60th Anniversary 

Celebration Recap

Pages 6–7

Apollo Program

Reflections 

Page 8

Safeguarding

Online Information 

Page 12

CFC: What’s 

Your Cause? 

Pages 2–3

VOLUME 20 • ISSUE 12 • DECEMBER 2018
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: Jami Drost, ATS

Managing Editor: Kelly R. DiFrancesco

Circulation: Angela Williams, ATS, 

 216–433–8921

Congratulations on a 

Safe and Successful Year

We completed an incredibly productive 

year at Glenn Research Center with the 

safe delivery of the European Service 

Module (ESM) to the Kennedy Space 

Center for integration. Many Glenn 

engineers and managers worked 

collaboratively with our partners and 

stakeholders to provide requirement 

and hazard control verifications 

that led to this significant space 

flight milestone for the Exploration 

Mission-1. My appreciation goes out to 

the entire Glenn workforce for a year 

full of programmatic and operational 

achievements that were accomplished 

with safety in mind. With your help, 

we will see many more remarkable 

accomplishments in the coming year.

Have a well-deserved, safe and joyous 

holiday season! 

Combined Federal Campaign

Choose your cause and show some love

Cancer research, homelessness, environmental protection or 

animal welfare. What is your cause and how can you make a 

positive impact? Glenn’s Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) 

committee asked employees to reflect on this question during 

the 2018 campaign kickoff on Oct. 25.

The audience enjoys a lively game of CFC trivia during the kickoff event. 

GRC-2018-C-08638

Photos by Marvin Smith

By Doreen B. Zudell
Your pledges count! To donate, visit the donation portal—https://cfcgiving.opm.gov/welcome

 Retirees may visit https://ohiocfc.org/federal-retiree-giving to choose a cause and learn more about their role in the CFC.

This year’s theme “Show Some Love” encourages employees and retirees 

to help improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods and around the 

world. The CFC is a proven network that offers confidence, convenience 

and choice in helping to meet this goal. 

During the kickoff, CFC Chairperson Terri Rodgers welcomed special 

guests, Center Director Janet Kavandi, Ohio CFC Zone 28 Local Outreach 

Coordinator Carol McClain and representatives from several local CFCmember organizations. CFC Committee members Candice McDonald and 

Scott Thompson led a lively CFC trivia game with the audience. 

Rodgers encouraged employees to visit https://www.grc.nasa.gov/cfc/, 

the Glenn CFC website, for updates on the campaign. Enhancements 

to the donation portal make it easy to make monetary donations. CFC 

participants may also donate volunteer time, instead of (or in addition to) 

making a monetary donation. Not all charities solicit volunteer time—but 

for those that do, the process is similar to making a monetary donation.

“The generosity of Glenn employees and retirees throughout the years is 

truly amazing,” Rodgers said. “Last year, participants donated $307,230 

and 1,858 volunteer hours!”

The 2018 campaign runs through Jan. 11. Rodgers, Co-Chairperson Issam 

Bouckabou and Loaned Executive Osvaldo Rivera, along with keyworkers 

throughout Lewis Field and Plum Brook Station, are eager to assist 

employees in helping support their personal causes through the CFC.

“Show some love enables us to collectively

join together to make the world a better place,” said 

Center Director Janet Kavandi. “Please help our center 

continue our tradition of giving to the causes we love.”

When you give through the CFC, you are given 

confidence, convenience and choice.

Confidence: Donors can give with confidence knowing this is a federally 

regulated program.

Convenience: The CFC is convenient for donors and charities.

Choice: The CFC provides a myriad of choices from how to pledge to the 

thousands of charities donors can choose to support.

Do you recognize your key worker on the CFC 2018 team? To find your key worker, visit https://www.grc.nasa.gov/cfc/.

CFC 2018 TEAM GRC-2018-C-08640

GRC-2018-C-08613

On the Cover: 

Glenn’s 2018 Combined 

Federal Campaign leaders, 

left to right, Osvaldo 

Rivera (loaned executive), 

Issam Bouckabou (cochairperson) and Terri 

Rodgers (chairperson) 

state their cause and Show 

Some Love. Won’t you?

GRC-2018-C-09435

Photo by Rami Daud

DECEMBER 2018

3
4

NEWS AND EVENTS

Tingle Worked on 

Glenn-Managed 

Experiments

Astronaut Scott Tingle, who served as a 

flight engineer on Expedition 54/55, hosted 

a post-flight briefing at Glenn on Oct. 18. 

He launched to the International Space 

Station aboard the Soyuz spacecraft on 

Dec. 17, 2017, and returned on June 3, 

2018. Tingle shared highlights of living and 

working on the space station, including 

his spacewalk, which he called “one of the 

coolest and hardest things I’ve ever done.” 

Tingle completed hundreds of experiments 

during his mission, including work on 

several of Glenn’s experiments within the 

Combustion Integrated Rack and Fluids 

Integrated Rack.

Striving for Inclusion in the Workplace

During Glenn’s 2018 Hispanic Heritage Month 

Observance on Sept. 26, Veronica Villalobos, 

principal deputy associate director for the U.S. 

Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM’s) Employee 

Services Division, talked about the importance of 

inclusion in the workplace. She shared some of her 

experiences with bias and ignorance and stressed 

the need for cultural awareness when interacting 

in a diverse environment. Dr. Rubén Del Rosario, 

director of Aeronautics, left, then led a questionand-answer session with employees and Villalobos, 

right. Glenn’s Hispanic Advisory Group, in partnership 

with the Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity, 

hosted the event.

GRC-2018-C-07637

Photo by Bridget Caswell

GRC-2018-C-08374 Photo by Rami Daud
DECEMBER 2018

5

During the annual International Space Apps Challenge hosted at Lewis Field, Oct. 19 to 21, space enthusiasts 

from across the region came to Glenn to develop mobile applications, software, hardware, data visualizations 

and platform solutions that address challenges we face on Earth and in space. The international event is spread 

across 75 countries. For the first time, the event featured a day-long design challenge for K–12 students. 

Projects included building and programming robots. Speakers, tours, demonstrations and an awards ceremony 

rounded out the 48-hour event. 

Space Apps Address Challenges on Earth and in Space

In order to seek, train for and maintain employment, 

some people with severe disabilities may require 

personal assistance services to assist them with 

activities of daily living. During Glenn’s Disability 

Employment Awareness Event, Oct. 25, Maria 

Wolf, independent living specialist, explained how 

personal care assistance programs such as Linking 

Employment, Abilities and Potential (LEAP) can help. 

The Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity (ODEO) 

Director, Aretha Carr, opened the event by providing 

an overview of the recent Equal Employment 

Opportunity Commission changes to Section 501 of 

the Rehabilitation Act. The ODEO and the Disability 

Awareness Advisory Group sponsored the event. 

Assisting People With 

Disabilities to Gain, 

Maintain Employment 

GRC-2018-CN-00051

Photo by Brian Sommers

GRC-2018-C-08959

Photo by Bridget Caswell
Glenn celebrated NASA’s 60th anniversary in a variety of ways—in and outside of the center! 

Thanks for joining in on the celebration! Here are some highlights.

Center Picnic Celebration

Strike up the band! Glenn had more reason to celebrate during this year’s 

Center Picnic on Aug. 23—NASA’s 60th anniversary. 

60th Anniversary Lunch Series

Over the summer, Glenn hosted the 60th x Six 

lunch series. The series, which featured six topics, 

was intended to connect Glenn employees in an 

engaging networking event. Pictured, left, Betsy 

Kling and Deborah Waters.

Special Tour of Lewis Field

Golden Astronaut ticket recipients were 

able to visit and tour Lewis Field on 

Sept. 29. Guests visited several research 

facilities and attended a presentation by 

former astronaut Gregory “Box” Johnson.

GRC-2018-C-06707 GRC-2018-C-06293

Family Fun at Work

Employees and family members enjoyed an exciting day at Lewis Field on 

Aug. 25. The 60th Anniversary Family Day included tours of select Glenn 

test facilities; and engaging, hands-on activities for all ages.

GRC-2018-C-05598

GRC-2018-C-08131

NASA 60th Anniversary Highlights
Visitor Center Extravaganza

Glenn hosted an anniversary celebration in its visitor 

center at Great Lakes Science Center on Sept. 29. 

This event was open to the public and featured 

exhibits, demonstrations and an opportunity to meet 

former astronaut Gregory “Box” Johnson.

Happy Birthday, NASA!

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration officially opened for business 

on Oct. 1, 1958. On Oct. 1, 2018, Glenn staff gathered for a culminating event 

that included cutting of a birthday cake.

DECEMBER 2018

GRC-2018-C-07347

GRC-2018-C-08341

Focus on Technology

Glenn’s Evening With the Stars was held at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on 

Sept. 18. The program featured presentations by, left to right, Ashlie Flegel, 

Carl Sandifer and Dr. Erin Reed, on NASA Glenn technology. Administrator 

Jim Bridenstine also participated!

Thirty 60-Second Stories in 60 Days

Women at Glenn: 60 Seconds for the 60th video series 

highlighted women at NASA—their work, their legacy 

and advice they have for the next generation. Pictured: 

Rochelle May.

GRC-2018-CN-00055

GRC-2018-C-07203

Golden Astronaut 

Outreach Events

Fifty Golden Astronaut tickets 

were randomly distributed at over 

a dozen outreach events throughout the year. The tickets made the 

recipient a candidate to receive 

up to four entries to attend the 

special tour. Pictured: former 

astronaut Mike Foreman.

Photos by Imaging Technology Center

GRC-2018-C-04047
From October 2018 through December 2022, 

NASA will mark the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 

Program that landed a dozen astronauts on the 

moon between July 1969 and December 1972.

Here’s a snapshot of the Apollo missions that 

flew during the month of December: 

Apollo 8 and Apollo 17.

Apollo Program 

Reflections The buildup of ice on aircraft is a deadly multibillion-dollar-per-year 

problem in the aerospace industry. Ice adhesion—ice sticking to aircraft 

structures—is the driving cause of the problem. 

A team of researchers is taking a deep dive in this area by conducting a 

series of tests to measure adhesion strength and material properties of 

ice under the Revolutionary Vertical Lift Technology and Advanced Air 

Transport Technology programs. Researchers simultaneously collect a 

large number of ice samples in the Icing Research Tunnel. These samples 

are then tested and characterized in the Revolutionary Icing Materials 

Evaluation Lab (RIMELab), CW–19, in the Engine Research Building.

The team has collected more than 800 samples over the course of a year 

of testing, providing the foundation for a new ice shedding model. The 

model would aid aerospace manufacturers by providing better predictions 

of the risk associated with shedding on helicopter rotors and engines and 

enable the design of more efficient deicing equipment.

Researchers include Dr. Andrew Work, Dr. Andy Gyekenyesi, Dr. Jon 

Salem, Eric Kreeger, Dr. Derek Quade and interns Ernestina Schirmer and 

Rebekah Douglass.

Dr. Work, left, and Dr. Gyekenyesi with adhesion test stand in the RIMELab.

GRC-2018-CN-00053

Photo by Andrew Work

A Look

Inside Our Test Cells

Ice Adhesion

Apollo 17

DATE: Dec. 7–19, 1972

MISSION: Landed on the moon

CREW: Cernan, Schmitt, Evans

Apollo 8

DATE: Dec. 21–27, 1968

MISSION: First to orbit the moon

CREW: Borman, Lovell, Anders

“Like” Your Favorite 2018 Image

Connect with NASA Glenn’s Twitter, 

Facebook and Instagram accounts to 

see our best images of 2018 starting 

Dec. 27.

“Like” your favorites and we will 

announce the most popular image on 

each social media platform on Dec. 30.

Twitter

@NASAglenn

Facebook

@NASAGlenn

Instagram

@nasaglenn

8

To learn more about the Apollo program, visit 

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/

apollo/index.html
Dr. Michael J. Barrett and Mark E. McNelis were recently 

honored with Space Flight Awareness (SFA) awards. 

Barrett, deputy chief of Glenn’s Space Technology Project 

Office, received the SFA Management Award in recognition of 

his exemplary leadership in structuring and executing strategic 

approaches to major human space flight systems acquisitions. 

His work with the formulation of the Gateway power and 

propulsion element (PPE) was cited as “a benchmark for intercenter collaborations and use of commercial sector capabilities.” 

McNelis, Structural Dynamics Branch, was recognized with the 

SFA Honoree Award for Exceptional Leadership in the NASA 

team effort to certify the SpaceX Dragon 2 capsule for its 2019 

flight and ensure Commercial Crew Program success. McNelis 

led the NASA support effort for SpaceX acoustic testing at Plum 

Brook Station and the vibroacoustic certification for flight of the 

Dragon 2 vehicle.

The SFA awards are among NASA’s highest honors and 

recognize recipients for significant contributions to the human 

space flight program.

Dr. QuynhGiao Nguyen, High-Temperature Durable 

Materials lead for the Hypersonic Technology 

Project, traveled to Minneapolis, Oct. 19, to receive 

the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Advocating 

Women in Engineering Award. The award honors 

“an individual who has demonstrated professional 

excellence in their chosen STEM field and has 

proven to be an advocate of women in engineering 

and SWE’s objectives.”

Two Employees Earn 

Space Flight Awareness 

Awards

Honoring Professional 

Excellence in STEM

Glenn employees answered the call to help fight 

hunger when they participated in the Greater 

Cleveland Food Bank volunteer event on Aug. 18. 

The group processed 11,263 pounds of food in just 

4 hours, which counted toward our goal! This year, 

Plum Brook Station and Lewis Field employees 

surpassed their 10,000-pound goal by donating 

a total of 12,977 pounds of nonperishable food 

items to the annual Feds Feed Families campaign. 

Donations were made to the Greater Cleveland 

Food Bank and the Crossroads Homeless Shelter 

in Sandusky. Thanks to all who donated!

Dr. Nguyen, right, with SWE President Penny Wirsing.

Uniting Against Hunger

DECEMBER 2018

9

GRC-2018-CN-00052

Photo Courtesy of SWE

GRC-2018-CN-00055
10

Dr. Ellis Dr. Lizcano

Glenn Engineers Recognized Among 

STEM Conference Honorees

William M. Foster II, ISS and Human 

Health Office, Human Exploration and Space 

Operations Project Office, retired Sept. 30, 

2018, with 35 years of service. 

Jim Gaier, Environmental Effects and 

Coatings Branch, Materials Division, retired 

Nov. 30, 2018, with 35 years of service. 

Jeffrey J. Rusick, Program and Project 

Assurance Division, Safety and Mission 

Assurance Directorate, retired Nov. 30, 2018, 

with 31 years of service.

James Smialek, Materials and Structures 

Division, Research and Engineering 

Directorate, retired Oct. 29, 2018, with 

50 years of service.

Records Management is happy to provide 

guidance on how best to manage your 

records in preparation for retirement. 

Contact Anne Mills for assistance, 3–8715.

Check out this 30-second video from 

Records Management reminding you why 

it is important that records stay here. 

https://go.nasa.gov/2zPJJ8K

RETIREMENTS

Foster

Rusick

Gaier

Smialek

Two of Glenn’s engineers were honored during the 23rd annual Women of Color 

STEM Conference Awards Gala and Dinner, Oct. 13, in Detroit. Dr. Brenda Ellis

and Dr. Maricela Lizcano were highlighted among the most talented professional women in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Ellis received the Career Achievement in Government Award for her achievements as a computer engineer and program manager for NASA’s Information 

Technology (IT) Security Awareness and Training Center. She is also a contributing member of the Federal Information System Security Education Association 

Working Group and a partner in the Department of Homeland Security’s 

“STOP. THINK. CONNECT.” campaign.

Lizcano received the Technical Innovation in Government award. She is a 

research materials engineer supporting NASA’s Transformational, Tools and 

Technology Project leading multifunctional and nanomaterials development for 

future high-voltage power transmission in hybrid electric propulsion systems. 

The Women of Color STEM Conference is produced by Career Communications 

Group Inc. (CCG), working with all types of companies to help support them in 

promoting multiculturalism and gender equity in STEM fields.

Lizcano also accepted an award presented by the Great Minds in STEM 

organization for Most Promising Engineer with a Ph.D. during the Hispanic 

Engineer National Achievement Award Conference (HENAAC), Oct. 17 to 19. 

She joins the 28th class of HENAAC honorees recognized as phenomenal 

role models in STEM.

AWARDS

Angela Windau has been selected chief of the 

Occupational Health Branch, Safety and Health 

Division. She previously provided technical leadership 

to the branch through programs in environmental 

health, industrial hygiene, ergonomics, medical 

and fitness wellness programs and the Employee 

Assistance Program.

PROMOTIONS

Windau

Take Your Memories. 

Leave Your Records!
DECEMBER 2018

11

NASA Glenn Ombuds Program

A confidential and neutral means for raising workplace 

issues and concerns that could impact safety, 

organizational performance and mission success.

Confidentiality Informality Neutrality Independence

GSEL MOBILE LIBRARIAN

The Glenn Science and Engineering 

Library (GSEL) Mobile Librarian will be 

visiting building 162 through Dec. 20, 

and building 3 from Jan. 15 to 24, 2019, 

from 1 to 3 p.m. A Glenn reference 

librarian will be ready to assist 

employees with subject searches, 

finding specific books and articles and 

other information needs on the spot.

POC: Robin Pertz, 3–5776

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

Upcoming Center Events

Deadline for next calendar section 

is Dec. 14, noon. News and feature 

stories require additional time.

COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN

The 2018 Combined Federal Campaign 

ends on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019.

IFPTE LOCAL 28, LESA MEETING

LESA will hold its next membership 

meeting, Wednesday, Jan. 9, noon, 

in the Glenn Employee Center’s Small 

Dining Room.

The Emergency Management 

Office staff will conduct a mass 

notification “voice” test at building 3 

on Wednesday, Jan. 2, at Lewis Field. 

An audible siren test on the “tornado” 

tone will be conducted on Saturday, 

Jan. 5.

POC: Allen Turner, 3–6826

OUTDOOR SIREN TESTING

A Winter Festival

Monday, Dec. 17

11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Ad Building Auditorium

Celebrating Traditions 

from Around the World

The Glenn Band

along with the

Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity,

Glenn Advisory Groups and Clubs

Present

https://www.grc.nasa.gov/ombuds/

CENTER INFORMATION

• A safe place to raise concerns

• An opportunity to be heard

• An opportunity to consider options

• Coaching

Ombuds Representatives

Harvey Schabes, 3–5309

Gwynn Severt, 3–8310
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

Online Safety Is “Our Shared Responsibility” 

NASA Glenn and the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) 

hosted the agency NCSAM event on Oct. 10. Speakers demonstrated 

how to become more cyber aware and how to protect yourself and 

your working environment from cyberattacks.

Glenn’s Associate Director Janet Watkins and Chief Information Officer 

Sean Gallagher opened the 3-hour training session by stressing the 

importance of cybersecurity and individual cyber hygiene. NASA 

Administrator Jim Bridenstine participated through a video that 

centered on protecting yourself and your professional data against 

cyber threats, encouraging our workforce to STOP. THINK. CONNECT.

“Technology has become a huge part of everyone’s life, and it makes 

us a target for cyberattacks,” said Bridenstine. “Technology enables 

us to do amazing things, but it can also be used to undermine us or 

cause harm.” 

Keynote speaker Dave Kennedy, cybersecurity expert, consultant and 

founder of TrustedSec, talked about “The Hacking Age,” and how we 

can defend ourselves against threats. He demonstrated how easy it is 

for hackers to obtain our personal information. 

Additional speakers included NASA’s Mike Witt, associate chief of 

information technology for Cybersecurity and Privacy and Senior 

Agency Information Security officer; and Dr. Brenda Ellis, NASA IT 

Security Awareness and Training Center (ITSATC) program manager. 

Witt focused on cybersecurity vulnerability at NASA. Ellis explained 

ITSATC’s role as an IT security training resource for the agency. 

The overall objective of the event was to show how cybersecurity is a 

SHARED RESPONSIBILITY, and together, with your help we can make a 

difference and create a safer digital working environment here at NASA.

By Doreen B. Zudell

Glenn’s Les Farkas, left, is amazed when cybersecurity expert 

Dave Kennedy takes about 20 seconds to access Farkas’s 

personal information, including an old AOL email account 

that has not been used for years. 

Key organizers and participants of the event include, 

left to right: Dave Murnan, Sherri Lippus, Ellis, 

Kennedy, Gib Winter, Gallagher and Witt.

This year marked the 15th annual National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM), which included a monthlong campaign devoted to educating everyone about the roles they play in helping to safeguard the internet. 

Cybersecurity Awareness Month Event

GRC-2018-C-08030

GRC-2018-C-07991

Photos by Bridget Caswell