INDIAN HEAD, Md. ─ Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division (NSWC IHEODTD) held the annual Honorary Awards ceremony, June 23, at the Indian Head Town Pavilion to recognize those individuals and teams who made significant contributions to fulfilling the command’s mission during calendar year 2014.
“The people we are recognizing today represent about four percent of our total workforce. While we are here to recognize them, I want to take a moment and acknowledge the larger Indian Head EOD Technology Division team and their contributions to our Division’s success as well,” said NSWC IHEODTD Commanding Officer Capt. Vincent Martinez. “Additionally, many of you selflessly contribute to the community through volunteering, coaching, mentoring and teaching. These acts also contribute to the Command’s success, as well as our country’s future. Thank you for all that you do each and every day.”
The Division’s Technical Director also applauded employees for their accomplishments and technical rigor.
“When I came aboard a little more than a year ago as your Technical Director, I shared with you five tenets to guide this Division. They were Morale, Discipline, Proficiency, Motivation and Esprit de Corps,” said NSWC IHEODTD Technical Director, Ashley Johnson. “This recognition ceremony demonstrates how each of you is embodying these tenets. What we do matters, and I’m proud to be your Technical Director.”
AWARD CRITERIA / RECIPIENT(S) / ACHIEVEMENT:
Roger M. Smith Team Award focuses on the contributions made through teaming efforts to improve the organization’s performance and effectiveness to meet customer needs. The Insensitive Munition General Purpose Bomb Fill team [Thomas Berry, William Boggs, Gregory Bowman, Samantha Church, Otis Cobey, Joseph Craven, Timothy Freehling, Scottie Gaines, Sean Hancock, Johnnie Hart, Heather Hayden, Preston Homes, Shelton Johnson, Anthony King, Richard Muscato, Lori Nock, Stuart Richman, Mary Sherlock, Harold Sandusky and Melvin Thomas] was recognized for development, scale-up and demonstration of PBXIH-141 as an insensitive munition explosive fill replacement for use in the BLU-110 General Purpose Bomb. The team comprised of personnel from the command’s Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) and Energetics Manufacturing Departments completed a 720-pound mix under a very tight schedule; delivered test units on schedule; and results showed reduced sensitivity.
Project Manager of the Year Award a project manager who has made a significant contribution to the planning and execution of his/her assigned project(s) the past year. Bernadette Wackerle, Energetics Manufacturing Department, was recognized for her work as the MK90 Propellant Grain Production project manager. MK90 grains are used in the MK66 rocket and Hydra 70 system used by U.S. Army. Wackerle led a cross-departmental team of 95 employees in a $42.6 million production effort that included project planning, plant start-up, and the manufacturing of 30,000 grains. Her leadership helped the command meet delivery dates, stay within budget and improve production quality; and resulted in additional propellant grain manufacturing orders.
Internal Customer Service Award recognizes those individuals, organizational units, or teams who provided excellent service to the internal customers. Two awards were presented in this category. The Systems Engineering Department Acquisition Office [Paula Greaser-Hayes, Michele Gilroy, Linda Murphy, Dawn Tolson, Dave Wood, Denise Yates-Price, Darlene Gragan, Susan Simpson, Deanna Shnayer, Chuck Funkhouser, Brain Anderson, Kris Shnayer, Stacey Fuller, Tiffany Johnson and Kelly Gragan] was recognized for providing acquisition expertise and strategy to both internal customers and external organizations. The team consistently provided superior customer service by ensuring all customer requirements were handled quickly and efficiently. Their expertise provided to the technical community has reduced the administrative burden. Lisa Robey, Corporate Operations Department, was also recognized for expert Human Resource support. Robey ensured managers remained informed on employee hiring packages, and she worked closely with the Office of Civilian Human Resources to receive quality hiring options to meet requirements.
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Diversity Award recognizes the achievements of an individual or group excelling in the extension of equal opportunity to those seeking Federal employment or by assisting Federal employees to achieve their highest potential and productivity. Two awards were presented in this category Elizabeth Lee, Marisol MacCheyne and Dr. Dion Serben, Systems Integration Department, were recognized for coordinating with command EEO staff; the Army Research Development and Engineering Center; the Garrison command staff; the installation General Commander staff; and the Program Executive Office Ammunition staff in the planning and execution of the Women’s History Month event in Picatinny, N.J. Normary Camacho-Cardoza, EOD Department and command Federal Women’s Program Coordinator, was recognized for the Women’s History Month and Hispanic Heritage Month activities on the Indian Head site; and for her assistance in the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI) Organizational Climate Survey (DEOCS) results analysis.
Dr. Horst Adolph Award for Outstanding Patent recognizes an individual or group of inventors for the most significant and beneficial patent to the Navy and the country. Robert Daily, Brian Taylor, Deran Eaton and Yolanda Torres were recognized for their patent, “Multispectral infrared simulation target array,” that improves the prior art for test targets of infrared search and track, guidance and general sensory systems. This unique invention significantly reduces the life cycle costs of test systems and solves known issues involved with conventional infrared sensor testing equipment – to include both resistive focal plane array and Blackbody sources.
Continuous Process Improvement Award recognizes individual or group efforts that result in significant administrative, business, or technical improvements accomplished through Lean and/or Six Sigma processes that yield benefits in cost, schedule, quality, and/or risk mitigation. Paulette Bowman, Renee Brown, Dr. Martin Chernoff, Darlene Gragan, Willy Quiambao, Nancy Solomon, Abigail Stokes and Sherri Stonestreet. The Contracts Department conducted a Rapid Improvement Event on its Peer Review Board process (PRB) for contractual actions. The team switched from a paper copy distribution method to an electronic system. A virtual PRB process was developed for lower risk or simpler cases that require a review but do not require a meeting. For the cases that still require a meeting, the meeting has been cut in half by having reviewers submit comments to the contract specialist in advance.
Command Award for Safety Excellence recognizes employees who have made a significant effort to enhance safe work practices in their area. The Systems Engineering Department Safety Committee [Amanda Spooner, Taylor Young, John Backes [Back-us], Robert Hastings, Mike Deeds, Cynthia Manns, Pansy Cole, Allen Wilson, Rodney Lucas, Ed Hernandez, Wade Babcock, Zaeem Husain and Paula Greaser-Hayes] was recognized for provided opportunities for employees to actively participate in the Safety Program. This committee met on a recurring basis to discuss organizational and employee safety issues, publish safety newsletters to raise awareness of organizational safety issues, establish a system for employees to report hazards to management and suggest how to correct hazards. The team’s effort increased general safety awareness and promoted promptly identifying and reporting unsafe/unhealthful working conditions. As a result of their efforts their department did not experience a work- or duty-related injury in 2014.
Capt. H.E. Lackey Community Service Award recognizes an individual or team who provided significant contributions to the community. Two awards were presented in this category. Jean Nelson was recognized for her dedicated service to community’s youth in the areas of STEM, youth training and general charity. Nelson serves as a robotics coach and competition coordinator. Her teams won several awards while learning about robot design, programming, project management and CORE values. Additionally, she has served the community as Girl Scout Leader or assistant for 12 years, a science fair judge, a Project Lead the Way judge, a Swim Team stroke/turn judge, a badge counselor for the Boy Scouts, a speaker/volunteer at College of Southern Maryland Women in Math event and a food bank volunteer. Donna Sheff earned an award for community support for co-founding, “Caring Needle.” Caring Needle is an organization consisting of 14 women who crochet items (hats, scarf, blankets, etc.) and distribute them to homeless, elderly and people who are terminally ill. Sheff also co-founded, “Women on a Mission,” group which encourages healthy eating and exercising. Sheff has also served for the past 12 years as a youth mentor in her church.
A.J. Perk Outstanding Operator/Technician of the Year Award recognizes model employees who serve as an example to others. Three individuals were awarded in this category. Jay Dalton, System Engineering Department, was recognized for his work in the field of Cartridge- and Propellant-Actuated Devices (CAD/PAD) Ordnance Assessment. Dalton is considered an expert for ballistic testing of aircraft emergency egress catapults, thrusters, removers, linear shape explosives and stores release cartridges. In 2014, Dalton completed numerous ordnance assessment projects and assisted others to ensure their projects were done in a timely manner. Loleta Carroll and Earl Simms, Energetics Manufacturing Department, were recognized for their support of the ABL 2434 casting powder manufacturing effort. Carroll and Simms were relied on for their knowledge to ensure success of the operations. Carroll and Simms currently train operators in manufacturing operations and ensure safety protocols and procedures are followed. Their work ethic, leadership, initiative, attention to detail, and abilities have ensured ABL 2434 manufacturing efforts are done in safe manner.
Adm. Harold R. Stark Award for Innovation recognizes an individual or group who made a significant, state-of-the-art achievement in their field of endeavor. Thinh Hoang, Systems Engineering Department, was recognized advancing energy harvesting efforts and establishing NSWC IHEODTD as a leader in this emerging technology. During 2014, Hoang designed and demonstrated unique energy harvesting solutions for several programs; and led efforts to provide a digital time delay cartridge to improve timing reliability and manufacturing associated with CADs. Hoang’s successful demonstration of previously unattainable energy-harvesting solution for CAD/PAD and fusing applications will lead to improved technologies to protect and enable the warfighter.
Joe L. Browning Award for Managerial Excellence recognizes supervisors who demonstrate managerial excellence, practice quality leadership principles, and demonstrate coaching and teaming management skills. Two individuals were awarded in this category. Dr. Jason Jouet, RDT&E Department, was recognized for his exceptional leadership and dedication to research, safety and morale. Supervising a diverse group of scientists and engineers, Jouet remained strongly engaged in the work of each of his employees, and encouraged both collaborative endeavors and individual growth. He challenged his employees to explore new avenues, supported their efforts and championed their accomplishments. Lester Leonard, Energetics Manufacturing Department, was recognized for his leadership, coaching and mentoring of 12 engineers and engineering technicians who conduct energetics operations. Leonard encouraged training and professional development of his team; and demonstrated an efficient, innovative and motivational leadership style.
Dr. George W. Patterson Award for Outstanding Accomplishment recognizes an individual for his or her outstanding technical accomplishments which have a pronounced effect in support of NSWC IHEODTD operations, as well as advancement in this area of technology. Dr. Richard Lee, RDT&E Department, was recognized for his contributions to combustion technology. Lee, a scientist and engineer, represented the Command in the enhanced blast and reactive material blast programs in the Advanced Energetics Research Initiative since 2000. Lee interfaced with Department of Defense, Department of Energy, industry and academia to evaluate the energetic content of different formulations for Defense applications. His expertise in metal combustion provided a scientific basis for subsequent technical improvement that led to recent improvements in explosive performance, recent improvements in explosive performance and reactive material casings. His technical accomplishments have a pronounced effect in supporting the Command’s mission and advancing metal combustion for advanced weapons.
Ens. Robert B. Dashiell Award for Excellence recognizes the employee, who, within the past year, has made a significant contribution to the mission, and/or operation of NSWC IHEODTD. Joe Pastorious, Systems Engineering Department, was recognized for leading two critical software development roles. Due to Pastorious’ technical competence and leadership, NSWC IHEODTD was selected as the Software Support Activity for Joint Counter Radio-Controlled IED Electronic Warfare (JCREW) Jammer. Pastorious also led a team in the demonstration of an advanced fuzing algorithm for the Office of Naval Research-funded Torpedo Common Hybrid Fuze System Future Naval Capability effort. Pastorioius’ leadership enabled demonstration of real-time, low-latency advanced fuzing decision criteria in torpedo sea trials to address a critical naval need.
NSWC IHEODTD – a field activity of the Naval Sea Systems Command and part of the Navy’s Science and Engineering Enterprise – is the leader in ordnance, energetics, and EOD solutions. The Division focuses on energetics research, development, testing, evaluation, in-service support, and disposal; and provides warfighters solutions to detect, locate, access, identify, render safe, recover, exploit, and dispose of explosive ordnance threats.