San Fernando Valley Engineers Council Banquet

Page #16

TARN Presentation Script

National Engineers Week Honors & Awards Banquet

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

2 March 2013

AIAA Palm Beach Section & The Engineers’ Council

Attendance Announcement

Our attendance tonight is ______. Thank you all for your generous support to this important recognition event to celebrate a very honorable profession and to raise funds for engineering education enrichment, mentoring, and scholarships.

Academy Awards Gags

The Nominees for Best Actress in a Supporting Role are….Amy Adams…

Oh! I apologize…that was my script for last Sunday…

But it’s not far from the truth that tonight is “Engineering’s Oscars Night”. The movie industry celebrated its best products of 2012, and so do we; they got dressed in their finest for the event, and we sort of do; they gave out awards, and so are we. One difference, I hope: “Lincoln” was a big thing at their event on Sunday, and I hope that unlike Lincoln, you’ll be sticking around for the whole show tonight.

Distinguished Achievement Awards

Engineers’ Council Distinguished Achievement Awards are awarded to individuals who are outstanding in professional qualities and have a top reputation for engineering, engineering education, or STEM education and leadership. The individual’s entire career is considered, including civic contributions.

The Engineers’ Council has conferred the Distinguished Achievement Award on FOUR individuals to receive this award at this National Engineers Week Honors & Awards Banquet.

Mr. Danny E. Guisinger

Senior Discipline Manager

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne

Dan Guisinger received his Bach. of Science in Engineering from Ohio State University in 1978, a MS in Engineering from the University of Houston in 1983, and earned a Master of Science in Quality Management Systems from the National Graduate School in 2007.

Dan began his engineering career as a Jet Engine Project Test Engineer with Pratt & Whitney in 1978, then joined with Rockwell International in 1980 where he applied his systems engineering and project engineering talents on the Space Shuttle Orbiter. Danny went back to P&W in 1984, this time to work on booster and upper stage rocket engines for a variety of U.S. launch systems.

Danny Guisinger is a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and is receiving the Engineers’ Council Distinguished Engineering Achievement Award tonight.

Mr. Daniel R. Hausman

Launch Site Director

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne

Daniel Hausman earned a Bach. of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from Iowa State University in 1972.

Dan joined Rocketdyne that year, starting in the Reliability department where he learned the operation of the Space Shuttle Main Engine hydraulic actuator system. When the SSME ground test program started in 1976, Dan joined the test team and was responsible for hotfire data and Test Readiness Reviews, taking the SSME through Flight Certification and then first flight in 1981. Dan was then assigned to SSME flight support, responsible for preparing Flight Readiness Reviews and providing real-time launch support for each Shuttle mission. Dan has also served Rocketdyne as the Kennedy Space Center Launch Operations Team Manager, and the KSC Site Director for Boeing-Rocketdyne, which later became Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, since 1997.

Daniel Hausman is receiving the Engineers’ Council Distinguished Engineering Achievements Award tonight.

Ms. Grace K. Johnson

Education Technical Manager

NASA Kennedy Space Center

Ms. Grace Johnson earned her Bach. of Science in Engineering Physics from Morgan State University, Maryland, in 1998, and her Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida, in 2001.

Grace joined NASA as a mechanical engineer, ensuring that contractor requirements were met, presenting technical issues and resolutions to the NASA Engineering Review Board, and serving the launch team with the “go/no-go” call for her systems. Grace took a one-year sabbatical to teach physics at her alma mater, Morgan State University, returning to join the KSC Education Programs Office. In this roll, Grace mentored a team of high school students designing the CubeSat payload, the first student-developed payload to launch on a NASA expendable launch vehicle. Grace has devoted her life to encouraging students to pursue STEM careers by giving them meaningful opportunities to team with NASA.

Grace Johnson is a member of the National Physics Honor Society (Sigma Pi Sigma), supports the National Society of Black Engineers and Society of Women Engineers, and is receiving the Engineers’ Council Distinguished STEM Educator Award tonight.

And last but not least…

Mr. Daniel R. Mulvihill

Senior Discipline Manager

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne

Daniel Mulvihill earned a Bach. of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University.

Dan began his engineering career with Pratt & Whitney as a Reliability Engineer working with Jet Engine hardware. As he progressed in his experience and leadership, Dan applied his talents to the Advanced Tactical Fighter systems and then moved to Pratt & Whitney’s Space Propulsion business to contribute to and manage upper stage rocket engine components and control systems. Dan is now responsible for leading the Systems Engineering & Integration activities for Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, nationwide.

Daniel Mulvihill is a member of the Pi Tau Sigma mechanical engineering society and is receiving the Engineers’ Council Distinguished Engineering Achievement Award tonight.

Outstanding Engineering Achievement Merit Awards

Engineers’ Council Outstanding Engineering Achievement Merit Awards recognize individuals who have achieved significant accomplishments in a particular area of engineering activity in the past year.

The Engineers’ Council has conferred this award on FIVE worthy recipients to be recognized at this National Engineers Week Honors & Awards Banquet.

As I read the names of these Merit Award recipients, I ask that they approach the front of the room to receive their award, and remain standing here until all FOUR have been presented.

Jeppie R. Compton

Project Manager

NASA Kennedy Space Center

In recognition of outstanding service as a passionate and motivational educator and mentor in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics

Reed A. Kakuska

Project Chief Engineer

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne

For exceptional leadership of the RL10C-1 development and qualification programs

Kenneth D. Olson

Deputy Senior Discipline Manager

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne

For advancing the engineering knowledge and capabilities in hypersonic propulsion systems

Ronald W. Roberts

Controls Engineer

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne

In recognition of outstanding engineering merit in the design and implementation of the fully modernized Stand B-1 Test control system for RS-68 testing

Daniel S. Romero

Test Engineering Manager

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne

In recognition of outstanding management of test engineering, data acquisition and control, and process safety for rocket engine test facilities
Distinguished Engineering Project Achievement Awards

The next category of Engineers’ Council awards to be presented are not to individual people, but for Distinguished Engineering Project Achievements. Engineers’ Council awards are not limited to aerospace, but it happens that the projects we will be recognizing here tonight are all for aerospace achievements.

My greatest aerospace achievements are flying commercial across the country without something going wrong with the airline or the aircraft.

I was recently checking in for a flight to Chicago, and asked the clerk to have my bags sent to Denver. He said, “Sorry, but we can’t do that.” I replied “Oh, really? Why not? You did it last time!”

Another time, after pulling away from the gate the plane abruptly stopped, turned around, and returned to the gate. After holding us on the plane for 90 minutes, we finally took off. I asked the Stewardess what happened, and she said that the pilot was bothered by a noise he heard coming from one of the engines...and it took us quite a while to find a new pilot.

Engineers’ Council Distinguished Engineering Project Achievement Awards are awarded to organizations that during the past three (3) years have brought to fulfillment engineering projects that support the national theme of Engineering Week in America: “Celebrate Awesome,” and are outstanding and deserving of special merit. Also recognized are contributing team members and the team leaders who will accept the award on behalf of their entire team.

The Engineers’ Council has conferred the Distinguished Engineering Project Achievement Award on 5 worthy projects that will be presented at this National Engineers Week Honors & Awards Banquet.

After I name each project and read the brief citation of the project accomplishment, I request that project team members who are present please stand at your tables to be recognized as I read your names.

Affordable Ramjet Project

West Palm Beach, Florida

For development of a new design approach to dramatically reduce the cost of hypersonic air-breathing propulsion systems, and for successfully verifying it in ground testing.

Team Members: Calvin DeFreese, James Donohue, Corry Johnson, Lee Ryberg, Costante Salvador, and Mark Sillence

Accepting the award on behalf of the entire team is Mark Sillence, on behalf of Project Leader Calvan DeFreese.

Mark…

B-1 Test Stand Facility Controls Modernization Project

Stennis, Mississippi

For outstanding engineering excellence that resulted in the highly successful design and implementation of the modernized Stennis Space Center Test Stand B-1 Control System for RS-68 rocket booster engine testing.

Accepting the award on behalf of the entire team is Project Leader Ronald Roberts.

Ronnie…

RL10C-1 Test Anomaly Resolution Team

West Palm Beach, Florida

For outstanding Teamwork leading to the successful resolution of test anomalies that occurred during the Test Program for the upper stage rocket engines XR711 and XR712.

Team Members: Maurice Cabrera, David Guin, Richard Hammond, Jon Henderson, Adam Lecket, James Nord, Michael Russ, Stuart Sanders, and Steven Wood.

Accepting the award on behalf of the entire team is Project Leader Reed Kakuska.

Reed…

RL10C-1 Test

West Palm Beach, Florida

For outstanding dedication, attention to detail, and teamwork, resulting in successful completion of Development and Qualification Testing on the upper stage rocket engines XR711 and XR712.

Team Members: Scott Bonner, Mitchell Brown, Matthew Bullivant, Pedro Fong, Stephen Herndon, Craig Irwin, Brian Lager, Thomas Paulus, and Ricky Schied.

Accepting the award on behalf of the entire team is Project Leader Thomas Paulus.

Tom…

RS-25 Common Controller

West Palm Beach, Florida

In recognition of the development of a common engine

controller for use on the United States Space Launch System Program.

Team Members: Holly Odum Ryan, Jeffrey Klop, Daniel Romero, Brian Saunders, and Randall Zelik

Accepting the award on behalf of the entire team is Randall Zelik, on behalf of Project Leader Jeffrey Klop.

Randy…