, mobile phones, telemedicine 

and instant messaging, as well as high-speed internet 

service and cloud computing. Recent advancements to 

Q-band space TWTAs have transformed the technology 

to meet the commercial satellite communications 

market for the 5G—the fifth generation of wireless 

communications technology. 

The Space Foundation sponsors the Space Technology 

Hall of Fame to honor scientists, engineers and 

innovators for effectively adapting space technologies 

to improve the quality of life for all humanity.

By Lauren Simmers

Space Technology Hall of Fame inductees Force and Dr. 

Simons stand next to a 200-W Ka-band TWTA mounted on 

a cooling platform for lab testing. 

GRC-2020-C-00960 Photo by Bridget Caswell
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On Feb. 19, the African Heritage Advisory Group (AHAG) and Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity cosponsored a special program honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Black History Month. James D. Robenalt, 

author and local attorney, gave a thought-provoking account of the characters and events that spurred Cleveland’s 

involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. This included the election of Carl Stokes, the first black mayor of 

a major U.S. city. Robenalt explained how a speech by activist Malcolm X inspired the title of his latest book 

chronicling the period, “Ballots and Bullets: Black Power Politics and Urban Guerrilla Warfare in 1968 Cleveland.” 

Most people might not consider reporting close calls and mishaps while teleworking. However, the same rules 

apply as if you were working at your normal work location. If you do experience a close call or injure yourself, 

please contact your supervisor as soon as possible. If your supervisor is not available, please contact the Mishap 

Program Manager at 216–433–2085. Before it is reported, the circumstances will be assessed as to whether it 

is truly work related. 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Standard: Section 1904.5(b)(7) states: How do I 

decide if a case is work-related when the employee is working at home? Injuries and illnesses that occur while 

an employee is working at home, including work in a home office, will be considered work-related if the injury 

or illness occurs while the employee is performing work for pay or compensation in the home, and the injury or 

illness is directly related to the performance of work rather than to the general home environment or setting.

NEWS AND EVENTS

Author Accounts Cleveland’s

Contributions to Equality

Close Calls and Mishaps While Teleworking 

Robenalt, center, accepts a certificate of appreciation from AHAG Chair Eunice AdamsSipp and AHAG’s Executive Sponsor and Glenn’s Chief Information Officer Sean Gallagher.

GRC-2020-C-00885 Photos by Jef Janis

GRC-2020-C-00856
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Helpful Resources

Two NASA Glenn early careerists are the recipients of the agency’s prestigious Space Flight Awareness (SFA) 

Trailblazer Award.

Brandon T. Klefman, Power Architecture and Analysis Branch, received the award for proficient mastery of the System 

Performance Analysis for Capability Evaluation, a complex space power system simulation code, and its application to 

support NASA’s premier human space flight missions. He works collaboratively on teams responsible for shaping the 

designs of the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) and power and propulsion element’s electrical power systems.

Stephen L. McCarty, Mission Architecture and Analysis Branch, received the award for excellence in contributing to 

NASA’s human exploration missions through technical insight, leadership and innovation. He contributed to highperformance computing applied to the trajectory design and 

optimization for the power and propulsion element (PPE) as the 

propulsive element of NASA’s Gateway.

Glenn Analysts Merit SFA Trailblazer Awards

Klefman, right, accepts his Trailblazer Award presented by 

David Hoffman, his branch chief and nominating supervisor.

Astronaut Douglas Wheelock, Safety and Mission Assurance lead at Plum 

Brook Station, presents Trailblazer Award to McCarty, center, along with the 

nominating supervisor, Melissa McGuire. 

Photos by Jef Janis

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GRC-2020-C-00633

Fear and anxiety about the coronavirus can be 

overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults 

and children. Here are some resources that may help.

For voluntary, confidential, short-term and free mental 

health/wellness support, visit NASA’s Employee 

Assistance Program (EAP) website at

https://www.nasa.gov/offices/ochmo/divisions/health_

medsys/eap_info.html.

Contractors are encouraged to contact their employers 

for details on these services.

Updated agency guidance is available on the NASA People 

website at https://nasapeople.nasa.gov/home.htm. 

For the latest updates on the coronavirus, visit the 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at 

https://www.cdc.gov.

Keep the kids busy and learning at the same time on 

the NASA Kids’ club website at https://www.nasa.gov/

specials/nasaathome/index.html.
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MORE THAN A MEMORY

Francis “Frank” Stenger, 84, 

a 1982 retiree with 25 years of 

service, died Oct. 23, 2019. He 

began his career in the Propulsion 

Systems Division, working on 

the Big Joe Mercury capsule, 

and helped design the Gimbal 

Rig. By 1963, he was working on 

solar cells and the first capillary 

pumped loop in the Space Power 

Systems Division, prior to working 

on electric automobiles for the 

Transportation Propulsion Division. 

His wife Fedora (deceased), was a 

NASA research chemist.

Norma D. Curren, 91, a 1962 

retiree who served at the NACA/

NASA Lewis Flight Research 

Center, died Dec. 9, 2019. Curren 

was an executive administrative 

assistant who first supported 

the Correspondence Group in the 

Administration Building before 

moving to the Compressor and 

Turbine Division Office. Her 

husband, Arthur (deceased) was 

also a NASA employee. 

Dr. David Alan Jacqmin, 74, a 2014 retiree with nearly 34 years of service, 

died Dec. 12, 2019. Jacqmin was a physicist who worked in the Internal Fluid 

Mechanics Division for over a decade. He earned a 1996 Outstanding Leadership 

Medal for scientific achievement contributing to an understanding of the physics 

of space fluids, directly benefiting NASA’s microgravity and materials processing.

In 2011, he received a NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate’s Seedling 

Fund grant to develop innovative solutions to aeronautics technical challenges.

Dr. Jacqmin

Stenger

Glenn’s Danielle Koch and Chris Colwell celebrated Engineers Week with eighth graders at Clark Elementary 

School in Cleveland and St. Ambrose Catholic School in Brunswick. Both schools built models of their 

“Future City,” complete with moving parts and water systems. The St. Ambrose Future City team won third 

place in the Ohio Regional Future City Competition in January. They used their city model to inspire and 

invite students at Clark to give the contest a try. The two model cities were on display in Glenn’s cafeteria in 

March. Koch, Acoustics Branch, and Colwell, Facilities Division Engineering Branch, tutor at Clark during the 

school year through the Federal Executive Board Tutoring Program.

A Tale of Two Future Cities

Koch, left, and Colwell in front of Future City displays in the Lewis Field cafeteria.

GRC-2020-CN-00010

Curren
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APRIL 2020

GSEL MOBILE LIBRARIAN

For details about upcoming Mobile 

Library locations, please contact 

Robin Pertz, 3–5776, or Jillien Zudell, 

3–8058.

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

Stay tuned to Today@Glenn for 

updates on these activities.

IFPTE LOCAL 28, LESA MEETING

LESA will hold its next membership 

meeting, Wednesday, May 13, noon, 

in the Glenn Employee Center’s Small 

Dining Room.

The Emergency Management 

Office staff will conduct an audible 

siren test on the “shelter and aid 

stations” tone on Saturday, May 2. A 

mass notification voice test will be 

conducted at bldg. 86 on Wednesday, 

May 6 at Lewis Field. 

POC: Allen Turner, 3–6826

OUTDOOR SIREN TESTING

The NASA Glenn Prayer Group 

invites all members of the Glenn 

community to join them for a Christian 

observance of this special day, 

Thursday, May 7. This year’s theme is 

“Pray God’s Glory Across the Earth.” 

Observances will be at 7:30 and 

11:30 a.m. See Today@Glenn or type 

“Prayer” in the WING Transporter for 

locations and details. 

POC: Dale Mortensen, 3–6823.

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER 

The TRIBA Golf league is a fun and 

competitive mixed league that golfs at 

Creekwood Golf Course in Columbia 

Station on Tuesdays, beginning April 

14. If you, your colleagues, friends and 

family are interested in golfing this 

season, come join the fun!

POC: Richard.A.Manco@nasa.gov or 

216–433–6054

TRIBA GOLF LEAGUE

SPINOFF 2020—SPINOFF.NASA.GOV

NASA has released the annual edition of Spinoff, highlighting 

all the ways NASA technology makes life better on Earth. 

This year’s edition of Spinoff includes technology to make 

the air space safer for drones, a camera that will help cars 

drive themselves and much more. Watch the video and read 

more at spinoff.nasa.gov.

Since 1976, Spinoff has annually profiled an average of 50 

commercial technologies with origins in NASA missions and 

research. Issues of Spinoff published since 1996 can be read 

online in HTML or downloaded in PDF. Scanned copies of 

Spinoff are available in PDF for issues published between 

1976 and 1995.

April 22, 2020, marks the

50th anniversary of Earth Day

Watch Today@Glenn

for details about 

forthcoming

Earth Day activities.
National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration

John H. Glenn Research Center 

Lewis Field

21000 Brookpark Road 

Cleveland, Ohio 44135

Plum Brook Station

3597 E. Scheid Road

Sandusky, Ohio 44870

www.nasa.gov

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

Emergency and Inclement Weather Lines 

Lewis Field: 216–433–9328 (WEAT) 

Plum Brook Station: 419–621–3333

Connect With Glenn

During the NextGen Ambassador Program Orientation, Feb. 24, 16 early career employees gathered at the Guerin House 

to learn how they can spread the word about NASA’s mission. 

The NextGen Ambassador Program is a new initiative at NASA Glenn. The 2-year program engages and develops early 

career employees in NASA’s mission by offering them opportunities throughout the year to support official events, 

activities and initiatives in various capacities.

“The program will help early careerists expand their professional network, adding outreach experience to their resume 

and helping NASA connect to one of its most important audiences—the public,” said Antoine Moss, program manager. 

NexGen Ambassadors:

Center Operations Directorate

Andrew Deenanauth and Megan Sorrelle 

Facilities, Test and Manufacturing Directorate

Mark Archual, Emily Fabian, Frank Kaufhold and Gretchen Morales-Valle

Research and Engineering Directorate

Stephanie Booth, Ru-Ching Chen, Anastasia Cunningham, Ian Haskin, Lyndsey McMillon-Brown,

Emma Pierson, Leah Struchen Deans, Lucia Tian and Zachary Zoloty

Mission and Safety Assurance Directorate

Daniel Phan

Photo by Jef Janis

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Early Careerists Become Ambassadors

NextGen Ambassador Program Coordinator, Moss, far left, and Center Director Dr. Marla Pérez-Davis, center, with NextGen Ambassadors.