VOLUME 24 • ISSUE 8 • AUGUST 2022

Silver Snoopy

Awardees!

Page 4

Interning Through 

New Frontiers

Page 6

Center Bids 

Farewell to Director

Page 8

Celebrating RSB’s 

Grand Opening 

Pages 2–3

 
AeroSpace Frontiers

is an official publication of NASA’s Glenn 

Research Center. It is published the 

second Friday of each month by the Office 

of Communications 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

Design: Rhys Sampson, ATS

Managing Editor: Kelly R. DiFrancesco

I’m thrilled to be here at Glenn and to 

work as part of this great team. There’s 

a lot of change happening at Glenn 

and not just in leadership. We’re 

opening new buildings, increasing our 

on-site presence at the center after two 

years, experimenting with new ways of 

working, and so much more. 

But one thing isn’t changing—our 

commitment to safety! Be mindful of 

hazards and report anything you see 

that appears to be unsafe. Also, be 

mindful of your health. If you are ill, 

stay home! We need you here safe and 

healthy. So, take care of yourselves, 

and by doing that, you’ll also take care 

of our Glenn family.

ACTING

DIRECTOR’S

SAFETY CORNER

Glenn Celebrates 

Innovative Research 

Support Building 

On the Cover: 

Participating in the ribbon-cutting ceremony, pictured 

left to right: Bryan Smith, director of Facilities, Test and 

Manufacturing; Associate Director Larry Sivic; Andrea 

Steele, Andrea Steele Architecture; Aaron Hill, Bialosky 

Cleveland; Tim Wardlow, Project Management Branch and 

RSB project manager; and Ed Kerber, Walsh Construction.

Photo by Bridget Caswell

GRC-2022-C-04850

Center Sustainability representatives Smith, left, and Heyd, center, 

present Sivic with a plaque signifying Gold LEED certification.

GRC-2022-C-04847 Photo by Bridget Caswell

NASA Glenn leadership, employees, 

and guests marked the completion of 

the Research Support Building (RSB) 

with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on 

July 11. The RSB sits adjacent to the 

Mission Integration Center, which 

opened in 2014. These two buildings 

are part of the Facility Master Plan’s 

multiyear effort to revitalize the 

central campus and renovate or 

replace WWII-era campus buildings.

Bryan Smith, director of Facilities, 

Test and Manufacturing, welcomed 

employees and VIPs. He thanked them 

for attending the event and celebrating 

the importance of this innovative new 

building.

“I appreciate the strong network of 

support across the community from 

organizations like the Ohio Aerospace 

Institute, the Greater Cleveland 

Partnership, Team NEO, and JobsOhio, 

as well as the strong bipartisan 

support from the entire Ohio 

congressional delegation and from 

local and state elected officials,” he 

said. “This support is vital, because it 

helps to make modernization efforts—

like the one we’re celebrating today— 

possible.” 

The 64,000-square-foot multiuse 

office building provides office space 

for approximately 160 permanent 

occupants. The building also houses 
AUGUST 2022

Members of the RSB design and construction team gather in front of the building.

GRC-2022-C-04920 

Photo by Jef Janis

Betsy Turnbull provides an overview of the Compass Lab to guests touring the RSB.

GRC-2022-C-04822 Photo by Bridget Caswell

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the cafeteria and exchange store, hoteling 

spaces, credit union, an ATM, conference 

rooms, and training rooms. The RSB is designed 

with collaboration in mind, including multiple 

breakout spaces throughout the building, low 

partition workstations, and specialized concurrent 

engineering rooms. Additionally, the new Compass 

Lab is used to conduct rapid conceptual spacecraft 

designs for NASA, industry, and the scientific 

community.

Associate Director Larry Sivic stressed the 

importance of RSB in enabling employees to meet 

agency goals. “As NASA’s missions evolve, our 

workplace needs to evolve as well,” he said. 

The RSB takes an integrative approach to 

sustainability, workplace evolution, and 

maintainability. During the ceremony, Center 

Sustainability Program Lead Michelle Heyd and 

Sustainability Coordinator David Smith presented 

a plaque signifying Gold certification by the U.S. 

Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and 

Environmental Design, or LEED.

The event concluded with self-guided tours and 

informal presentations by employees. 

By Doreen B. Zudell
Astronaut Shannon Walker Presents

Silver Snoopy Awards

GRC-2022-C-03904 Photo by Jef Janis

Walker, front left, joins Glenn leaders and Silver Snoopy recipients. 

4

On June 30, employees from NASA’s Neil A. Armstrong 

Test Facility and Lewis Field received the coveted NASA 

Silver Snoopy Award from NASA astronaut Shannon 

Walker, who was joined by Acting Center Director Dr. 

Jimmy Kenyon. The in-person event took place in the 

Mission Integration Center Auditorium.

Walker served as mission specialist on the SpaceX 

Crew–1 maiden flight of the Crew Dragon Resilience 

spacecraft, which landed May 2, 2021. She also served 

as flight engineer on the International Space Station for 

Expedition 64 and Expedition 24/25, a long-duration 

mission that lasted 163 days.

The Silver Snoopy award is a special honor given to 

NASA employees and contractors for their outstanding 

achievements related to human flight safety or mission 

success. The event affirmed to employees that the 

work they perform is appreciated not only by Glenn 

management, but also by our astronauts. 

Jennifer K. Allred

Gordon M. Berger

Christopher M. Bodzioney

Laura M. Burke

Christopher S. Czernec

Richard K. Evans

*Philip T. Gonia (retired)

Debra A. Goodenow

Emily A. Griffin

Monica C. Guzik

Kelly L. Hall

Tyler R. Hatch

*Kimberly A. Johnson

*Unable to attend

Michael E. Kahwaji Janho

Thomas G. Kraft

Yinan Li

*Rochelle L. May

Craig A. Motil

Steven R. Oleson

Christopher J. Pestak

Elliot A. Schmidt

Stephen M. Sinclair

Mark R. Sorrells

Deanna M. Thomas

Harold F. Weaver

John C. Zang

See the July 5 Inside Glenn post for information on each recipient.

The in-person ceremony recognized 2020 and 2021 recipients:

4
Industry Leaders Plot Ohio’s Course 

in the Future of Space Exploration

The birthplace of aviation is essential to America’s mission 

to return humans to the Moon. This conclusion was made 

clear by aerospace industry leaders who gathered at the third 

annual Ohio Space Forum, May 17–18.

The event, hosted by the Dayton Development Coalition, was 

held at NASA Glenn’s Lewis Field, and attracted leaders from 

across the city and the country. Officials and agency heads 

from the U.S. military, NASA, and several Ohio colleges and 

universities listened alongside business leaders as Cleveland 

Mayor Justin Bibb and Ohio Governor Mike DeWine kicked off 

the event with virtual remarks. 

“Ohio’s role in space is powerful and it is growing rapidly...,” 

said DeWine. “When it comes to space, Ohio has the 

educated workforce, industry, and university system to serve 

a broad national interest.”

The two-day forum included networking opportunities and 

panel discussions focused on commercial space exploration, 

developing a future space workforce, the aerospace 

supply chain, and the event theme, “Ohio is Leading Space 

Industrialization by Enabling Life and Operations in Space.” 

The information exchange among thought leaders highlighted 

the important role of Ohio and its many institutions in 

the space industry with discussions to further the state’s 

continued leadership and influence.

During a keynote speech, NASA’s Deputy Administrator 

Pamela Melroy shared progress on NASA’s Artemis program 

to return astronauts to the Moon and highlighted several key 

technologies being led by the agency’s Cleveland hub.

“Glenn’s main contributions to Artemis and deep space 

exploration efforts include developing space propulsion 

GRC-2022-C-02790 GRC-2022-C-03083

A tour stop at Glenn’s Simulated Lunar Operations Laboratory showcases Melroy delivers keynote remarks at the forum.

where engineers are testing a new rover that will search for water ice at 

the Moon’s South Pole.

and surface power systems, understanding combustion 

and fluid physics in space, creating advanced materials for 

extreme environments, testing flight hardware, and studying 

the physical effects of living in reduced gravity for long 

durations,” she said. “Those are some pretty big pieces of 

the puzzle.”

Melroy emphasized that NASA is not doing the work alone 

with compelling statistics on industry contributions. In the 

Buckeye State, 62 companies support essential work to help 

the agency on a variety of missions to the Moon, Mars, and 

beyond. “Ohio is critical to that work—critical to NASA—and 

is in fact one of our top 10 states in terms of aerospace 

investments,” she said.

Glenn former Director Dr. Marla Pérez-Davis expressed 

optimism about the value of the interchange and emphasized 

the importance of NASA’s strong partnerships with industry 

and academia. “When you think about the big challenges we 

have in space exploration and all of the benefits of space 

exploration, we really need that innovation and creativity,” 

she said.

Attendees strengthened networks and gained valuable 

information from national leaders who continue to build on 

the state’s unparalleled space heritage, innovation, and tech 

workforce and pave the way in fortifying America’s national 

and economic security and space exploration objectives.

 by Nikki Welch

Photo by Quentin Schwinn Photo by Jef Janis

AUGUST 2022

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6

INTERNING

THROUGH NEW FRONTIERS

NASA Glenn welcomed more than 125 full-time interns this summer, with 

46 working on-site. Through telework and hybrid intern options, however, 

students have opportunities to experience rewarding internships, no matter 

where they set up their office. This year’s interns successfully showcased 

the versatility of work modes in the modern age. Hear from a few summer 

interns who are pioneering the way for future Glenn interns to work, and 

extending the frontiers of internships to come.

By Isabel Rodriguez

GRC-2022-CN-00035 Photo by Bridget Caswell

Isabel Rodriguez works virtually in Glenn’s Office of Communications. Her mentor is 

Jan Wittry.

GRC-2022-CN-00032

Scott

GRC-2022-CN-00034

Khalique

Virtual

Andrew Scott, Systems Engineering and Architecture Division 

Mentor: Janice Romanin

As a knowledge management (KM) intern, Scott focuses on updating 

material to reflect current knowledge management practices and data, 

such as KM presentations and Glenn’s Knowledge Management website.

He believes there are advantages and disadvantages to his virtual 

internship. 

“Working virtually both constrains and widens my opportunities with 

NASA,” Scott said. “I, unfortunately, cannot be on-site with my mentors, 

physically visit the buildings, or hang out with my fellow interns,” he said. 

“Yet, I work to make connections with other students. Ultimately, I wouldn’t 

have been able to intern at NASA if this internship was not virtual.”

Virtual

Monica Khalique, Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Intern Project

Mentors: Taylor Pember and Tim Gallagher

Through this internship, Khalique works in different project areas, including the 

LunarLiTES mission, which focuses on bringing 4G/LTE to the Moon. Despite 

the virtual mode of her internship, Khalique feels she is still “maximizing” her 

time and efficiency working for Glenn because of the support she has received 

from mentors.

“Although at first I worried about a virtual format, I can confidently say that 

my mentors put their best efforts forward to ensure I get the full experience 

interning at NASA,” she said. “I feel prepared and ready to work on realmission initiatives with immense support from my mentors.”

Virtual

Virtual

About the Author
AUGUST 2022

7

GRC-2022-C-04777 Photo by Bridget Caswell

Hall, right, with Dillenback

GRC-2022-C-04798 Photo by Jef Janis

Hatch, left, with Ray

GRC-2022-CN-00036

Hobert

On-site

Samuel Dillenbeck, ISS and Human Health Office

Mentors: Dr. Suman Sinha Ray and Nancy Hall

Dillenbeck’s project revolves around computer coding and 

electronics, with his project focusing on automating micrometer 

movement along two dimensions. His work consists of writing 

a program, assembling the wiring and “breadboard,” and then 

building a rig to support the micrometers’ movement. Through 

his internship, Dillenbeck gains hands-on experience within his 

project area.

“Working on-site has made the internship much more 

personally impactful than it would have in a virtual 

environment,” he said. “It allows me to take in the full 

experience of what it means to be a NASA employee.”

Hybrid

Brianna Hobert, Turbomachinery and Turboelectric Systems Branch

Mentor: Mark G. Turner

Hobert is working as a turbomachinery design intern designing 

components for a turbofan engine on a novel hybrid-electric aircraft 

known as SUSAN (SUbsonic Single Aft eNgine). She feels a hybrid 

internship offers the flexibility that gives her the best of both worlds. 

“I have worked both hybrid and in-person and I honestly feel like I am 

getting the full experience either way,” she said. “There is an equal 

balance of outreach opportunities, networking opportunities, and 

technical work.” 

On-site

Katherine Ray, Low-Gravity Exploration Branch

Mentor: Tyler Hatch

Ray works in different projects and experiment areas, such as 

in the 2.2 Second Drop Tower and with the Intravenous Fluid 

Generation Mini and Capillary Effects on Liquids Exploratory 

Research experiments. With these various areas of research 

and project contributions, Ray feels working on-site has greatly 

contributed to her overall NASA experience and future career. 

“This opportunity enables me to make more connections with 

people and network,” she said. “Being on-site allows me to 

work with laboratory instrumentation and technology that I 

could not have experienced in a virtual setting.”

On-site

On-site

Hybrid
NEWS AND EVENTS

The Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity hosted Glenn’s 2022 Pride Month 

Observance, “Power of Conversation,” on June 22. This hybrid event featured 

Shaashawn Dial, founder of Voycetress Media LLC. She hosted an interactive 

workshop on basic LGBTQI+ concepts, language, and promising practices to 

create and maintain an LGBTQI+ affirming and welcoming workplace.

Glenn employees, leadership, and visitors 

gathered in the Mission Integration Center 

Auditorium on June 16 to recognize Center 

Director Dr. Marla Pérez-Davis’ trailblazing career. 

She retired the following day after 38 years with 

Glenn. 

The event included many grateful accolades and 

commendations from and on behalf of leadership 

from Glenn, the agency, and other NASA centers.

NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for 

Business Operations Casey Swails shared her 

gratitude for Pérez-Davis in leading the center 

through challenging times while empowering and 

mentoring many along the way. “Thank you so 

much for your leadership,” she said. 

Pérez-Davis’ tenure as Glenn’s director began in 

January 2020, just two months before the country 

experienced its first pandemic in 100 years. She 

effectively and compassionately guided the center 

workforce through the global COVID–19 pandemic, 

engaging regularly and frequently with them 

to ensure the mission continued safely. Major 

milestones and activities completed at Glenn 

during this time include the construction of the 

new Research Support Building, testing on the 

LGBTQI+ Event Promotes

Conversation

Glenn Bids Farewell to Director

Dr. Marla Pérez-Davis

GRC-2022-C-03472 Photo by Marvin Smith

Dial

Swails presented a plaque of 67 patches and flags that flew aboard missions 

during Dr. Pérez-Davis’ tenure. Left to right: Swails, Kara Eck, Larry Sivic, and 

Dr. Pérez-Davis.

Orion spacecraft for the Artemis I Moon mission, and testing 

for the X–59 QueSST quiet supersonic aircraft. 

Pérez-Davis humbly thanked the presenters and employees 

for helping her to learn and grow along the way. “It has been 

a wonderful journey,” said Pérez-Davis, “but it has been 

all about you—the people who taught me...making me the 

person I am today.”

8
9

Aero Projects Showcased

at International Conference

Glenn Hosts Mayors, City Managers 

Ashlie Flegel, left, and Tony Nerone stand by the 

Hybrid Thermally Efficient Core (HyTEC) banner, 

part of a NASA Aeronautics-focused exhibit at 

the American Society of Mechanical Engineers 

Turbo Expo 2022 Conference in Rotterdam, 

Netherlands, June 14–16. The exhibit highlighted 

the Sustainable Flight National Partnership, 

HyTEC Phase 1 activities, W–8 Single-Stage Axial 

Compressor facility upgrades, and NASA Alloy 

GRX–810. 

Turbo Expo is the largest yearly conference 

dedicated to gas turbines for land, sea, and 

air applications with more than 960 papers 

presented and more than 2,000 attendees this 

year. Members of Glenn’s Aeronautics Directorate 

attended the conference and staffed the exhibit.

Members of the Northeast Ohio Mayors 

and City Managers Association and 

the Cuyahoga County Mayors and City 

Managers Association gathered at Lewis 

Field for a briefing and tour on June 30. 

During the visit, the group met with Acting 

Center Director Dr. Jimmy Kenyon to hear 

details on Glenn’s efforts to advance 

aircraft technology, our contributions to 

NASA’s Artemis program, and our impact 

on Ohio’s economy. Visitors toured several 

research and test facilities, including the 

Zero Gravity Facility, pictured. 

GRC-2022-CN-00031

GRC-2022-C-04192 Photo by Quentin Schwinn

AUGUST 2022

9
Employees Train in Leadership

Four Glenn employees graduated from the Cleveland Federal 

Community Leadership Institute (CFCLI) during a ceremony at 

the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, June 16. CFCLI is 

an intergovernmental, community-based leadership development 

program for federal employees. The nine-month training program 

offers opportunities to learn models of successful leadership

from top management and key decision-makers in Cleveland 

area government, public, private, and academic sectors. 

Graduates pictured are, left to right, Peter Simon, Avionics

Branch; Maria Choi, Electronic Propulsion Systems Branch; 

Debbie Lockhart, Office of Communications; and Andrew 

Fausnaugh, Aerospace Test Branch.

Promotions

Dever

Gati

Parker

Joyce Dever has been selected chief, Materials and Structures Division for the Research 

and Engineering Directorate. She previously served the division in roles including deputy 

division chief, chief of the High Temperature and Smart Alloys Branch, and chief of the 

Durability and Protective Coatings Branch. 

Frank Gati has been selected chief, Chief Engineer Office 

for the Research and Engineering Directorate. He previously 

served as deputy chief, Systems Engineering and Architecture 

Division. Gati brings a strong background and experience to 

the position having held positions of significant technical and 

project management breadth and scope. 

Kristen Parker has been selected as Glenn’s communications director. She leads the 

communications team and manages all center internal and external communications. 

Parker previously served as the chief of Communications & External Affairs for the 

Veterans Administration (VA) Northeast Ohio Healthcare System. Prior to that, she served 

in a variety of civilian public affairs roles within the VA and the Department of the Army.

GRC-2022-CN-00030 Photo by James Welch

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For more information on upcoming events,

visit https://nasa.sharepoint.com/sites/grc/SitePages/calendar.aspx

Deadline for the next calendar

section is Wednesday, August 17,

noon. News and feature stories 

require additional time.

The Information Café will focus on 

what is new in the O’Reilly Learning 

Platform. Join the Library staff on 

Wednesday, Aug. 17, from 11–11:45 

a.m., in building 142, room 188 or on 

Teams. Check Inside Glenn for the link. 

POC: robin.n.pertz@nasa.gov

INFORMATION CAFÉ

GLENN

HAPPENINGS

Emergency Management Office staff 

will conduct an audible siren test on the 

“tornado” tone on Saturday, Sept. 3, at 

Lewis Field. A mass notification voice 

test will be conducted at building 15 on 

Wednesday, Sept. 7. 

POC: allen.r.turner@nasa.gov

OUTDOOR SIREN TESTING

Get Ready to Celebrate!

11 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

In Front of the Research Support Building, 

Along Taylor Road

Employee Registration closes Monday, Aug. 15. 

Retiree Registration: Kathy Clark, 216–433–8354 or 

kathy.m.clark@nasa.gov

See Inside Glenn for details.

POC: betsy.e.lavelle@nasa.gov

Rain date: Thursday, Aug. 25

Bartos Hill Pierce

Retirements

Karen F. Bartos, Technology Transfer Office, Office of 

Incubation and Innovation, retired July 30, 2022, with 36 

years of NASA service. 

Joan G. Hill, Safety and Health Division, Safety and 

Mission Assurance Directorate, retired July 30, 2022, 

with 36 years of NASA service. 

Angela Pierce, Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity, 

retired July 29, 2022, with 33 years of NASA service.

AUGUST 2022

11

 
National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration

John H. Glenn Research Center 

Lewis Field

21000 Brookpark Road 

Cleveland, Ohio 44135

Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility

3597 E. Scheid Road

Sandusky, Ohio 44870

www.nasa.gov

Read AeroSpace Frontiers online at https://www.nasa.gov/glenn/aerospacefrontiers.

Emergency and Inclement Weather Lines 

Lewis Field: 216–433–9328 (WEAT) 

Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility: 419–621–3333

Connect With Glenn

Keeping the Center Moving Forward

While many employees transitioned to telework due 

to the pandemic, others remained on-site to ensure a 

safe and secure environment at the center. This column 

highlights these services. 

Marvin Meriwether, ATS/LTID, packages outgoing cargo at the SaRF.

GRC-2022-C-04162 Photo by Bridget Caswell

NASA Glenn’s Logistics Office, operating under the Logistics and Technical 

Information Division (LTID), manages the areas of freight traffic, vehicle 

maintenance, fuels distribution, move operations, property, supply, and 

transportation. This multi-faceted organization, which includes Alcyon 

Technical Services (ATS) employees, demonstrated great flexibility and 

customer focus throughout the NASA COVID–19 Response Framework.

From the beginning, when it was unknown how the pandemic would impact 

the workforce, Logistics took a proactive approach by procuring for inventory 

COVID–19-specific personal protective equipment, such as N95 masks, hand 

sanitizers, and disinfectant sprays. This ensured that these vital protections 

were available to the workforce, including their own staff members who 

followed all COVID–19 protocols.

This team managed the process for employees to come on-site to pick up 

equipment needed for telework. They also procured and distributed office 

supply orders to ensure customers received the necessary supplies to 

complete their work more effectively, on-site, and while teleworking.

Shipping and Receiving Facility (SaRF) operations remained open and Logistics 

staff coordinated a plan for storage overflow to satellite locations across 

the center. Incoming hazardous chemicals were managed and stored in the 

Chemical Storage Facility.

Inbound mail and packages were distributed based on customer’s need and 

later to full delivery when on-site populations increased.

The team also performed preventive maintenance on government vehicles on 

a regular basis. When employees returned to on-site work, most vehicles were 

ready to go. If a problem, such as a dead battery on a forklift, was discovered 

after the vehicles were back in circulation, Logistics quickly addressed those 

issues. 

Many thanks to our Logistics Office for their critical support of the center 

during the pandemic.