VOLUME 19 • ISSUE 10 • OCTOBER 2017

Shaping the

World of Tomorrow

Employees Aid Pages 2–3

Human 

Space Flight

Page 12

Dr. Shin Presents 

ARMD Awards

Page 10

Glenn Celebrates 

NASA Honor and 

Center Awards

Pages 4–9

SPECIAL

EDITION
2

9- by 15-Foot Wind Tunnel 

Modification Underway

We’re making an investment to 

upgrade the most utilized low-speed 

propulsion acoustic facility in the 

world. The 9- by 15-Foot Low-Speed 

Wind Tunnel is under construction 

to increase its capability by reducing 

the background noise levels in the 

test section. The upgrades will be 

completed at the end of next summer. 

The newly renovated tunnel will keep 

Glenn in the forefront of addressing 

long-term aircraft noise reduction 

challenges. Our test and construction 

staff are committed to employing 

sound safety practices to ensure 

successful completion of this complex 

project. Please observe the restricted 

access inside and outside the tunnel, 

as forklifts and cranes will be used for 

hardware delivery and assembly.

Your attentiveness to 

safety is appreciated!

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 On the Cover: Dr. Aaron Weaver discusses how the Space Launch System will enable 

future exploration of deep space destinations during An Evening With the Stars event.

GRC-2017-C-07121 Photo by Marvin Smith

Guests network and enjoy refreshments on the library patio.

GRC-2017-C-07039 Photo by Rami Daud

Dr. Kavandi gives welcoming remarks.

GRC-2017-C-07101 Photo by Marvin Smith

Glenn’s Francisco Guzman, left, offers guests an inside view of the 8- by 6-Foot 

Supersonic Wind Tunnel using a head-mounted virtual reality device.

GRC-2017-C-07078 Photo by Rami Daud
3

Glenn’s EWTS: 

Shaping the World of Tomorrow

Glenn presented EWTS to increase awareness of the center and its unique contributions to research and technology that is shaping the world of tomorrow. For the fourth 

year in a row, the Ohio Aerospace Institute (OAI) coordinated sponsorship for the event 

that attracted more than 25 companies, universities and organizations.

Center Director Dr. Janet Kavandi recognized several key people for their support 

of this year’s event, including OAI’s new President and CEO Jeff Rolf and Executive 

Vice President Ann Heyward; the Ohio Aerospace and Aviation Council Chairman 

Dr. Carlos Grodsinsky, who is also ZIN Technologies’ CEO and Senior Vice President 

of Technology; and the Cleveland Public Library Executive Director and CEO 

Felton Thomas Jr. and his staff as gracious hosts for the event. 

Kavandi reflected on the decades of expertise at NASA Glenn responsible for the 

research and game-changing technology that has enabled exploration of the universe 

and revolutionized air travel. “The men and women of NASA Glenn possess the 

imagination to create a vision and the expertise and skill to transform that vision into 

technologies that will allow aircraft to fly faster and quieter, and allow our spacecraft to 

carry astronauts to new worlds while communicating over the vast distances of space,” 

she said.

Kavandi then introduced three of Glenn’s “rising stars” who captivated the audience 

with presentations on the center’s Facilities and Capabilities, Journey to Mars and 

Cognitive Communications work. 

Mary Lobo, chief of Glenn’s Test Facility Management Branch, spoke about “Bringing 

the Atmosphere and Space Down to Earth” using Glenn’s unique testing facility capabilities to help reduce risks by simulating the harshest environment of flight and space.

Dr. Aaron Weaver, Glenn’s contracting officer’s representative for NASA’s Space 

Launch System Program Universal Stage Adapter, shared Glenn’s portfolio of testing 

and other activities for the Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System rocket, to usher 

in a new era of exploration—the “Threshold to the Next Space Age.” 

Dr. Janette Briones, computer engineer and technical lead for NASA Glenn’s Cognitive 

Communications Project for artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithm development, addressed “Next-Gen Communications,” critical to our ability to collaborate 

with other NASA centers and government agencies on land and/or in space.

By S. Jenise Veris

The lamps of knowledge shone brightly throughout the Louis Stokes Wing of the Cleveland Public 

Library during “An Evening With the Stars (EWTS), NASA Glenn Shaping the World of Tomorrow” 

program, Sept. 12. The event featured presentations by Glenn researchers and a networking 

reception for more than 300 guests.

OCTOBER 2017

EWTS Project Manager Zachary Lucas and Champion Deputy Director 

Dr. Marla Pérez-Davis thank team members across the center, 

who helped make the event a success.

Dr. Weaver presents.

GRC-2017-C-07124 Photo by Marvin Smith

Dr. Briones presents.

GRC-2017-C-07148 Photo by Marvin Smith

Lobo presents.

GRC-2017-C-07130 Photo by Bridget Caswell
DISTINGUISHED 

PUBLIC SERVICE MEDAL

Forman A. Williams*

OUTSTANDING 

LEADERSHIP MEDAL

Marivell Baez* 

David T. Frate

Cleve Horn

Sandra T. Reehorst 

Dennis W. Rohn

Gary A. Ruff*

Gerard E. Welch

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT 

OPPORTUNITY MEDAL

Cynthia C. Calhoun

EXCEPTIONAL 

SERVICE MEDAL

Maria Babula

Penni J. Dalton

Guillermo Del Carmen

Richard L. Del Roso

Joan V. Haug*

HONOR AWARDS

NASA Agency Honor 2017 and Center Awards

4

Frate Horn Reehorst Rohn

Welch Calhoun Babula Dalton

Nolan Butterfield Grodsinsky Guzik

Del Carmen Del Roso Johnson Morris

*Not in attendance
More than 100 NASA Glenn employees earned awards for their exemplary accomplishments 

in science, engineering, technology, leadership and administrative services during the 2017 

NASA Agency Honor and Center Awards Ceremony, Aug. 23. Retired astronaut Michael T. Good 

assisted Center Director Dr. Janet Kavandi in awarding medals and certificates. 

Susan M. Johnson

Karen A. McLaughlin*

Joseph E. Morris

Susan E. Nolan

George R. Schmidt*

Richard N. Sorge*

EXCEPTIONAL PUBLIC 

SERVICE MEDAL

Paul R. Butterfield

Carlos M. Grodsinsky 

Stephen J. Guzik

Lesha P. Zvosec

EXCEPTIONAL

ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL

Shanton V. Bland

Carol A. Ginty

Christine B. Greenwalt

Maria A. Havenhill

Leahmarie Koury

Isaac Lopez

Mark W. Manthey

Charles E. Niederhaus

Benjamin S. Van Lear

Christopher J. Williams

Gilbert A. Winter

Jan M. Wittry

EXCEPTIONAL PUBLIC 

ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL

Helmut H. Bamberger

OCTOBER 2017

5

Zvosec Bland Ginty Greenwalt

Havenhill Koury Lopez Manthey

Niederhaus Van Lear Williams Winter

Wittry Bamberger Melcher Lewandowski

Bakhle Manning Padula Sullivan

*Not in attendance
6 NASA AGENCY HONOR AND CENTER AWARDS

EXCEPTIONAL ENGINEERING 

ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL

Kevin J. Melcher

EXCEPTIONAL SCIENTIFIC 

ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL

Beth E. Lewandowski

EXCEPTIONAL TECHNOLOGY 

ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL 

Milind A. Bakhle 

Robert M. Manning

Santo A. Padula 

Roy M. Sullivan

Gregory A. Zimmerli

EARLY CAREER 

ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL

Lori A. Arnett

Rochelle L. Gallagher

Jason W. Hartwig

Melissa R. Holodnak

Mary J. Lobo

Antoine D. Moss

Kathryn Oriti

Nicholas A. Schifer

Elliot A. Schmidt

Cory A. Smith

Mary A. Sours

Aaron J. Swank

SILVER ACHIEVEMENT 

MEDAL (INDIVIDUAL)

Cheryl L. Bowman

Jeffryes W. Chapman

Sandra Cook

Mark A. George*

Jason M. Hanna

Katherine A. Harcula

Christopher A. Hartenstine

Dallas R. Jenkins

Zimmerli Arnett Gallagher Hartwig

Holodnak Lobo Moss Oriti

Schifer Schmidt Smith Sours

Swank Bowman Chapman Cook

Hanna Harcula Hartenstine Jenkins

Loyselle McIntyre Nazario Palivoda

*Not in attendance
NASA AGENCY HONOR AND CENTER AWARDS

OCTOBER 2017

7

Ryant Del Rosario

Henry Phillips

Acquaviva Blankschaen

Downey Nolan

Palivoda Schroeder

Patricia L. Loyselle

Leah M. McIntyre

Margaret L. Nazario

Monica M. Palivoda

Denise L. Ryant

SILVER ACHIEVEMENT 

MEDAL (GROUP)

Advanced Electric 

Propulsion SEB Team

Advanced Exploration Systems 

Modular Power Systems (AMPS) 

Modular Fuel Cells Team

Glenn Research Center 

AS9100C Recertification Team

Journey to Tomorrow 

Upgrade Team

NASA Glenn 

75th Anniversary Book Team

Small Acquisition 

Transition (SAT) Team

SENIOR EXECUTIVE 

SERVICE APPOINTMENT

Rubèn Del Rosario

Laura A. Henry

PRESIDENTIAL RANK AWARD 

Alan H. Phillips

GROUP ACHIEVEMENT 

AWARD

75th Anniversary Open House 

Planning and Execution Team 

Aeroscience Ground Test 

Facilities Funding Model Team 

Altitude Combustion Stand 

Reactivation Team 

BLI2DTF Technology 

Development and Test Team 

CAS Collaboration 

Rooms Team 

European Service Module 

(ESM) Structural Test 

Article Team

Glenn Extreme 

Environments Rig Team

Glenn Technology Transfer 

Office Licensing Team 

Mechanical Vibration Facility 

Commissioning Team 

NASA’s STEP Level 2 

Cohort Team

The Agreement Business 

Process Design and 

Documentation (BPDD) 

Team

The Orbital Maneuvering 

System Engine/Thrust 

Vector Control (OMS–E/TVC) 

Project Team 

FORTY-YEAR 

SERVICE AWARD

Cynthia S. Acquaviva 

James A. Blankschaen 

Alan N. Downey 

Henry F. Kacher*

Randall R. Kwasny*

Anderson K. Marlow, Jr.*

Susan E. Nolan 

Monica M. Palivoda

Thomas H. St. Onge*

Dale K. Stalnaker*

FORTY-FIVE-YEAR 

SERVICE AWARD

Jimmy Simek*

Donald Swedinovich, Jr.* 

FIFTY-YEAR 

SERVICE AWARD

Marvin E. Goldstein*

Lawrence J. Schroeder, Jr.

*Not in attendance
8 NASA AGENCY HONOR AND CENTER AWARDS

STEVEN V. SZABO 

ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE AWARD

BLI2DTF Inlet Rakes Engineering Design 

Development Team

CRAFTSMANSHIP AWARD

Assembly and Build-up

Propulsion Drive Electronics (PDE) 

Connectors—Orion European Service Module 

(ESM) at White Sands Test Facility Team 

Andrew S. Fausnaugh

Robert A. Paulin

Manufacturing Technologies

Boundary Layer Ingestion Inlet Distortion 

Tolerant Fan (BLI2DTF) Instrumentation Team

Timothy A. Dunlap

Derrick L. Espenschied

Christopher R. Metro

2016 DISTINGUISHED PUBLICATION AWARD

Prolonged Silicon Carbide Integrated 

Circuit Operations in Venus Surface 

Atmospheric Conditions

DIVERSITY LEADERSHIP AWARD

Joseph W. Connolly

Vincent E. Satterwhite

SAFETY AWARD (CIVIL SERVANT)

Calogero Dirienzo*

SAFETY AWARD (CONTRACTOR)

 Scott D. Mahnke

Philip G. Neudeck

Roger D. Meredith

Liangyu Chen

David J. Spry

Leah M. Nakley

Gary W. Hunter

David J. Arend

John Z. Gyekenyesi

Thomas G. Gyekenyesi

Charles A. Herrmann

Quynhgiao N. Nguyen

David R. Root

Tony D. Shook

Scott R. Thomas 

(retired)

John D. Wolter

CENTER AWARDS

*Not in attendance

Steven V. Szabo Engineering Excellence Award

Craftsmanship Award—Assembly and Build-up

Craftsmanship Award—Manufacturing Technologies
NASA AGENCY HONOR AND CENTER AWARDS 9

OCTOBER 2017

SUPERVISOR AWARD

Timothy J. Ruffner

Luz Y. Jeziorowski

SUPPORT ASSISTANT/

CLERICAL AWARD

Wendy A. Berndt

Denise A. Kelly

Kathryn M. Roser

Mary A. Salvo

FEDERAL ACQUISITION 

CERTIFICATION FOR 

PROGRAM AND PROJECT 

MANAGERS

Michael J. Barrett

Trudy F. Kortes

GRC LARGE BUSINESS 

PRIME CONTRACTOR 

OF THE YEAR 

Aerojet Rocketdyne

GRC SMALL BUSINESS 

PRIME CONTRACTOR 

OF THE YEAR

Summit Technologies and 

Solutions, Incorporated

GRC SMALL BUSINESS 

TECHNICAL PERSON 

OF THE YEAR 

Debra Millard

GRC SMALL BUSINESS 

PROCUREMENT PERSON 

OF THE YEAR

Ronald Matthews

NASA SMALL BUSINESS 

PRIME SOCIOECONOMIC

GOAL ACHIEVEMENT

Glenn Research Center

Connolly Satterwhite Mahnke Ruffner

Jeziorowski Berndt Kelly Roser

Salvo

Matthews

Barrett Kortes Millard

*Not in attendance

2016 Distinguished Publication Award

To view the 2017 Honor and Center Awards Ceremony booklet 

with award citations and team members, 

visit https://events.grc.nasa.gov/honorawards/

Citations are reproduced from the 2017 Honor Awards Program. Photos by Marvin Smith.
10

During his Town Hall presentation, “A New Era of Aviation,” Shin talked 

about the concept of a convergence of disparate technologies. This 

involves taking different existing technologies and combining them into 

something new. Two innovative examples of this concept are drones and 

smartphones. “We need to look at what’s happening in other industrial 

sectors and relate that back to aviation,” Shin said. 

Deputy Center Director Dr. Marla Pérez-Davis and Director of Aeronautics 

Dr. Rubén Del Rosario assisted Shin in presenting the ARMD awards to 

Glenn employees. These prestigious awards recognize accomplishments 

that had a profound positive impact and benefit to ARMD, its partners 

and/or stakeholders. 

Shin presented trophies and certificates to two individual winners and 

a group honorable mention:

Leadership and Management Excellence Award: Issac Lopez

For leadership in team and resource management for the Convergent 

Aeronautics Solutions Project under the Transformative Aeronautics 

Concepts program. 

High Potentials: Dr. Valerie Wiesner

For her leadership, insight and research into the effects of environmental 

factors on high-temperature engine materials.

Technology and Innovation Honorable Mention: 

Commercial Supersonics Low Noise Propulsion Technical Challenge Team 

led by Jim Bridges. 

Del Rosario also recognized two project teams for their contributions, 

dedication and professionalism in support of Aeronautics at Glenn:

Quiet Supersonic Technology (QueSST) team:

For outstanding contributions and customer service during the 

aerodynamic and propulsion testing of the QueSST model in the 

8- by 6-foot wind tunnel. 

Boundary Layer Ingesting Inlet/Destortion Tolerant Fan (BLI2DTF) team:

For outstanding contributions and success in completing, in a compressed 

test schedule, an extremely complicated test that included an elegant and 

sophisticated model design, integration into the 8- by 6-foot wind tunnel.

Additionally, Doug Rohn, recent retiree with 40 years of NASA service, 

was recognized for his accomplishments, leadership and faithful service 

to NASA and Glenn in the area of Aeronautics.

By Doreen B. Zudell

Glenn Staff Showcase Aeronautics 

Research During Dr. Shin’s Visit

Left to right: Pérez-Davis, Lopez and Dr. Shin.

GRC-2017-C-05820 Photos by Marvin Smith

Left to right: Pérez-Davis, Dr. Wiesner and Dr. Shin.

GRC-2017-C-05821

Left to right: Pérez-Davis, Bridges and Dr. Shin.

GRC-2017-C-05822

NASA Associate Administrator of the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) Dr. Jaiwon Shin 

visited NASA Glenn, Aug. 24–25. Shin met with senior managers, toured several facilities at Lewis Field 

and Plum Brook Station and held a Town Hall meeting where he presented ARMD awards.
OCTOBER 2017

11

Deadline for next calendar section 

is Oct. 20, noon. News and feature 

stories require additional time.

NASA RETIRED WOMEN’S LUNCHEON

The next luncheon is Thursday, Nov. 16, 

at 1 p.m. at Old Vienna Restaurant, 

30111 Lorain Rd, North Olmsted. 

Please reserve your place with Gerry 

Ziemba at goto64gerry@yahoo.com 

or 330–273–4850. 

FEHB OPEN SEASON

Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) 

Open Season runs Nov. 12 through 

Dec. 11, 2017. Glenn’s FEHB Open Season 

Fair will be held Tuesday, Nov. 14, from 

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Upper Level of 

the Main Cafeteria, Bldg. 15.

POC: Rhonda Billick, 3–6286

LESA will hold its next membership 

meeting, Wednesday, Nov. 8, noon, 

in the Glenn Employee Center’s Small 

Dining Room.

IFPTE LOCAL 28, LESA MEETING

NATIVE AMERICAN OBSERVANCE MONTH

Glenn’s annual observance is Thursday, 

Nov. 9, from 9 to 11 a.m. in the MIC 

Auditorium. The speaker will be Mark 

Abotossaway. This year’s theme is 

“Traditional Knowledge. New Ideas. 

A Better World.”

POC: Dimeta Hughes, 3–3616

NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT 

AWARENESS MONTH

Glenn’s annual observance is Tuesday, 

Oct. 31, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the 

Ad Building Auditorium. This year’s 

theme is “Inclusion Drives Innovation.”

POC: Angela Pierce, 3–2813

MORE THAN A MEMORY

Robert A. Signorelli, 89, a 1985 retiree with 35 years of 

service, died Aug. 17. Signorelli was a materials research 

scientist. He was a member of NASA Lewis’s advanced 

composites development team that earned national 

recognition for developing and testing materials for 

improved performance and costs applied to aircraft turbine 

blades, engines and fans, space vehicles and advanced 

power and propulsion generating systems. Signorelli’s 

expertise was in metal matrix composites, one of the three 

Signorelli major advanced composites.

Arlette Haeberle, Planning and 

Integration Office, Facilities, Test & 

Manufacturing Directorate, retired 

Sept. 30, 2017, with 36 1⁄2 years 

of service.

Vincent Satterwhite, Aviation 

Environments Technical Branch, 

Testing Division, retired August 31, 

2017, with 33 years of service. 

Attention Retirees! To electronically subscribe to AeroSpace Frontiers, email 

grc-aerospacefrontiers-subscribe@lists.nasa.gov.

RETIREMENTS

Haeberle Satterwhite

Kristen Bury has been selected Integration Manager in the European Service 

Module Integration Office (EIO), Space Flight Systems Directorate. She will be 

responsible for supporting vehicle integration, the Joint Safety and Engineering 

Review Panel, European Service Module (ESM) reviews, and reporting and issues 

coordination for the Orion vehicle.

Concha Reid has been selected Bilateral Exchange Manager in the European 

Service Module (ESM) Integration Office, Space Flight Systems Directorate. Reid 

previously served as a battery and energy storage specialist, prior to a detail last 

year managing NASA ESM–2 deliverable agreements for the Orion program.

Lawrence C. Zoloty has been selected Deputy Chief of the Human Capital 

Management and Consulting Division. Zoloty has served as the lead of the 

Employee and Labor Relations Team, and the past 5 years as Labor Relations 

Officer, a position he will retain.

PROMOTIONS

Bury Reid Zoloty

NOVEMBER OUTDOOR SIREN TESTING 

The Emergency Management Office 

staff will conduct an outdoor “voice” 

test at Building 87 on Wednesday, 

Nov. 1, at Lewis Field. An audible siren 

test focusing on the “all clear” tone 

will be conducted on Saturday, Nov. 4.

POC: Allen Turner, 3–6826
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

Glenn’s Michael Belair and Carrie Green received the prestigious 

Space Flight Awareness (SFA) Honoree Award, Aug. 16. The VIP event, 

held at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Hotel in Orlando, included 

viewing the Tracking Data and Relay Satellite (TDRS)–M mission 

launch, Aug. 18, at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. 

The SFA awards program is a NASA-managed motivational and recognition program for NASA and contractor employees who have major 

responsibilities for human spaceflight mission success. 

Belair received the award for outstanding leadership and contributions to the development of the Orion European Service Module (ESM). 

As the NASA component engineer responsible for oversight of the 

ESM Auxiliary Engine, Belair is the NASA technical representative in 

numerous major project boards. His actions have led to prevention of 

potential flight failure and timely delivery of the EM–1 flight engines.

Green received the award for excellence in her commitment to safety 

and technical leadership for the European Service Module (ESM) 

Propulsion Subsystem Project (PSS) at Glenn. As the Safety and 

Mission Assurance Lead on ESM PSS, Green provides oversight to 

the European Space Agency (ESA)/Airbus by breaking boundaries 

between organizations and working cooperatively with multiple 

NASA centers and ESA/Airbus to resolve safety concerns with the 

current design.

Anita Liang, director of Glenn’s Safety and Mission Assurance 

Directorate, joined astronauts Steve Bowen and Nicole Mann and 

NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for Policy and Plans, Human 

Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, Greg Williams in 

presenting the awards.

By S. Jenise Veris

Two Employees Presented

SFA Honoree Awards

Pictured, left to right: Liang, Bowen, Green and 

her husband Michael, Mann and Williams.

GRC-2017-CN-00059 Photo by NASA/KSC

Pictured, left to right: Liang, Bowen, Belair and 

his mother Denise, Mann and Williams.

GRC-2017-CN-00058 Photo by NASA/KSC