Wheelock Trains 

Under Glenn Leadership 

Pages 2–3

SPECIAL EDITION

Glenn Celebrates 

NASA Honor Awards

Pages 4–7

Ohio Delegation 

Visits Glenn 

Page 9

Appreciation 

Gathering at PBS

Page 12

VOLUME 21 • ISSUE 9 • OCTOBER 2019
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

Orion Test Preparation

Preparation for the Orion Crew and 

Service Module qualification test at 

the Plum Brook Station has involved 

many organizations across the agency 

in conjunction with Orion Program 

partners. All attention has been paid 

to ensure the safe transportation 

of the hardware from the Kennedy 

Space Center, and the integrity of the 

test facility for safe and successful 

operations. I appreciate the rigor and 

hard work from the Glenn workforce 

to prepare for this important test—

from a successful Facility Readiness 

Review to the Safety, Test Readiness 

and Operations Readiness Reviews.

We are a key contributor to the 

success of Artemis.

Douglas “Wheels” Wheelock—engineer, astronaut and military 

test pilot—is broadening his skills once again. In May, Wheelock 

began a detail in Glenn’s Aeronautics Directorate to understand 

more about the business side of NASA and to get 

back into aeronautics, “NASA’s first A.” 

Astronaut 

Doug Wheelock 

Lands at Glenn

Above: Wheelock supporting the Cleveland Municipal School District Back to School event. 

(Photo by NASA; GRC-2019-CN-00049)
“When I worked in the Astronaut Office, I was more tactical—dealing with 

challenges as they came along,” Wheelock said. “In this assignment, I’m learning to work more strategically through budgeting, forecasting and allocating 

resources toward projects and programs.” 

For Wheelock, being at Glenn and the surrounding communities is like being 

back to his hometown in rural upstate New York. He is also back to his 

first love—aeronautics. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied 

Science and Engineering from West Point and a Master of Science degree in 

Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Tech, with research areas of hypersonic 

and high-temperature gas dynamics, flight stability and control, and robotics.

Over the past few months, Wheelock has been focused on Urban Air Mobility, 

Revolutionary Vertical Lift and Low-Boom technologies and their emergence 

into the global airspace architecture.

In September, Wheelock’s role as Deputy Director of Aeronautics for Strategy 

expanded into a detail with the Safety and Mission Assurance (S&MA) 

Directorate. As the S&MA lead at Plum Brook Station, he interacts with staff 

and helps them manage their safety challenges. 

“So often in organizations, the safety office has a reputation of only enforcing compliance,” Wheelock said. “I believe in 

meeting people where they are, empowering them and assisting them in achieving greatness while doing it safely.”

While Wheelock said he has much to learn about working in a leadership role at a research center, he also has a lot to offer. 

In August, he addressed employees during a GRC Connections with a discussion on “Chance Favors the Prepared Mind.” 

In September, he presented Silver Snoopy and Space Flight Awareness awards to employees at Lewis Field and Plum Brook 

Station. 

STEM outreach is also of critical importance to Wheelock. He devotes time at offsite events, sharing personal experiences 

and encouraging others to believe in their dreams. 

“I’ve learned that there is a difference between fear and danger,” he said. “So many of us let fear stand in the way of our 

dreams. I often tell people that if an ordinary kid like me from a small town in upstate New York can become an astronaut, 

they can achieve their dreams, too.”

By Doreen B. Zudell

On the Cover: Doug Wheelock, right, discusses 

strategies with Glenn’s Aeronautics leadership, 

left to right, former Director Dr. Rubén Del Rosario, 

Acting Director Greg Follen and Acting 

Deputy Director Tim McCartney.

Wheelock shows learning can be fun at the Great Lakes Science Center 

with Camp Curiosity students. (GRC-2019-CN-00031)

Wheelock communicating on a ham radio 

on the International Space Station. 

(Photo by NASA; GRC-2019-CN-00037)

GRC-2019-C-08323

Photo by Marvin Smith

OCTOBER 2019

3
Thompson Varney Zernic

*Not in attendance

OUTSTANDING 

LEADERSHIP MEDAL

Andrew J. Eckel

David T. Jacobson

Amy L. Jankovsky

Ronald L. Matthews

Monica M. Palivoda

Christi A. Tomaro

James P. Withrow

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT 

OPPORTUNITY MEDAL

Mark D. Kankam*

EXCEPTIONAL 

SERVICE MEDAL

Steven M. Arnold

Robert M. Ellison*

Kathleen M. Gerdes

Michael C. Hicks

Kelly A. Ison

Martin J. Krupar

Ronald A. Mullenax*

Lori O. Pietravoia

Terri D. Rodgers

Julie A. Scheneman

Linda M. Taylor

Orlando Thompson

Cheryl A. Varney

Michael J. Zernic

HONOR AWARDS

Eckel Jacobson Jankovsky Matthews

Palivoda Tomaro Withrow Arnold

Gerdes Hicks Ison Krupar

Pietravoia Rodgers Scheneman Taylor

4

2019 NASA Agency Honor Awards

Glenn staff earned awards for their exemplary accomplishments in science, engineering, technology, leadership 

and administrative service during the 2019 NASA Honor Awards Ceremony on Sept. 4. Dennis Andrucyk, deputy 

administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, assisted in awarding the medals and certificates.
EXCEPTIONAL PUBLIC 

SERVICE MEDAL

Michael D. Cuy

John M. Dearmon

Jeanine P. Hanzel

Dana C. Mulder

Kathleen A. Wargo

EXCEPTIONAL 

ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL

Michael P. Kelly

Daniel G. Kocka

Concha M. Reid

James J. Russell

Barbara A. Sakowski

Ra-Deon L. Sledge 

Mark R. Sorrells

EXCEPTIONAL PUBLIC 

ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL

Doreen B. Zudell

EXCEPTIONAL 

ENGINEERING 

ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL

Marc C. Gibson

EXCEPTIONAL 

ADMINISTRATIVE 

ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL

Paula S. Umlauf

Cuy Dearmon Hanzel Mulder

Wargo Kelly Kocka Reid

Russell Sakowski Sledge Sorrells

Zudell Gibson Umlauf

*Not in attendance

OCTOBER 2019

5
EARLY CAREER 

ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL

Lauren M. Ameen

Maria E. Arredondo

Casey J. Bakula

Flor Carrera

Matthew C. Deans

Andrew S. Fausnaugh

Dionne M. Hernandez-Lugo

Jacquelynne R. Houts

Jason D. Keister

Eli R. McDivitt*

EARLY CAREER PUBLIC 

ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL

Stephen A. Henke

Kyle G. Phillips

SILVER 

ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL

Valerie D. Daniel

Bernard G. Gamache*

Wesley L. Johnson*

Maureen T. Kudlac*

Rebecca J. Kwiat

Charles R. Ruggeri

Laura Y. Zegarac

SCIENTIFIC AND 

PROFESSIONAL (ST) 

APPOINTMENT

Kenneth Suder*

PRESIDENTIAL RANK

Marla Pérez-Davis

Laurence A. Sivic

40 YEARS OF SERVICE

Thomas W. Balogas 

Michael W. Capelety 

Ameen Arredondo Bakula Carrera

Deans Fausnaugh Hernandez-Lugo Houts

Keister Henke Phillips Daniel

Kwiat Ruggeri Zegarac Pérez-Davis

Sivic Balogas Capelety Duckworth Jr. 

Fincannon Saad

*Not in attendance

6
Shaw Veris 

Johnson Miller 

Sepesi Soeder 

Thompson Smialek

Brown

Joseph Duckworth Jr. 

Homer J. Fincannon 

Dale A. Hopkins*

George P. Jacynycz*

Lawrence G. Oberle*

George J. Saad 

Heidi D. Shaw 

Kim A. Veris 

Michael C. Woidke*

45 YEARS OF SERVICE

Susan M. Johnson 

Donna L. Miller 

Ronald W. Sepesi 

James F. Soeder 

Deborah L. Thompson 

Robert A. Ziemke*

50 YEARS OF SERVICE

James L. Smialek

60 YEARS OF SERVICE

Gerald V. Brown

SILVER ACHIEVEMENT 

GROUP AWARDS

2019 GRC Furlough 

Response Team

Facility Security 

Assessment (FSA) 

Pilot Project Team

GRC Business Unit 

Inventors Recognition Team

Multifunctional 

Structures for High Energy 

Lightweight Load-Bearing 

Storage (M-SHELLS) Team

Personal Identity Verification 

Smartcard (PIV-M) Team

Planetary Exploration Science 

Technology Office (PESTO)

Structural Heat 

Intercept Insulation and 

Vibration Evaluation Rig 

(SHIIVER) Team

Spanwise Adaptive Wing 

(SAW) Team

GROUP 

ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

12.5-kW Hall Thruster 

Technology Development 

Test Team

Center Directives Team

Education Performance 

and Evaluation 

Strategy Team

Institutional, Facility, 

Operational Safety 

Audit Team

Integrated Cryogenically 

Cooled Experiment 

Box Team

Ka-band Ground Station 

for the Cognitive 

Algorithm Team

NASA Glenn 

Export Control Team

NEAT Atmospheric 

Enclosure Team

Orion Composite Material 

Coupon Test Team

Orion ESM PQM Test Team

Plum Brook Station (PBS) 

Spill Response Team

Power and Propulsion 

Element (PPE) Core 

Acquisition Team

Super Guppy Transport 

Analysis Team

Zero Boil-Off Tank (ZBOT) 

Experiment Team

*Not in attendance

7

OCTOBER 2019

Editor’s Note: The Center Awards team photos were 

not available in time for the October issue. Center 

Awards will be featured in the November issue. 

Citations are reproduced from the 2019 Honor 

Awards Program. Photos by Marvin Smith.
To learn more about the Apollo Program, visit 

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

apollo/index.html.

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 mission 

that occurred during the month of October:

Apollo Program 

Reflections

Apollo 7

DATE: October 11 to 22, 1968

MISSION: Tested the Command Module

CREW: Schirra, Eisele, Cunningham

Staff Shares Aeronautics 

Advancements With the 

Public at Air Shows

Glenn staff highlighted NASA’s advancements in aeronautics technology 

at air shows across the country in 2019. Over the summer and fall, employees supported NASA exhibits at the Dayton Air Show, EAA AirVenture 

(Oshkosh), Cleveland National Air Show and Naval Air Station Oceana Air 

Show (Virginia Beach).

As part of NASA’s EXPLORE Flight campaign, Glenn staff shared the latest 

aeronautics research information with tens of thousands of show attendees 

to provide continued awareness of NASA’s more than 100 years of pioneering aviation research. Among the featured content was the X–59 Low Boom 

Flight Demonstrator, the X–57 Maxwell hybrid-electric aircraft, aircraft icing 

research and NASA Electrified Aircraft Testbed (NEAT).

During the Cleveland National Air Show, Glenn’s Roger Tokars, left, talks with Adam Wroblewski about their research on NASA’s Twin Otter plane.

Carlos Gomez, Office of Community and External Relations, back, highlights features 

of aircraft under development with attendees at EAA AirVenture.

8

GRC-2019-CN-00045

Photo by Andrew Carlsen

GRC-2019-CN-00044

Photo by Debbie Lockhart
Glenn Showcases Its 

Critical Role in Artemis Program

Former Center Director Dr. Janet Kavandi—with special guests NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine and Science 

and Technology Mission Director Jim Reuter—hosted members of the Ohio Congressional Delegation on Aug. 21. 

During the visit, Sen. Rob Portman and Rep. Marcy Kaptur, along 

with staff from Sen. Sherrod Brown and Reps. Anthony Gonzalez, 

Jim Jordan and Kaptur’s offices, learned about NASA’s plans to go 

forward to the Moon and on to Mars. Along with the overall agency 

perspective, the event educated guests and representatives from 

10 media outlets on Glenn’s critical role in NASA’s Artemis Program 

and advancing aviation technologies. 

A tour of the Electric Propulsion and Power Laboratory at Lewis Field 

featured presentations on solar electric propulsion and sustainable 

lunar power (e.g., Kilopower). Visitors got an up-close look at work 

underway to develop and test the power and propulsion element for 

Gateway, NASA’s home base for astronaut expeditions to the Moon’s 

surface and future human missions to Mars. 

“When we go to the Moon, and when we go on to Mars, it’s going to 

be about the capabilities brought to bear by the workforce right here 

in Northern Ohio at the Glenn Research Center and its Plum Brook 

Station,” Bridenstine stated during the media briefing. 

Bridenstine also noted the White House has proposed a $1.6 billion 

increase to the agency budget for developing a landing system 

that would get astronauts to the Moon’s surface. The increase 

would potentially bring over 40 full-time civil servant jobs to Glenn 

associated with that landing system.

Following the media briefing, participants toured the Stirling Research 

Lab. There, NASA is exploring Kilopower Reactor Using Stirling 

Technology (KRUSTY) as a surface power system to enable a sustained human presence on the Moon, Mars and other planets.

The afternoon visit to Plum Brook Station (PBS) included tours of 

NASA’s two space simulation test facilities—the In-Space Propulsion 

Facility and the Space Environments Complex—to show preparation 

for testing Orion, the spacecraft for Artemis I. A tour of the NASA 

Electric Aircraft Testbed revealed Glenn capabilities for testing 

hybrid-electric propulsion technologies to power future aircraft. 

Following the PBS tour and a second media briefing, the Administrator, 

Dr. Kavandi, Sen. Portman and Rep. Kaptur participated in a business 

roundtable with members of the Greater Cleveland and Sandusky 

business communities. This event showcased the Artemis Program 

and stressed benefits to the region and national economy. The members also learned that 124 Ohio suppliers will participate in the 

Artemis Program.

By S. Jenise Veris

Pictured, left to right, Portman, Kaptur, Bridenstine and Kavandi, 

on a tour of the PBS Space Environment Complex and the Orion 

heat flux system for future testing. (GRC-2019-C-07485)

Marc Gibson provides an overview of Glenn Kilopower 

system (KRUSTY) inside the Stirling Lab. 

(Photos by Bridget Caswell; GRC-2019-C-07396)

OCTOBER 2019

9
Stephanie R. Ferguson, Audits and 

Assessments Office, NASA Safety Center, 

retired Aug. 31, 2019, with 18 years of service. 

Janet B. Hurst, Materials Chemistry and 

Physics Branch, Materials and Structures 

Division, retired Aug. 30, 2019, with 36 years 

of service.

Gary D. Roberts, Ceramic and Polymer 

Composites Branch, Materials and Structures 

Divison, retired Aug. 31, 2019, with 35 years 

of service. 

Dale Stalnaker, Chemical and Thermal 

Propulsion Branch, Propulsion Divison, retired 

Aug. 2, 2019, with 42 years of service.

Retiring Soon?

Share your retirement in AeroSpace 

Frontiers. Fill out the GRC341 form and 

send it to Doreen.B.Zudell@nasa.gov.

RETIREMENTS

Dr. Cheryl Bowman has been selected deputy 

chief of the High Temperature and Smart 

Alloys Branch in the Materials and Structures 

Division. Bowman previously served as a 

senior researcher in the division specializing in 

metallic materials. 

PROMOTIONS

Ferguson Hurst

Roberts Stalnaker

MORE THAN A MEMORY

Dr. Lawrence P. Kelley, 104, a 1980 retiree with 30 years of service, 

died Aug. 3. Kelley was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II. 

He was a lawyer and retired as head of the Small Business Office, 

where he negotiated government contracts for minority and small 

businesses. Kelley earned a Federal Executive Board (FEB) Wings of 

Excellence Award for his leadership and achievements as a charter 

member of the FEB Minority Business Opportunity Committee, and 

chairman of the Ohio-Kentucky Small Business and Economic Utilization 

Council. He was the center’s oldest known retiree.

Bradford S. Linscott, 84, a 1992 retiree with 30 years of service, died 

June 30. Linscott was deputy chief of the Flight Structures Branch 

overseeing the design of the photovoltaic electric power systems and 

backup solar dynamic electric power system for the International Space 

Station. He also supported design, fabrication and testing of horizontal 

axis research wind turbines, the first to be installed at a public utility in 

1977. Linscott’s daughter, Beth Polansky, is chief of Glenn’s Program 

Resources Branch.

David Namkoong, 92, a 1994 retiree with 33 years of service, died 

May 15. Namkoong was an electrical engineer in the Solar Dynamics 

and Thermal Systems Branch. He developed both the Organic Rankine 

and Closed Brayton Cycle heat exchangers, condensers and fluid 

management devices for the solar dynamic power module proposed for 

the space station. Namkoong supported Glenn’s Asian Advisory Council 

and the Multicultural Planning Team. He was a charter member and 

officer of the Lewis Engineers and Scientists Association.

Robert J. Schroeder, 97, a 1985 retiree with 24 years of service, 

died June 11. Schroeder was a U.S. Marine veteran of World War II, 

who served as chief of the Engine Systems Division in the Aeronautics 

Directorate prior to retiring. He oversaw turbine and intermittent 

combustion engine programs utilizing the altitude engine chambers 

(currently the PSL–3 and 4). He advocated and managed projects related 

to supersonic cruise, general aviation and VTOL vehicles. Schroeder’s 

grandson, Tyson Stahnke, is the EUSO service delivery lead at Glenn.

Linscott

Schroeder

Dr. Kelley

Namkoong
OCTOBER 2019

11

Lauren Clayman has been selected Chief Safety and 

Mission Assurance Officer (CSO) for the Radioisotope 

Power Systems Program, within the Program and 

Project Assurance Division. She previously served 

as the CSO for the Space Communications and 

Spectrum Management Office. Clayman

PROMOTIONS

The Glenn Science and Engineering 

Library (GSEL) Mobile Librarian will 

be visiting building 5 through Oct. 17, 

and building 6 from Oct. 22 to 31. 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

GSEL MOBILE LIBRARIAN

National Active and Retired Federal 

Employees (NARFE) Chapter 470’s 

Open Season Health Fair, Friday, Nov. 1, 

from 1 to 3 p.m., Fairview Park Gemini 

Center. Representatives will discuss 

Federal Employees Health Benefits 

(FEHB) health, dental and vision plans, 

and Medicare, fraud and legal issues 

facing seniors. Open to current and 

retired federal employees. 

OPEN SEASON FAIR

The next luncheon will be on Thursday, 

Nov. 21, at 1 p.m. at Burntwood Tavern, 

5600 Great Northern Blvd., North 

Olmsted. Please reserve your place by 

calling Gerry Ziemba at 330–273–4850 

or emailing gto64gerry@yahoo.com.

RETIRED WOMEN’S LUNCHEON

LESA will hold its next membership 

meeting, Wednesday, Nov. 13, noon, 

in the Glenn Employee Center’s Small 

Dining Room.

IFPTE LOCAL 28, LESA MEETING

The Emergency Management Office 

staff will conduct an audible siren test 

on the “all clear” tone on Saturday, 

Nov. 2, at Lewis Field. A mass notification “voice” test will be conducted 

at building 87 at Lewis Field on 

Wednesday, Nov. 6.

POC: Allen Turner, 3–6826 

OUTDOOR SIREN TESTING

Upcoming Center Events

2019 Combined Federal 

Campaign

Now Through Jan. 12, 2020

Kickoff Event 

Wednesday, Oct. 23

10 to 11 a.m. • Briefing Center Auditorium, Bldg. 8

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

Deadline for next calendar section is Oct. 16, noon. News and feature stories require additional time.

To donate, visit 

ohiocfc.org
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

Employees from across Plum Brook Station 

(PBS) gathered in the Engineering Building for 

the annual appreciation luncheon on Sept. 5. 

Dave Stringer, PBS director, and Tom Mears, 

Test Facilities Operations, Maintenance, and 

Engineering (TFOME) PBS site manager, 

welcomed employees and thanked them for 

their hard work. A special guest, astronaut 

Doug Wheelock, shared some lessons 

learned as an astronaut and announced his 

detail as Safety and Mission Assurance lead 

at PBS. Wheelock also participated in an 

awards ceremony that will be featured in our 

November issue. The event culminated with 

a delicious meal prepared by a TFOME team. 

Food and Fellowship Abound at PBS Luncheon 

GRC-2019-CN-00047

GRC-2019-CN-00039 Photos by Doreen B. Zudell GRC-2019-CN-00038